A scene from our last show - Half a Sixpence.

Our next show will be ‘Iolanthe.’  Our producer and musical director is Betty Moore. 

Dear Members and Friends,

We hope you all had a wonderful summer and are ready to enjoy “Iolanthe”, whether you are in it or coming to support.

Our thanks go to all of you who were involved in the Variety Show and also those who came to watch. We felt that it was a great success both financially & by audience reaction. It made a profit of £724.50. Congrats to all!

We are sorry to say that David Aquino has had to resign from his post as Treasurer but has said that he will still be around to oversee the accounts. He has also, thankfully, said that he will continue to produce the Show Programmes and take photos. We would all like to thank him for his invaluable work in the past and are grateful that he is continuing to help IMOG. Brenda Hennessy has stepped forward to take his place and we must congratulate her on her stupidity bravery. We will all of course be there to support her and thank her for taking this on. Brenda, however, is a hard task master and is already saying that we have to tighten our belts. Going through the accounts she has realised that the cost of hiring scripts is extortionate and that some shows take a huge percentage of royalties. This may, therefore, affect the shows we choose in the future. Also, some shows always make a loss due to poor attendance and therefore we will be reviewing shows, such as G & S, to make sure we can afford to stage them.

QUIZ NIGHT - FRIDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER

As you can see from above we cannot put on 2 shows a year without fundraising. So please come and support the Quiz Night. Tickets are £5 and can be bought from Lynne next Tuesday night. If you cannot see her then let a member of the committee know if you will be attending. Please let family and friends know about it. You might surprise yourself and answer a couple of questions!

IOLANTHE – 25 -29TH OCTOBER (INCLUDING MATINEE)

Please get your tickets from Vin ASAP. 01277  234581. It’s always easier for everyone involved if tickets are sold earlier rather than later. It solves that last minute panic, so start telling friends and family now. We are trying a new system of non-allocated seats for this show. With everyone so busy these days it saves a lot of time and effort. Therefore, please be supportive and tell all your friend s to arrive early to pick their preferred seats. 

Betty would like to remind people of a very important Sunday rehearsal on 25th September 2-5 p.m.

We are hoping to keep the programme price down this time to £1. This will mean that it will only consist of 8 pages but we hope they will all be in colour and we can cram in all the essentials without comprising the quality.

If you know of anyone who would like to help Front of House please pass on details to Meryl ASAP. 

Brenda has booked the Committee Room upstairs at the Club for the after-show party. (Peter has something on in the bar.) You can get drinks from the bar and take them up. Brenda will also acquire a few bottles of wine for your disposal!

Due to the taking down of the extensions we always have a problem with how much help backstage get at the end of the show, leaving them to work whilst everyone else is in the bar. Can we remind you that everyone’s help is needed. Those jobs include tidying the dressing rooms, clearing away chairs and helping to put the extensions away. If you do have friends you wish to see after the show, please don’t spend all evening with them or better still, ask them to come another night! Meryl will be compiling a list of volunteers. Ask not what IMOG can do for you, but what you can do for IMOG!

The Trustees have stopped our free parking during show matinees. The committee did try to fight it but have been told that the free parking was never meant to have been given out in the first place. Therefore, all patrons will have to pay £1.80 for 3 hours. Please make sure that you use the ticket machines at the back of the car park. (The one at the front only gives 2hr max.) Please tell friends about this if they intend to come to the matinee performance. The car parking ticket can be used as a money back voucher against your drinks in the bar when you spend £5.

HIGH SOCIETY - 24th -28th April 2012

Auditions will be held on Thursday 17th November 2011 at the Parish Rooms, so please keep this date free to make it easier for Barbara. You may not get a chance to audition at another time.

VICTORIAN EVENING  Friday 2ND December – Another date for your diary. We are hoping to get a choir together to sing the old favourites & hopefully, indoors! 

RAFFLE PRIZES are always needed and we are now on the lookout for small items that can go to make up a Xmas hamper.

CHRISTMAS MEAL. Yes, I’m afraid we are talking about Christmas already. Please let us know if you are interested in joining us. We all had a wonderful time last year and are on the lookout for somewhere that holds a good dinner and dance and is fairly central. Please let us know if you know of anywhere.

Thank You,  from 
The Committee

Hi All

This is our first newsletter since forming the new committee. We came together last week and are raring to go! 

Of course we would like to send our thanks again to Lilian who has given us so much over the years and without whom the past shows could not have been possible. Our loss is the Community Centre’s gain.

Rehearsals for Iolanthe are in full swing. However, Betty is still on the lookout for more men. Please beg, steal or borrow some. 

The cast list is as follows:-
The Lord Chancellor..........Ken Cooper
Earl of Mountararat..........Richard Pennicard
Earl Tolloller.....................Nik Graham
Private Willis....................James Kemble
Strephon..........................Peter Spencer-Charles
Iolanthe............................Liz Gibson
Queen of the Fairies..........Sarah Cuff
Celia................................Jill Sowerbutts
Leila.................................Carole Cooney
Fleta.................................Pam Sutton
Phyllis...............................Gwendoline Johnston

Congratulations to them all and thanks to all those who auditioned. For those of you who are not doing the show perhaps we could ask for your support Front of House. If you, and/or a friend are interested please call Meryl on 01277 210923.

Before the show we have a couple more dates for your diary. The Good Old Days Variety Night, Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th July and the Quiz Night, Friday 23rd September, hosted by Richard Pennicard. Both to be held at the Community Centre. Start asking family and friends now, particularly for the Sunday of the variety show as we need to know that we have enough interest for this extra performance. More details to follow.

Our next show, in April 2012, will be High Society. 

The Ingatestone Horticultural Show is Saturday 16th July. A stall space within the I&FCC area will need to be manned via a half hourly rota system. We need to set up at 11.30am, show opens to the public at 12.30pm. Please let Jill know if you are able to help.

We are also asking for your suggestions for future shows. If you have something that you are desperate to do please let Sarah know.

Ken is putting on a musical evening called ‘Billericay on Broadway’ to be held at the Emanuel Church, Laindon Road, Billericay at 7.30 on the 10thJune. Please see Ken for tickets.

Thank You.
Meryl Spinks (Secretary)
On behalf of the Committee

This is not quite a fair comparison as we did not charge the extra £3 for the Friday night tickets (including refreshments). Our sincere thanks to Vin Spinks who volunteered to take on ticket sales from Dizzy.

We are now embarking on a new show, Guys and Dolls, last performed in 2000. The auditions were able to get together a wonderful cast and I am sure we shall have a very enjoyable show.

The cast is as follows:
Nicely-Nicely Johnson........Peter Spencer-Charles
Benny Southwest................Nick Graham
Rusty Charlie......................John Lambert
Sarah Brown......................Anne Horemans
Arvide Abernathy...............James Kemble
Agatha..............................Gwendoline Johnson
Calvin................................Richard Butler
Harry the Horse.................Steve Hanning
Lt. Brannigan.....................Graham Borthwick Jones
Nathan Detroit...................Allen Clark
Miss Adelaide....................Meryl Spinks
Sky Masterson...................Michael Hancy
Mimi..................................Liz Gibson
General Cartwright............Sarah Cuff
Big Jule.............................Michael Johnson
Hat box girls......................Liz Gibson, Sue Elliot, Aimee, Pam Sutton, Jacqui de la Salle, Deborah

We have a new producer, Pam Corrie, who was recommended to me by Dizzy and David Morgan and a new Musical Director, Frances Quintrell who has been the MD for Young Expressions.  We are pleased to welcome them and hope that together we can put a really good show!  We have some new faces again for this show – always a good sign, many who came because of our web-site  www.imog.org.uk so ably produced by David Aquino, who is also involved in poster design, programme layout and is also our Auditor.  Sadly he is to busy doing all these things, he has no time to be in our shows!

With the death of Norma and with Dizzy moving away to Suffolk we have lost two of our main fundraising organisers.  This is still an important part of our Group, so that we can keep up our standards and still hire good quality costumes, scenery, orchestras and employ people as Producers and MDs, and pay for weekly hall hire and pianists.  If you have any ideas for an event please let me or one of the Committee know and we will give you all the support we can.

The Committee would like to thank the Cast, the producer and musical director - Betty Moore, and choreographer - Helene Moore, the Orchestra and every one behind the scenes and in front of house for doing such a great job.

It has been an intense week of performances. The ‘team’ put on a great show with everyone pulling together. Once again the six performances were of a high caliber. 

The staging and choreography were lively and lucid. Director Betty Moore certainly knows how to get the best out of her performers, especially when singing the big numbers. The costumes were just as bright and attractive as the scenery. As we listened to Sullivan's enduring score we always had something lovely to look at. 

This was musical theatre at its best and not a bad way to spend two and a half hours even if you're not a dyed-in-the-wool G&S fan. 

This show was reviewed by Nick Clough (NODA). To read the review click here 

Messages from well wishers 

Hello Folks,

Pauline and I were in the audience on Saturday evening.  I just wanted to say that we thought the Show was superb and would like to congratulate all concerned. I have been to all the shows since I left the Group. In my humble opinion, a couple of years ago there seemed to be a bad patch, but you have bounced back and the quality of this  performance was as good as I have known it.

I see you are doing Guys and Doll as the next offering.  I was in it last time - a super show to perform, so I wish you all the best and don't rock that boat.

My best regards,

John Darwent.

Show week is but a few days away and the cast are hard at work. 

They take a short break from rehearsing to take these photos, some of which are needed for the programme.

As usual everyone seems to be having a great time. 

The Cast would like to thank  Betty Moore and Helene Moore, for making rehearsals so much fun for everyone. 

A scene from our last show - Anything Goes. 

Our next show will be ‘The Yeomen of the Guard.’ Our producer and musical director is Betty Moore. 

Dear Members and Friends,
I am delighted to say we have just put on a very successful show in Anything Goes. 

It was enjoyed by those on stage as well as those in the audiences and the comments and feedback have been very complimentary. Well done to all concerned in whatever capacity- it takes a good team to put on a good show.

Auditions have just taken place for our next show, The Yeomen of the Guard.  It is completely cast and at present we have the luxury of 12 yeomen, not including the main characters. More would be welcome so if any of you chaps fancy a good sing, come along on a Tuesday at 7.45 and join in.

The cast is as follows:
Sir Richard Cholmondley         James Kemble
Colonel Fairfax                        Peter Spencer-Charles
Sergeant Meryll                       Richard Pennicard
Leonard Meryll                        Michael Johnson
Jack Point                                Ken Cooper
Wilfred Shadbolt                      Maurice Cole
Elsie Maynard                          Lynne Johnson
Phoebe Meryll                         Sarah Cuff
Dame Carruthers                     Hilary Weal
Kate                                        Michelle Waller

Our Producer and Musical Director is Betty Moore, a great favourite who makes all rehearsals enjoyable but also makes everyone work hard. Pat Thornton is rehearsal pianist on Tuesdays and Dorothy Taylor, who was MD and “rattled the ivories” in Anything Goes, is playing for our Thursday rehearsals.   The show goes on from April 27th -1st May 2010.

We are losing our wonderful box office and ticket lady, as Dizzy is moving house.  We regret it so much, as she has done a marvellous job over many years.  We wish her and David happiness in their new home and feel sure we shall not lose touch. A volunteer has come forward to take on the job - not an easy task, but I am sure she will do a fine job.

We have just held a Quiz Night at Fryerning Parish Rooms.  Richard Pennicard was in charge and did a splendid job.  Sincere thanks also to Hilary for organising it.  We raised £253.  If you have any suggestions for fund raising or just a fun night for members, please let Hilary know as she is our Social Secretary and will convey ideas to the Committee

Judy Cairns has moved to Suffolk and now has lots of land for her ponies.  She is not in this show but says she hopes to be in Guys and Dolls in October.  Again we wish her and Gill lots of happiness.  I have her phone number and address if anyone wants it.  She would be pleased to see anyone who cares to call.

You may remember that we not only made a donation to Little Havens Hospice but also collected money in memory of Norma. The intention was to buy a bench to go outside the Club, but that turned out to be a much more expensive job than we expected.  After considering many other ideas such as a plaque or mirror, it has been suggested we buy a clock inscribed to Norma and put it up on the wall during show weeks, because  no one ever seems to know the time as watches are not allowed on stage.  Please let the Committee know what you think.

The AGM will be coming up in February, when David gets the auditing done for us.   Most of the Committee will be standing down as their two year terms are up, but most would be willing to stand again.  If you feel you would like to join the Committee please allow your name to be put forward as we always need new blood.  Nicola, as our newest recruit, has been a wonderful asset and it would be great to have some of you younger members coming forward to bring new ideas.

With Christmas coming up we are planning to sing carols outside the Community Club on Dec. 4th at the Ingatestone Victorian Evening, commencing at 6.30.  Everybody is welcome. Dress up if you can.  Books provided.

We also decided this year, not to exchange Christmas cards within the Group, but to make a donation, which will go to the Ingatestone & Fryerning Community Assoc. to help the dire financial state of the Club and try to ensure we continue to be able to use the hall as our venue.  I have become involved in a new Committee dedicated to raising money for this purpose.

I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas when it comes and that the New Year brings health, happiness and further success for our Musical and Operetta Group.

Kindest regards to all
Lilian
01277 352360
To email me click here

The Cast at a recent rehearsal of our production of Anything Goes.


The Cast is working very hard in rehearsing for our production of Anything Goes.

Show day is Tuesday 27th October 2009, and every one is eager to put on a blinding show. Our Director, Meryl Spinks has come up with some creative ideas for making this production something special. Dorothy Taylor our Musical Director has also worked hard to create a fluent and professional show. 
Now our excited audience awaits us!

Dear Members and Friends,

I am delighted to say that Anything Goes is now fully cast, and the cast list is set out below.  You will see some new names and I am pleased to welcome them into the Group and hope they will enjoy being members and stay with us for our next shows.

Cast list
Reno  -  Catherine Gregory
Billy  -  Nik Graham
Hope  -  Emma Ware
Evelyn  -  Allen Clark
Moonface  -  Peter Spencer Charles
Bonnie  -  Liz Gibson
Mrs Harcourt  -  Jill Sowerbutts
Whitney  -  John Lambert
Steward  -  Peter May
Reporter  -  Sarah Cuff
Cameraman  -  George Hughes
Bishop  -  Maurice Cole
1st Chinese  -  Will Beard
Purser  -  Bruce Hill
Captain  -  Richard Pennicard
Chastity  -  Nicola Friggens
Purity  -  Nicky Haydon
Virtue  -  Anne Horemans
Charity  -  Teresa Ravenscroft 
other small parts to be announced.

Our director is Meryl Spinks and musical director is Dorothy Taylor.  Our co - choreographer will be Charlotte Higgs.

Show week is 25th to 31st October 2009.  This is a really enjoyable show (we did it once before in 1995), taking place on board an ocean liner.  There are several zany characters on board, one being Moonface (Public Enemy No.13 but  he aspires to being Number 1); an English lord; a bishop; a night club singer called Reno, who provides the glamour, with her backing group, Chastity, Purity, Virtue and Charity.  There are some wonderful songs such as Friendship; I get a Kick out of You and of course Anything Goes. This show would be suitable for any age group with a sense of humour.

We are also looking well into the future and I have some bookings (and some in the pipeline) for the following shows:-
Yeoman of the Guard  - April 26th – 1st May, 2010
Guys and Dolls  - Oct 26th -   30th   2010
Half a Sixpence  - March 29th – 2nd  April, 2011
High Society  - Oct 26th – 31st  2011 
Iolanthe  - April 23rd – 28th   2012
Annie Get Your Gun  - Oct 20th – 26th   2012 

Now you have the dates you can book your holidays accordingly!  Betty Moore has agreed to produce all three Spring shows and we are still considering producers for the others.

We now have a fund raising committee chaired by Hilary.  The people who volunteered were Judy, Lynne and Anne.  I am very pleased that they came forward and will be interested to hear their ideas.  They are not the only people who will be doing the work – we all have to help.  The Group has to rely on fundraising or the subs need to be increased.  If you have any ideas let a member of the committee know and see what we can come up with.

The matter of Norma’s bench outside the Community Club has caused problems.  Fixing the seat will cost quite a lot of money, also there seems to be a leak of water at the spot where we envisaged it to be sited. Another suggestion has been put forward.  The Young Expressions are intending to refurbish the dressing room.  Jill came up with the idea of a nice mirror with a plaque inscribed in Norma’s memory – she would then be in with us all while we are doing our shows.   What do you think?

I would like to remind some who have not paid their £20 subs that this is necessary before being able to take part in the show. The Community Club also requires us to all to be members at a cost of £19 per individual over 18 (Senior Citizens £15). Family membership is £33 including children under 18.  Our Group is affiliated and thereby receives reduced rates for all our bookings.  Please make cheques payable to IMOG for the £20 subs and to IFCA for Club subs.

The show fee of £50 will be due a month before the show.  It costs roughly £7000 to put on our shows (not counting weekly rehearsals), so we need to sell lots of tickets as well as paying our dues.  Start telling everyone about the show – start making a list of anyone who seems interested and contact them nearer the time.   Dizzy, our Ticket Secretary, will take orders when you have them ready – get in quick and get the best seats!

Ticket prices are as follows:-
Tues               £9  (concessions £7)
Wed, Thurs,   £9
Fri                  £12 (Meet the Cast with cheese and wine)
Sat Matinee   £9   (concessions £7)
Sat Evening   £10.

If I don’t have your email address, please let me have it as it obviously saves postage and is quicker. To email me click here.  Please let someone know if you are unable to come to a rehearsal.

Remember to start spreading the word about the Show.  It is going to be good, so we need to go out and sell it.

Bon voyage,
Lilian
01277 352360
To email me click here

The show planned for October 2009 is ‘Anything Goes’  which is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter.

This is a fantastic show requiring lots of men. We already have our fair share of attractive girls but we need more – singers and  dancers! 

‘Anything Goes’ has lots of parts and lots of chorus work – something for everyone. So why not come along and join us. You will receive a friendly welcome from us all. 

Lilian Hunter 

Chairman

Brief Synopsis

The main action takes place on a luxury liner sailing from New York to Southampton. But first we come to a preliminary scene in a smart New York bar. Reno Sweeney, a night-club entertainer, on the eve of leaving for Europe, expresses her sentiments for Billy Crocker in "I Get a Kick Out of You".

Once she boards the liner she discovers to her delight that Billy is also a passenger, though an unlisted one. He had come to bid Reno "bon voyage" when he comes upon his one-time fiancée, Hope Harcourt, en route to England to marry Sir Evelyn Oakleigh. His former love for Hope suddenly revived, Billy impetuously decides to stay on the ship when it sets sail, even though he possesses neither a passport nor a ticket. He manages to get both from a pathetic-looking, broken-voiced little man who is Public Enemy No. 13 fleeing from the police disguised as a clergyman, Reverend Dr. Moon. One of Moon's confederates had failed to show up at sailing time, and Billy can use his ticket and passport if he is willing to travel in disguise. Once the ship leaves harbour, Billy is able from time to time to emerge from his disguise--once to be romantic with Hope ("All Through the Night"); another time to exchange saucy compliments with Reno ("You're the Top"). When Moon's real identity is revealed he is confined to the brig by the ship's captain. The latter is suddenly inspired to hold an improvised revival meeting with Moon as his main penitent. After Moon inspires some of the passengers to confess their sins, Reno carries the revival meeting to a stirring climax with "Blow, Gabriel, Blow".

All the principals come to Oakleigh's home in England, where Hope and Sir Evelyn are to get married. The prospect of marriage pleases neither of them, since their union had been an arrangement of convenience to save Bailey Products, a floundering business establishment. But Hope and Sir Evelyn soon learn that Bailey Products is not bankrupt at all; that, indeed, a buyer stands ready to purchase it for several million dollars. Thus Hope and Evelyn are free to go their separate ways. Hope returns to Billy, while Sir Evelyn and Reno discover each other. Meanwhile, word has come down from Washington, D.C., that "Moon" is free to go as he pleases: the police are not interested in him at all, since he is as harmless as a cream-puff. The sudden loss of status upsets the little man to no end. "Sometimes," he whines, "I just can't understand this administration in Washington!".

Characters
Reno Sweeney — an evangelist turned nightclub singer and an old friend of Billy's
Billy Crocker — assistant to Elisha, love-struck would-be suitor to Hope
Hope Harcourt — American debutante and the object of Billy's affection
Mrs Evangeline Harcourt — Hope's haughty and overbearing mother
Lord Evelyn Oakleigh — Hope's wealthy English fiancee
Moonface Martin — a second-rate gangster, "Public Enemy Number 13", soon to not be thought as a public enemy at all
Bonnie/Erma  — sidekick to Moonface
Elisha J. Whitney — Ivy league Wall Street banker, Billy's boss
Reno’s Angels (Purity, Charity, Chastity and Virtue)
Lady Fair Quartet 
Ching and Ling — Two Chinese 'Converts' and reformed gamblers who accompany Bishop Henry T.Dobson
Captain
Steward
Purser
Ships crew, Passengers, Reporters, Photographers and F.B.I. Agents