Difference between revisions of "Bullshot Crummond (2008)"
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== Cast == | == Cast == | ||
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*Screens - made by [[Graham Clements]] and [[Mike Elliott]] and painted by [[Hazel Hindle]] and [[Michael Wilson]] | *Screens - made by [[Graham Clements]] and [[Mike Elliott]] and painted by [[Hazel Hindle]] and [[Michael Wilson]] | ||
*Fairy cakes / bomb gateau and hotel trolley dressing provided by [[Stuart Grimwood]] | *Fairy cakes / bomb gateau and hotel trolley dressing provided by [[Stuart Grimwood]] | ||
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| + | == Music == | ||
| + | |||
| + | Audience coming in: | ||
| + | *Eric Coates - The Merrymakers overture and Covent Garden / Knightsbridge from the London Suite | ||
| + | Opening sequence for the voiceover: | ||
| + | *"Wenn die SS und die SA Aufmarschiert" | ||
| + | |||
| + | Others included: German national anthem; Wagner's "Ride of the Valyries" and "Siegfried's Death and Funeral March"; Mussorgsky's "Night on a Bare Mountain"; "Morning" from Grieg's Pier Gynt suite; Bach's Fantasia and Fuge in G minor (BWV542) played on the organ of the Jesitenkirche, Lucerne; Listzt's paino concero no 1 (the "Triangle Concerto"), first movement; "The King is Still in London" (Billy Cotton and his band); "Furioso No 1" (The Crawford Light Orchestra); "The Devil's Gallop" (Charles Williams and his orchestra); "Everything Stops for Tea", "Teddy Bears' Picnic" and "Whispering"; "Clarinet Marmalade"; the "Luftwaffe March" from the Battle of Britain film; "Deutschland Erwache", "Panzerlied" and the "Horst Wessel" song; Rachmaninoff's piano concerto no 2 (third movement, which the director had to sing in rehearsals, much to the annoyance of a certain waiter at the Carlton Tea Rooms); Rossini's William Tell Overture; Mahler's symphony no. 1 (last movement) for Lenya's "sword" moment; and music from Bernard Herrmann, namely "The Naked and the Dead", "Mysterious Island" and "Cape Fear". | ||
| + | |||
== Some Other Stuff == | == Some Other Stuff == | ||
Revision as of 13:01, 27 May 2008
by Ron House, Diz White, John Neville-Andrews, Alan Shearman, and Derek Cunningham.
Based on idea by Ron House and Diz White.
Directed by James Hough
Performances of this Amateur Production will be on: Tue 20th - Sat 24th May 2008, Prompt Corner
Contents
Cast
- Captain Hugh "Bullshot" Crummond VC - Ed Cartwright
- Count Otto von Brunno - Sean Chapman
- Baroness Lenya von Brunno - Caroline Doyle
- Rosemary Fenton - Lily Howson
- Professor Rupert Fenton - Matthew Lyne
- Algy Longwort - Matthew Lyne
- A Country Policeman - Matthew Lyne
- A Waiter - Matthew Lyne
- Inspector Scabbard of the Yard - Matthew Lyne
- Wolfgang Schmidt - Matthew Lyne
- Marovitch - Matthew Lyne
- Kwang Lee - Matthew Lyne
- Narrator - Alan Walker
Crew
- PA - Jill Fenton
- Stage Manager - Graham Clements
- Assistant Stage Managers - Kat Moody, Nik Stavrakis and Paula Kelly
- Lighting Design - Bob Callender
- Lighting rigger - Anna York
- Fight Director - Anton Krause
- Lighting Operator - Jill Fenton
- Special Sound Effects - Gerard Johnson
- Sound Operator - Kevin Leech
- Scenic Artists - Hazel Hindle and Michael Wilson
- Set design - James Hough
- Set construction - Graham Clements and Mike Elliott
- Costumes - Hannah Gabrielle
- Prop Construction - See below
- Choreographer - Brendan Murphy
- Dresser - Hannah Gabrielle for three nights and James Hough for two!
- Poster - Mark Davies (layout) and Hazel Hindle (image)
- Programme - Maria Bates
- Show photographs - Phil Gammon
Special Credits to Backstage Crew
- Unfolding map of Britain - Kat Moody
- Stick pointing at map of Britain - Paula Kelly
- Clouds passing along back of stage - Graham Clements
- Junkers 87 "Stuka" divebomber operator (at start and end of play) - Nik Stavrakis
- Descending parachutes - Graham Clements
- Drake mallard / his brood and duck whistle blower - Paula Kelly
- Flying mallards - Kat Moody and Nik Stavrakis
- Dead pheasant chucker - Paula Kelly
- Operation of all backstage blank gunfire - Kat Moody
- Cut outs of car balanced on top of mountain operator - Graham Clements
- Flying of dove to Captain Crummond VC - Paula Kelly
- Battle between "Fritz" and flying dove - Kat Moody and Nik Stavrakis
- Dead dove (known backstage as "the bloodied dove") chucker - Paula Kelly
- Tarantula operation (including by remote control) - Paula Kelly
- Bang sign operator - Graham Clements
- Operation of small Union Jacks at end of play - Paula Kelly and Nik Stavrakis
- Operation of large Union Jack at end of play - Graham Clements
- Operation of streamers at end of play - Kat Moody and (last night only!) James Hough
Special credit too to the vocal skills of Alan Walker who not only provided the voiceover, but also (by virtue of Gerard Johnson) the sounds for:
- The first crashing Stuka descent noise;
- The German Converse Force Field;
- The sounds for the cars in the car chase in Act 2; and
- The German electric torture chair sounds!
Prop Construction etc
- Converse Force Field - designed and built by Charles Doyle with assistance from Mike Elliott and Brian Fretwell
- German torture chair - designed and built by Charles Doyle; electronic panel section made by James Hough
- Car - designed and built by Charles Doyle; painted by Michael Wilson
- German radio - designed and built (and then re-built) by James Hough
- "Fritz" (Lenya's pet falcon) - designed, made and painted by Caroline Doyle
- Flying version of "Fritz"; cut out of small car and mountain - made and painted by Hazel Hindle
- Bush - designed and painted by Hazel Hindle and made by Mike Elliott
- Screens - made by Graham Clements and Mike Elliott and painted by Hazel Hindle and Michael Wilson
- Fairy cakes / bomb gateau and hotel trolley dressing provided by Stuart Grimwood
Music
Audience coming in:
- Eric Coates - The Merrymakers overture and Covent Garden / Knightsbridge from the London Suite
Opening sequence for the voiceover:
- "Wenn die SS und die SA Aufmarschiert"
Others included: German national anthem; Wagner's "Ride of the Valyries" and "Siegfried's Death and Funeral March"; Mussorgsky's "Night on a Bare Mountain"; "Morning" from Grieg's Pier Gynt suite; Bach's Fantasia and Fuge in G minor (BWV542) played on the organ of the Jesitenkirche, Lucerne; Listzt's paino concero no 1 (the "Triangle Concerto"), first movement; "The King is Still in London" (Billy Cotton and his band); "Furioso No 1" (The Crawford Light Orchestra); "The Devil's Gallop" (Charles Williams and his orchestra); "Everything Stops for Tea", "Teddy Bears' Picnic" and "Whispering"; "Clarinet Marmalade"; the "Luftwaffe March" from the Battle of Britain film; "Deutschland Erwache", "Panzerlied" and the "Horst Wessel" song; Rachmaninoff's piano concerto no 2 (third movement, which the director had to sing in rehearsals, much to the annoyance of a certain waiter at the Carlton Tea Rooms); Rossini's William Tell Overture; Mahler's symphony no. 1 (last movement) for Lenya's "sword" moment; and music from Bernard Herrmann, namely "The Naked and the Dead", "Mysterious Island" and "Cape Fear".
Some Other Stuff
Pre show publicity stated that the play took place between the wars. However, it was decided to set the play during World War Two.
Hence, the copy of The Times was dated 13 May 1941; Matthew Lyne wore a WW2 policeman's helmet; and the following....
Fact: the planned German invasion of Britain in WW2 was "Operation Sealion" and Kent was to be invaded by Army Group A under the command of Generalfeldmarschell von Rundstedt. Hence, the following appeared in German:
Otto's map cover (the map inside was, of course, of Kent) said:
- Very Secret
- (Yes honest)
- Operation Sealion
- Map of Kent, England
- Sector for Army Group A
- Generalfeldmarschell von Rundstedt
The panels on the German radio said:
- On top right hand side: "This side up"
- On top left side: "Very important piece of German radio equipment"
- On bottom: "Property of Army Group A. Not to be removed from the Headquarters of Generalfeldmarschell von Rundstedt. OR ELSE."
The writing on the German panel of the torture chair said:
- "Special electronic machine for torturing British Scientists."
The writing on Otto's rubber gloves said:
- "Right hand" and "Left hand" (on the correct ones).
Historical Mistake
Given the date of The Times, Von Brunno cannot have heard Noel Coward singing the version of "Will You Please Provide Us With A Bren Gun" which was played on his radio, as it was not recorded until 28 July 1941!
What was on the Menu at the Carlton Tea Rooms
Page 1
High Tea menu served in our Copper Kettle Restaurant between 5.00pm and 7.00pm daily
served daily in our Copper Kettle restaurant 5.00pm - 7.00pm Fillet of Haddock Orly Choice of Omelettes Deep Fried Scampi Tartare Sausage, Bacon, Egg and Black Pudding Fresh Roast Chicken and Trimmings Homemade Steak and Mushroom Pie Gammon Steak and Pineapple Prime Rump Steak Garni (2p extra) Grilled Liver and Bacon Cold: Gammon or Chicken with Seasonal Salad
All served with appropriate vegetables and potatoes, tea or coffee, toast and homemade cakes and scones.
OWING TO THE WAR, CERTAIN ITEMS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE
Page 2
Lunch Menu
The following are samples from our Lunch Menus. Lunch is served in our Whisky Theme Lounge or Garden Room Conservatory (non-smoking), between 12.00noon and 2.15pm.
Chef’s Soup of the Day served with a Hot Bran Roll
Copper Kettle Pate
Button Mushrooms Hongroise Roast of Day
Poached Smoked Haddock and Egg
Braised Steak and Onions
Sherry Cream Trifle
Fairy Cakes (our speciality)
PLEASE NOTE THAT OYSTERS ARE OUT OF SEASON
OWING TO THE WAR, CERTAIN ITEMS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE
Gallery
Production photos by Phil Gammon - click on thumbnails for larger images
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.
The director recalls the following:
The play was mostly set around Tunbridge Wells in Kent. On the Wednesday night, the audience included officers from Kent Police based in Tunbridge Wells itself. Also, a Royal Navy submariner attended in full uniform on the last night.
Matthew Lyne, on seeing the director glue a Luftwaffe eagle onto Lenya's parachute bag, drily commented: "The attention to detail in this show is getting a bit silly", or words to that effect.
Otto von Brunno managed to accidentally dial 999 on his mobile 'phone during a rehearsal of the car chase sequence, without realising he had done so. The phone must then have turned itself off somehow. The police heard the scene (including associated screams) and 'phoned him back. They were not amused.
Lily Howson was knocked over by a bike on the day of the dress rehearsal. Sustained some nasty scratches and a sprained knee, but, like a proper trooper, carried on despite the "spot of bother".
The director managed to partially saw through his left index finger; pierce the next one with a screwdriver; and cut the next one quite badly on a broken cake stand during the get out (medical support for the latter was kindly provided by Christopher Vian-Smith).
Lily Howson's gloves and handbag previously belonged to Leah Hough, the director's deceased grandmother.
See Also
Bullshot Cocktail (Noel Coward is supposed to have come up with this one)
Ingredients: 3/10 Vodka; 6/10 cold clear beef bouillon; 1/10 lemon juice; 1-2 dashes of Worcester Sauce; 4-6 drops of Tabasco; Pinch of celery salt; Salt and pepper
How to make it: Place some ice cubes in the shaker and add all the other ingredients. Shake for 6-8 seconds and strain into the glass. The cocktail is ready.
References
<references/> Will the Bullshot Cocktail be served at the SLT Bar during show nights! te he
