That hallowed institution - the Village
Hall, scene of unparalleled local country
dramas is the setting for these three comedy
plays. Each play stands up in its own right,
but the trilogy could be played together
as a single three act play.
Each play features one or two main characters
and their particular use of the Hall, a
Jumble Sale, the Amateur Dramatics group
and the scout's Gang Show.
The
main roles in each of these are supported
by other characters who are initially introduced
as minor roles until they in turn are featured
in subsequent plays (or acts). The Hall
and the characters remain the central link
and focus of the piece.
The plays should be set in a typical village
Hall, somewhere in the South of England
(Hampshire or Dorset for example) and although
it is set in the 1990s, it would work equally
well set in any time from the 1950's onwards
with few modifications.
The characters should be colourful, eccentric
and larger than life, all playing out their
own personal agenda. They do not necessarily
get on with each other, rather they tolerate
village life for the good of the community.
In the first play ('The
Jumble Sale') the best efforts of
the lady organisers are severely tested
by the Scouts, who not only try to palm
off the unsold jumble from their last sale
(together with a bag of their football team
kit by mistake), but also make off with
a tea chest full of props for the AmDram
groups next show. This cast of this show
is short of an actor, so the new Vicar is
reluctantly persuaded to take a part. He
is also taken sternly to task by an assertive
middle-aged lady of the village for changing
the flower arranging activities in the Church
and for partnering her with someone she
doesn't like at the next whist-drive. A
retired Colonel with an eye for the ladies
tries to apply some military thinking before
the jumble sale opens, but only succeeds
in breaking the entire set of tea cups at
the Hall together with his ankle. The doors
open, the jumble is devoured by the ravaging
horder of villagers and the lady organisers
breathe a sigh of relief as the sale closes
for another year.
The second play ('The
Melodrama') is a play within a play.
More accurately, it is a dress rehearsal
of a play within a play! The village AmDram
group has a few 'luvvies' who take the whole
thing (and themselves) far too seriously,
a second tier of 'pressed men' and women
and a few long-suffering backstage stalwarts
who, with their Directors help, are trying
to stage a few performances of a nautical
melodrama. The dress rehearsal starts well,
but starts to fall apart when it is discovered
that all the props have disappeared. The
descent into farce continues as the sailors
forget their stage left from their stage
right, the lighting board fails and the
Director becomes increasingly irascible
through this and the quest for " what's
my motivation darling?". 'The Melodrama'
should be played for laughs, but must not
itself descend into farce.
The third play, 'Ging,
Gang, Goolie' recounts the tale of
Gordon the Scout Master's attempts to modernise
the village Scout group. No more Bob-A-Job
Week and Jumble Sales for them - it's now
'investing in people', nurturing the young,
recognition, respect and power. The well-meant,
but rather radical sentiments behind this
become mistaken by one Scout's parent for
a laid-back attitude towards discipline
and perhaps an over-developed fondness for
young boys. Whilst the former is to a certain
extent true, the latter could not be further
from the truth. The Scouts and Guides get
to grips with their less than satisfactory
changing rooms at the Hall which Gordon
maintains are fine, but the occupants find
they allow certain 'amorous opportunities'.
David Pike manages to smuggle his new girlfriend
into the Hall, but they are waylaid by Gordon.
Cheryl, who is a few years older than David
takes an immediate shine to Gordon, and
they are later discovered in a compromising
position by Jane, Gordon's girlfriend. Unfortunately,
Cheryl turns out to be Jane's niece much
to Gordon's chagrin. Jane takes umbrage,
and when another Scout is discovered chasing
a scantily-clad Guide across the stage,
she accuses him of "corrupting minors".
At last the gang show gets going and the
cast sing the two scout anthems 'Ging, Gang,
Goolie' and 'Crest Of A Wave' together with
Gordons innovative addition - a scout rap,
during which the Police arrive (following
two complaints about him) and cart him off
for questioning.
In the final play, 'The
Wedding Reception', The love-hate
relationship between Gordon and Jane reaches
its climax as they are about to tie the
knot, despite Jane being heavily pregnant.
With the preparations in hand for the wedding
breakfast by the ladies of the village,
and the church full with guests, it transpires
that Gordon is is missing and hasn't been
seen for some time. Tired of sitting in
the limousine and annoyed by Gordon's absence,
Jane rushes in to the village hall in search
of a quick drink to 'calm her nerves'. Once
too much alcohol is inside her, she becomes
a bit too frank with her views on Gordon
and the ladies of the village who variously
get annoyed with her or sympathise with
her. Mr Wrankin complains bitterly that
someone has broken one of the windows and
'you lot' will have to pay for it. Gordon
and Michael then surface from a drunken
stupor having broken into the hall the previous
night to get Gordon's emergency bottle of
scotch. Risking breaking her 'good luck'
by seeing Gordon before the wedding, Jane
takes a swing at him but instantly regrets
this and starts to forgive him. That is
until Cheryl appears, and suspecting Gordon
of canoodling with Cheryl again, Jane floors
him once more. It is of course a ghastly
mistake, and once this is realised, Gordon
and Jane rush off to the church. With the
final food preparation in hand, and Dai
checking the disco to see how loud it will
go, Pike and Jimmy Paine play their practical
jokes - a slippery floor and stink bombs
under chairs. Miss Kill and Mrs Paine messily
fall victim to the first whilst carrying
in the Pavlovas and to the second as they
try to recover their composure. As the wedding
party enters, they are assailed by an excess
of smell, sound and sight - until the main
fuse blows! |