Here at BATS we’re all fired up about the pantomime next Friday and Saturday (20th and 21st Jan)! If you haven’t got your tickets yet, remember that you can get them at Thomas Morris in Biggleswade, or from our ticketsource site.
If you’re interested in joining BATS, now is the ideal time. Coming up after the pantomime, we’ll be preparing our entry to the Bedfordshire drama festival. This year’s entry is ‘What Are You Doing Here’, a hilarious one act play by David Campton. There are lots of roles, and as always, plenty to do backstage.
We’ll be having a read-through on Monday 23rd January, and holding auditions on Monday 30th January. So whether you’re a current member, you haven’t been down for a while, or you’re wondering whether to get involved, now’s the time to do it!
There’s a synopsis of the play and the characters below.
Look forward to seeing you there,
BATS
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Synopsis: David Campton’s What Are You Doing Here? is the hilarious story of how a bad temper is passed along from person to person, ruining journeys, meals and friendships as it goes.
When George Phipps gets a dressing down over the phone, he takes it out on his put-upon secretary Joy, who starts a pointless fight at the bus stop with Ray, who makes himself feel better by picking on his sister Sally, who – well, you get the point. By the end, there’s only one question left: Who called George Phipps?
With nine speaking parts of well-balanced size, What Are You Doing Here? is a great opportunity for lots of people to get involved – whether they’re old hands, or new faces.
Characters:
Narrator: The narrator appears throughout the piece, setting the scene and commenting on the action. Depending on how the part is played, the narrator could be a sympathetic observer, or a malicious mischief-maker, revelling in the other characters’ misfortunes.
George Phipps: A stuffy, officious boss, with a high-handed attitude to his staff. His unwarranted criticisms of Joy set off the chain of arguments.
Joy Main: Mr. Phipps’ secretary. Joy tries to help Mr. Phipps, but ends up letting him walk all over her. Once she’s out of the office though, she needs to work off her temper, and we see her steelier side.
Ray: Joy’s target, and Sally’s brother. Ray is happily waiting for the bus, until Joy picks a fight with him. His sarcastic, dismissive responses only inflame the situation. At home with Sally, Ray’s teasing tips over into bullying, but at least he gets his tea in the end.
Old Woman: The old woman is in the bus queue with Ray and Sally. Her detached observations and wartime reminiscences don’t improve anyone’s mood. The smallest part in the play, but potentially a very funny one.
Sally: Ray’s sister, and Wally’s girlfriend. Sally’s initially sunny temperament is worn down by Ray’s teasing – especially his digs about her figure, something she’s sensitive about. After leaving the house, Sally makes herself feel better by dominating her wimpy boyfriend Wally – but gets more than she bargained for in return.
Wally: Sally’s boyfriend. Wally aims to please, and is utterly bewildered by Sally’s frosty treatment of him – why has she spurned his offer of a donut? Pushed beyond his limits, Wally shows a rare spark of resistance, but is soon sorry for it. His attempts to make amends run aground against an intransigent waitress, and his repressed anger is soon bubbling over.
Waitress: Mary’s flatmate. In the best British service tradition, the waitress is bored, uninterested, and certainly can’t be doing with Wally cancelling his order for a donut. At home things go no better – her passive flatmate Mary refuses to rise to the bait, denying her an outlet for her frustrations.
Mary: The waitress’ flatmate. Mary’s refusal to be anything other than nice winds the waitress up no end, but is only a cover for her own deep frustration. Mary could be played in at least two ways – genuinely trying to be nice, not realising how she’s affecting her flatmate, or a malevolent manipulator, deliberately out to make the waitress feel bad.
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