 The Semi-Circle English Language Theatre in Basel since 1975 |
Spring Production 1999 - "An Englishman Abroad" by Alan Bennett, "The Problem" by A.R.Gurney, "Cold Salmon", by John Bowen
Production Manager: Christine Comerci Venue: Schönes Haus, Nadelberg, Basel 17/18/19/20/24/25/26 March 1999 | Directed by Richard Levitt Norman Koeth as Guy Burgess Zuzana Cox as Coral Browne Louis van Niekerk as Tolya / Tailor / Shop assistant Based loosely upon a true incident, Alan Bennett relates Coral Browne's meeting with Guy Burgess. She was a celebrated actress from Australia who happened to be on tour in a production of "Hamlet" in Moscow 1958. He was a civil servant who fled to Russia from Britain in 1951 when he was warned that he might be accused of spying. This is a play of character rather than action. Coral visits Burgess in his somewhat dismal Russian apartment where he lives with his current lover, and they discuss life in England, pointing out the good and bad about English society. Burgess would like to get himself a new suit made by an English tailor. The Problem, by A.R. Gurney Directed by Sheila McKenzie and Rebecca Scriven Michael Clarke as The Husband Susannah Todd as The Wife After 10 years of marriage, a comfortable couple faces an unexpected challenge that threatens the normal equilibrium of domestic life. Can their relationship possibly survive? Cold Salmon, by John Bowen Directed by Joy Scherer Eric Collino as Harry Farnham Mil Taylor as Beth Farnham Diana Zuger as Angie Outhwaite Valerie Walder as Elsie Andrea Patient as Liz Suzan Wilson as Janice Tony O'Sullivan as Pearson Louisa Breckenridge as Rosemary John Gleaves as Lester Dennis Dell as Dad In the neglected graveyard of a clifftop church we encounter both the quick and the dead. Harry, deceased for nearly 30 years, is waiting for his wife, Beth, to join him. Unable to be seen or to communicate with the living - except in certain unusual circumstances - Harry can only watch helplessly as his daughter Angie wheels the now ageing Beth to the graveside for their monthly visit. Then a five-strong family arrives to scatter Dad's ashes in his ancestral plot. Angie and Beth are invited to share their picnic and, as family secrets are revealed amid social posturing and discord, Harry sees his chance to reach out to Beth - the cold salmon is the key! |
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