CLOUD NINE

Celtic Circle opens its season of CLOUD NINE this Thursday 26 November.It's directed by yours truly, so i'll try not to blow my own trumpet too loudly.:)This is a thoroughly entertaining play exploring the changes in attitudes to sex and sexuality across nearly a century.The energetic first act presents an often hilarious expose of the underside of sexually repressive Victorian society. The action surrounds a family living in colonial Africa. The head of the household suspects his wife of having an affair with the great explorer, Harry Bagley. His suspicion turns to dismay when he discovers that Harry is gay "You don't do it with the natives do you, Harry? Good God, what a betrayal of the Queen!"In the second act most of the same characters are transported nearly one hundred years to the late 1970's - the height of the sexual revolution. They are only 25 years older and each character is struggling to cope with their new found "sexual freedom".The play charts the progress of Betty raising a family in colonial Africa, whose role early in life is to be what her husband expects in a wife. In the latter part of the twentieth century she is at the beginning of a voyage of discovery in a sexually liberated society.Twenty years ago when the play was first performed the issues may have raised some eyebrows, lifted a few revolutionary fists and some bras may have been burnt. Now, in the present, the humanity of the characters stirs compassion in the audience. We recognise in Betty's difficulties that the sexual revolution has opened a pandora's box of possibilities that our society is still struggling to come to grips with.OK so enough waffle.It runs Thursday, Friday, Saturday 26, 27, 28 November and then Friday, Saturday, Sunday next week.Don't miss it!Bookings? er... hehehe can't remember the number. I'll have to pop back and post it later.CheersGrant