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Desperate Acts

Sat, 9 Apr 2011, 10:36 pm
Gordon the Optom4 posts in thread

‘Desperate Acts’ is this year’s annual production by Frog Prince Productions.
Most women have a list of 50 ‘things they must do’ before they become old. For some it is having a course of Burlesque, others do nude modelling for art classes, perhaps it is stand-up comedy, however for some it is simply a wish to escape the boredom of home life and act on a real stage. Realising that there is always a shortage of women’s parts in community theatre plays, Yvette Wall started Frog Prince to give as many women as possible to chance to live their dreams. Here she has written 6, twelve-minute plays, mostly very well thought out and scripted. All the plays have an original storyline with a different theme, combined with that little twist at the end.

 

Shooting Rabbits – a drama, where a woman recently released from a mental intuition (Yvette Wall) captures her ex-husband’s new wife (Ann Van Wees).


A Piece of Cake – Marie Antoinette (Susie Conte) is in prison with an old witch (Jacquie Wright) and another lady (Gladys Rosano). They are all awaiting the guillotine.


2592 – Five hundred years from now Kate (Michele Diston) is awoken from her cryogenic sleep by guard Jackson (Lisa O’Connell), only to find that men have been exterminated – deemed no longer necessary – and Kate is to be reprogrammed by Colonel Timms (Sandy O’Keefe).


Afternoon Delight – After the death of their father George Clooney, his wife (Simone Diston) and his two daughters, Petra (Samantha Rayment) and Judy (Ava Lucanus) are having a small Wake. The loyal maid, Anna (Halina Polden) has prepared some of her special tea and they sit back and reminisce.


Heart on the Line - Each week, a writing group (?) gather for a picnic in Susan’s (Paige Habermann) back garden. Marion (Jan Moran) is always pleasant but the belligerent and rude Betty (Michelle Sladden) inevitably turns up. When Julia (Dominique Bull) the group’s new immigrant member arrives, things get very embarrassing.


The Broken Slipper – Snow White (Emma Devenish) is in charge of the Fairytale Tribunal, where characters from the fairytales who have not been living and behaving up to standard are brought before the court. Sinners like Cinderella (Elissa Munro) are then judged by Red Riding Hood’s Grandma (Lee Hartz) and the witch (Maria Bonar) who appears in so many stories.

 


This year Yvette, along with fellow directors Susie Conte and Ann Van Wees, has managed to let 21 girls become ‘actresses’. Only a couple have had parts in a Community Theatre production.


Each piece had a few props and the costumes were simple. The acting is not Finlays standard, but the actors were keen and giving it their all, many doing well.


There was only one performance, and that was at the Don Russell Theatre, Thornlie on Saturday 9th April. There were a couple of hundred in the audience, each paying $16, so obviously there is a big demand for similar groups to give women a chance, and let their families see them strutting their parts.

A good idea which could be developed. The admiring relatives loved it.

Thread (4 posts)

Gordon the OptomSat, 9 Apr 2011, 10:36 pm

‘Desperate Acts’ is this year’s annual production by Frog Prince Productions.
Most women have a list of 50 ‘things they must do’ before they become old. For some it is having a course of Burlesque, others do nude modelling for art classes, perhaps it is stand-up comedy, however for some it is simply a wish to escape the boredom of home life and act on a real stage. Realising that there is always a shortage of women’s parts in community theatre plays, Yvette Wall started Frog Prince to give as many women as possible to chance to live their dreams. Here she has written 6, twelve-minute plays, mostly very well thought out and scripted. All the plays have an original storyline with a different theme, combined with that little twist at the end.

 

Shooting Rabbits – a drama, where a woman recently released from a mental intuition (Yvette Wall) captures her ex-husband’s new wife (Ann Van Wees).


A Piece of Cake – Marie Antoinette (Susie Conte) is in prison with an old witch (Jacquie Wright) and another lady (Gladys Rosano). They are all awaiting the guillotine.


2592 – Five hundred years from now Kate (Michele Diston) is awoken from her cryogenic sleep by guard Jackson (Lisa O’Connell), only to find that men have been exterminated – deemed no longer necessary – and Kate is to be reprogrammed by Colonel Timms (Sandy O’Keefe).


Afternoon Delight – After the death of their father George Clooney, his wife (Simone Diston) and his two daughters, Petra (Samantha Rayment) and Judy (Ava Lucanus) are having a small Wake. The loyal maid, Anna (Halina Polden) has prepared some of her special tea and they sit back and reminisce.


Heart on the Line - Each week, a writing group (?) gather for a picnic in Susan’s (Paige Habermann) back garden. Marion (Jan Moran) is always pleasant but the belligerent and rude Betty (Michelle Sladden) inevitably turns up. When Julia (Dominique Bull) the group’s new immigrant member arrives, things get very embarrassing.


The Broken Slipper – Snow White (Emma Devenish) is in charge of the Fairytale Tribunal, where characters from the fairytales who have not been living and behaving up to standard are brought before the court. Sinners like Cinderella (Elissa Munro) are then judged by Red Riding Hood’s Grandma (Lee Hartz) and the witch (Maria Bonar) who appears in so many stories.

 


This year Yvette, along with fellow directors Susie Conte and Ann Van Wees, has managed to let 21 girls become ‘actresses’. Only a couple have had parts in a Community Theatre production.


Each piece had a few props and the costumes were simple. The acting is not Finlays standard, but the actors were keen and giving it their all, many doing well.


There was only one performance, and that was at the Don Russell Theatre, Thornlie on Saturday 9th April. There were a couple of hundred in the audience, each paying $16, so obviously there is a big demand for similar groups to give women a chance, and let their families see them strutting their parts.

A good idea which could be developed. The admiring relatives loved it.

Yvette5Sun, 10 Apr 2011, 06:46 am

Review

Desperate Acts is not Frog Prince Production's annual production and many of the actors had been on stage previously. There were nine weeks of rehearsal. Frog Prince Productions was started to give everyone a chance to tell story thorugh performance, not just women. They also work regularly with young people. Desperate Acts was started specifically for women. Thank you for your positive review.
Yvette5Sun, 10 Apr 2011, 06:47 am

Review

Desperate Acts is not Frog Prince Production's annual production and many of the actors had been on stage previously. There were nine weeks of rehearsal. Frog Prince Productions was started to give everyone a chance to tell story thorugh performance, not just women. They also work regularly with young people. Desperate Acts was started specifically for women. Thank you for your positive review.
Gordon the OptomSun, 10 Apr 2011, 08:40 am

previous experience

Hi Yvette, according to the programme other than the three directors, the vast majority of your actresses who have been on the stage before, have only acted in your last year show ‘The Red Corner’. You are doing a great job, keep up the good work.

Incidentally Jeremy Rice is writing a thesis on teaching youngsters and performing for them, so he may be grateful for your help.

Good luck.

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