Now that I am finally settled in Nova Scotia, I have managed to find the time to work on learning another script. But this time I am learning it for myself as Samuel French has refused me, without giving a reason, a licence to perform it.
I did not like this script at first, but the more I read it, the more I came to like it. As with many Alan Bennett works, the play has a dark undertone. It might be described as a black comedy.
Most of Mr. Bennett's monologues have been written for women and have been performed by the grand dames of British theatre. This one is also written for a woman; but unlike some of the other monologues, the character could easily be a man. I have modified it very slightly so that I do it as a male character.
The play was to be performed as a benefit for a local foodbank before Christmas. However, I did perform it for a few members of my family and a few friends at our home, which actually provided a perfect venue for this work. And people were so excited by it that I have now done it at several private pre-Christmas parties for friends and neighbours on the conditon that there are donations to a food bank. And it has been a wonderful way to meet new people in our new community. This is a rehearsal video of Scene 1: Hand of God - Scene 1 Rehearsal.
It is sad really that I could not do it for a public audience. I wish I had been given a reason for the refusal. I am sure Mr. Bennett would have appreciated the licence fee I was prepared to pay. Because I do "theatre on a shoe-string budget", I do not produce printed programmes. Instead I give a talk about Mr. Bennett, his works and the play before the performance. People seem to really enjoy this.
I did not like this script at first, but the more I read it, the more I came to like it. As with many Alan Bennett works, the play has a dark undertone. It might be described as a black comedy.
Most of Mr. Bennett's monologues have been written for women and have been performed by the grand dames of British theatre. This one is also written for a woman; but unlike some of the other monologues, the character could easily be a man. I have modified it very slightly so that I do it as a male character.
The play was to be performed as a benefit for a local foodbank before Christmas. However, I did perform it for a few members of my family and a few friends at our home, which actually provided a perfect venue for this work. And people were so excited by it that I have now done it at several private pre-Christmas parties for friends and neighbours on the conditon that there are donations to a food bank. And it has been a wonderful way to meet new people in our new community. This is a rehearsal video of Scene 1: Hand of God - Scene 1 Rehearsal.
It is sad really that I could not do it for a public audience. I wish I had been given a reason for the refusal. I am sure Mr. Bennett would have appreciated the licence fee I was prepared to pay. Because I do "theatre on a shoe-string budget", I do not produce printed programmes. Instead I give a talk about Mr. Bennett, his works and the play before the performance. People seem to really enjoy this.
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