Haywire
by Eric Chappell
Director - Valerie Clarke
Alec Firth - Mark Kimsey
Liz - Sue Worker
Maggie Firth - Emma Kimsey
Phoebe Firth - Alison Wyatt
Jamie Firth - Kieran Gallagher
Mandy Firth - Charlotte Kimsey
A note from the director
Welcome to Players and our production of Haywire by Eric Chappell.
This has been such an enjoyable play to direct. Everyone from the cast, backstage crew, sound and lighting, to the front of house and box office have worked so hard. I want to take this opportunity to thank all those members of Players involved with this production and, especially, the wonderful cast.
The playwright, Eric Chappell began his career by writing novels. Luckily he branched out into writing plays and by the end of his career, he had written almost thirty. Eric’s first stage play inspired the classic TV comedy series Rising Damp. Over a period of twenty-five years, he wrote, or co-wrote, some of the most successful television sitcoms, including Only When I Laugh, Duty Free and Home to Roost.
Haywire is a comedy about Alec and his attempts to get his wife, Maggie, away on holiday, 'Three capitals in five days and the tulip fields', so he can pursue plans of his own involving Liz, his assistant. But life, or rather his family, seems to conspire against him. The road to his own holiday in Spain is obstructed by three unhappy family members and a new pet.
Alec tries desperately to deal with each new obstruction but nothing goes to plan. In fact, as you will have guessed, everything goes haywire! Enjoy!
In loving memory of Ann Taggart
We recently lost our dear friend and member, Ann Taggart, after a period of ailing health.
Ann joined us, along with her husband Tag, in the mid 1980s and, initially, they were both active in backstage roles. However, some years later, both were coerced onto stage, memorably performing together in When We Are Married, as well as many other productions. Ann’s own favourite part was as Hanky Panky in Cinderella. Ann also served many years on the committee, but her biggest sacrifice was to volunteer as prompt for a production - only to find herself with this as a semi-permanent role! This was a thankless task in our group, particularly in the last few rehearsals when hers was often the most heard voice!
Our condolences to Ann's three sons: Colin, Blair and Michael.
