View source for The Bald Prima Donna (2022)

[[Image:Bald-Prima-Donna.jpg|thumb|300px|Poster by [[Bryon Fear]], based on artwork by [https://yvesdecamps.weebly.com Yves Decamps] ]]

by [[Eugene Ionesco]] 

[[Director|Directed]] by [[Anna Rubincam]] 

Performances: Tue 19th – Sat 23rd April [[2022]], [[Old Fire Station]]


== Introduction ==

The play is set in the suburbs of London in the 1950's. In the words of a band I once heard talking about a riff "if you can follow this you can plat sawdust!!"
In the words of the director "Ionesco rejects traditional story structure and instead builds structure upon language, from rhythms and sounds and repetition. Words dominate the characters, either by suffocating them or propelling them inexorably forward."

== Cast ==


*Mr Smith - [[Owen Chidlaw]]
*Mrs Smith - [[Ingrid Miller]]
*Mr Martin - [[Andy Barrett]]
*Mrs Martin - [[Audrey Lindsay]]
*Mary, the maid - [[Anna Rubincam]]
*The Captain of the Fire Brigade - [[Bryon Fear]]
* Radio - [[Chris Stooke]]

== Crew ==

* [[Stage Manager]] - [[Kay George]]
* Set & Lighting Designer - [[Chaz Doyle]]
* Operator - [[Oliver Adkin|Olly Adkin]]
* Rigging - [[Sean Thomas]]
* Set Construction - [[Mark Ireson]], [[Barry Heselden]], [[Hans Mudlamootoo]], [[Jess Osorio]] and the cast & crew
* Props - [[Bryon Fear]] & [[Kay George]]
* Historical Consultant - [[Lily-Ann Green|Lily Ann Green Coleman]]
* Rehearsal Photography - [[Jamie Bowman]]
* Production Photography - [[Phil Gammon]]

==Thanks==
Thank you to Irvin and Catherine Rubincam for their clock recordings, Mark Ireson for letting us invade his lift, Bex Law for facilitating our rehearsal needs, Jess Osorio, Kim Goldsmith, the cast of Iron, the bar staff for keeping us watered and Ionesco's ghost which now inhabits that painting on set

== Reviews ==

''Absolutely banging! This genre has always been right up my alley and tonight’s pitch perfect performance left me feeling confused, elated, zinging and astounded. Just superb, all of you, THANK YOU!!''

Kay Anderson


''Huge well done to all involved in Bald Prima Donna - the whole thing was tremendously worrying! Set, music, performances and moustaches all out of the very top drawer. (Though I imagine the furniture out of the top drawer of which it came would be extremely wonky and full of squirrels). Lovely to see Director Anna Rubincam on stage and getting laughs and bows too.''

Bob Callender


''Congratulations to everyone involved in The Bald Prima Donna! Brilliantly bonkers and captivating performances all round! Break legs for your final few shows, and thanks for the beautifully batty head tilting moments''

Maeve Curry


''I think Bobby Watson was my favourite bit...that and the headless china ornament (did you spot it?)''
''Only a couple more chances to see The Bald PD... or possibly one, as I think tonight may already be sold out. I have never seen anything like it, its energy, its design, its level of bonkers. What (or who) is that droning? What about that neck? What about that eponymous moment? You may even finally find out who our elusive friend Bobby Watson is. Maybe. Congratulations to the fabulous Anna Rubincam and her excellent cast and backstage team.''

Cal Beckett


''Brilliant work from the Bald Prima Donna team last night. The craziest show I've seen in a while, but a joy to behold. Great performances all round - I especially enjoyed the physicality that really lifted the characterisation to another level. Super production values and an amazing set, natch. Plus it's very funny. Seriously, don't miss it. You'll be sorry.''

Simon Gleisner


''Congrats to everyone in The Bald Prima Donna. Superb opening night with great characterisation, expressions and gibberish from all involved - from stalwarts and new (ish...maybe?) members alike.''
''Special shout out though to Anna Rubincam for a tightly directed, wonderfully composed show in the face of challenges.''
''TBP deserves its moment in the sun (well, in a dark room during the evening...so, moment in the moon..?), so for GAWD'S SAKE people, please #BEAD - it's only 70 mins, so plenty of time in the bar afterwards!''

Tom Watts


''Just had to add my digital congratulations to all involved in the superb production of The Bald Prima Donna!''
''Everything about it was excellent, direction, performances, sound, lighting (footlights!), but for me it was the claustrophobic, slightly off kilter, surreal doll's house set...with the wonderful touch of the low doorway (was it deliberate?!?) and the delightfully eccentric, perfectly detailed set dressing (I managed to sneak a close up look!) that really made the difference! BRAVO!!!''

Hayley Thomas


'''The Bald Prima Donna' was brilliant. I feel that Ionesco is finally getting the attention his plays deserve. I loved the staging, acting and direction of this production. I am still laughing remembering the facial reaction of the actors to certain lines. Also the Maid's role in the play and her poetry recital could be an enduring memory for me of the play. Please stage more Ionesco and Absurdist plays from time to time.'' 

Barry Watt


''Loved it: the dedication to detail, to playing the weirdest shit straight. A supremely entertaining and unsettling evening''

Dave Hollander


''What a fascinating and quite brilliant piece of theatre. Well done to all. Really loved it.''

Janine Wunsche


''I loved it, totally mad!''

Celia Delaney


''Loved the show, mad fun! The maid was really great'' 

Phil Ross


''Superb production!''

Ian MacEwan


''Just to let you know that I thought the BPD was really fantastic. The staging, as well as the acting, was great with a real vision and attention to detail. And it's not possible to single out one of the brilliant comic actors (including yourself), however, for me, the coughing scene was a favourite- the timing was spot on!''
''Undoubtedly one of the best productions I have seen at SLT, or indeed anywhere.''
''Congratulations to everyone.''

Chris Stooke


''Wow. Saw it last night and wasn't sure beforehand if I was going to enjoy it. How wrong I was. Brilliant perfornces all round and the stage was amazing. Impossible to select just one funny bit, there were so many. If you haven't booked to see the show, do so, though I feel you may have left it too late. I would see it again if it were on for another week, so that I could spot things I missed the first time.''

Lydie Koritsas


''Utterly bonkers but so brilliantly done!''

Jennifer Nettles


''Incredible show, thanks to everyone involved for a wonderful evening's entertainment!''

Steph Urquhart

== Gallery ==
<gallery caption="Photos by [[Phil Gammon]]" widths="300px" heights="300px">
image:BPD001.jpg
image:BPD002.jpg
image:BPD003.jpg
image:BPD004.jpg
image:BPD005.jpg
</gallery>

== Reminiscences and Anecdotes ==

Members are encouraged to write about their experiences of working on or seeing this production.  Please leave your name.  Anonymous entries may be deleted.

== See Also ==
Have there been other SLT productions of this play?  Link to them here.

Or add anything that is related ''within this site''.  The author's page for instance or other plays with a similar theme.

== References ==


== External Links ==

[https://www.buzzsprout.com/1868410/10418949-episode-8-the-bald-prima-donna SLT podcast] - Anna Rubincam discusses the play

[[Category:Productions|Bald Prima Donna, The]]
[[Category:Old Fire Station Productions|Bald Prima Donna, The]]