Friday, February 24, 2006

Casting about at the theatre


My play 'Feeding the Roses' went out to a clutch of theatres and directors in early November. My play agent tells me not to expect a response before May. It doesn't stop me casting it. I play the game whenever I go to the theatre.
'Feeding the Roses' is a four hander. I cast the woman a while back, after seeing Anne Reid in John Osborne and Anthony Creighton's 'Epitaph for George Dillon'. She had a terrific mix of vulnerability and strength, girl and demon. That play's director, Peter Gill, would surely love to direct mine (you've got a copy so come on, Peter, get in touch!). While we're at it, Geoffrey Hutching from that production could do a good job of the Brian in my play (as could Roger Allam and Ian McKellen - and Sean Mathias as Director - from which you can see I was busy casting my own play while watching the Old Vic 'Aladdin', from which I also gained fresh confidence in the composer Gareth Valentine to work on my new musical inspired by Doris Day).
I went to see the Royal Court's 'O Go My Man' by Stella Feehily when it was at Cambridge Arts Theatre last Friday. All a bit am dram. None of my cast were there.
Then to Samuel Adamson's 'Southwark Fair' at the National. I was hoping for more substance from the play but it was fun and it was gay. Margaret Tyzack, a film favourite of my mother's many years ago, was in fine crusty form but I'm leaving that role in my play with with Anne Reid. The waiter character, the 'barista', played by Michael Legge (pictured, by the English Channel where my play is also set), came into his own in the second half. He's from Ireland. How's his Glaswegian accent? He's down on my card as a possible Cameron.
I'd trade a lot for a good production starring any of them. Come on theatres. I'm just one young actor short of a full cast. Get reading.

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