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ARE YOU FREE?? Theatre 8 presented "Are You Being Served?" By Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft |
Directed by Ian Taylor with co-director Mark Long
by arrangement with Dominie Pty Ltd
Performed March-April 2008
Congratulations cast and crew on a sell out extended season!
Who can forget those immortal words from this brilliant BBC TV series "Are you free?"
This popular TV comedy series is brought to the stage by it’s creators in all it’s original glory, and the double-entendres fly as the motley crew of Grace Brothers Department Store prepare for a “Common Market” promotion featuring the sale of German goods. They then depart for their staff holiday at a one star Spanish hotel. When they arrive at the Don Bernardo Hotel in Spain (for the second act) they discover the hotel is not quite what they were expecting!
Will the heat of the tropics, Spanish Crumpet, giant woof-n-poofs and randy revolutionaries be too much for our lot? With the aid of a nun’s habit, a bowler hat and a pair of Union Jack knickers they survive with everything intact except their modesty!
This play adaptation, like the TV series, thoroughly sends up the British establishment and class system still evident in post war England. The Pommes, like us Aussies, are not frightened to take the piss out of themselves, and don’t they do it well!
A few shots of the show and the set construction.
Ian Taylor, director, 0418471022. Mark Long, co-director, 99215574
Characters and Cast:
Mr. Grainger: Tom Luscombe.
An elderly Churchillian chap who considers himself to be the senior of the Gentleman’s Department salesmen. He spends a lot of his time bumbling back and forth from the loo thanks to taking travel sickness pills!
Mr. Rumbold: Brian Clausen.
Middle aged, store manager. Thinks he is in control, but spends much of the time befuddled by what goes on around him.
Captain Peacock: Graeme Stewart.
Middle aged ex British Army with a characteristic military demeanour. The “Floor Walker”, he is in charge of the entire shop floor, and tends to be a very much up himself.
Mr. Humphries
: Mark Long.Another salesman in the Gentleman’s Department and more Camp than a Scout Jamboree. He is a pivotal character, who through the double entendres and a little pantomime, draws the audience into the play. He is one of the few characters who sees through all the pretense of the others.
Mr. Lucas: Brett Wilkinson.
The “junior” salesman, who is at the bottom of the heap, but like Humphries sees through the haughtiness and BS of his more “senior” colleagues. His mission in life is to get into Miss Brahms’ pants, but failing that, there is always the Spanish Crumpet!.
Mrs. Slocombe
: Pat Miles.Middle aged, senior sales assistant of the “Ladies ready-made” department. She thinks she is a class above everybody else, but betrays her working class origins with some of her language and demeanor when under pressure! Likes to think she can still pull the men.
Miss Brahms: Paula Wilkinson.
Young, junior sales assistant, attractive, brassy Londoner. Spends a lot of time keeping Mr Lucas in his place.
Mr. Mash: John Ridley.
Maintenance man at Grace Brothers, proud of his working class, unionist roots. Has no time for airs and graces.
Don Bernardo: Bryan Phillips.
The befuddled owner of the one star hotel in Spain. Also considers himself to be a ladies' man.
Cesar: Michael McGillivray.
Very randy, incompetent revolutionary.
Taeresa: Aisling Murray.
Young tough-girl Spanish revolutionary, side kick to Cesar.
Conchita: Billie McKenna.
Buxom waitress/maid working at the hotel.
Other characters
Lady Customer. Mary Maurer
Male customer. Andy Woolmon.
Nurse. Carlie Taylor.
Young Mr. Grace. Albert Tickner.