Asinger, West End star and
former
Carry On
actress
will appear in a PG
Wodehouse comedy in
Hertfordshire next week.
Anita Harris, who was in Carry on
Doctor
and
Follow That Camel, is
among a cast of famous faces in
the 1930s play
Come On, Jeeves
at
the Gordon Craig Theatre in
Stevenage.
The story centres on the Earl of
Towcaster, a terrible gambler who
disguises himself as a bookie to
pull in some cash.
However, events spiral out of
control and it is down to Jeeves,
the gentleman8217s gentleman on loan
from Bertie Wooster, to save the
day.
Anita plays a widowed American
clairvoyant who wants to buy the
Earl8217s house.
The 66-year-old said: 8220She8217s a
delicious character. She8217s zany.
She8217s so thrilled about being in
this quaint country.8221
The cast also includes television
and film actors Victor Spinetti and
Derren Nesbitt, The Bill
actress
Myfanwy Waring and
On The Up8217s
Judy Buxton.
Anita said: 8220We8217re becoming a
family. We8217re having a lovely time
together.
8220It8217s a good story with lovely
costumes and a wonderful
language, slightly old-fashioned.8221
Anita knows the importance of
bonding as a team and has special
memories of the crew in the Carry
On
films.
8220It was fabulous for me,8221 she said.
8220I was in my 20s and it was a big
learning curve. It was so exciting,
so innovating and so invigorating.
I was a very lucky girl.8221
Anita has had high profile stage
roles, notably Grizabella in
Andrew Lloyd Webber8217s Cats
in
the 1980s.
She recalled: 8220It was magical. I
was told very early on in my
career that if you believe totally in
what you8217re playing, your
audience will be taken along and
believe that story, and that8217s what
carries me through every job I
do.8221
The performer is also a singer and
will be recording new material in
July.
She said: 8220It8217s a great business to
be in. You can travel along so
many different roads.8221qCome On, Jeeves
will run from
Tuesday-Saturday, 7.45pm and
Thursday and Saturday matinees,
2.30pm. Tickets cost 16319.50 or
16317. Concessions available. Call
the box office.By Sara BlackSome 11 trophies were there for the taking
at the 74th Welwyn Drama Festival at the
beginning of the month.
The week-long event was host to 14
competing amateur drama groups from across
England Wales and Scotland. The theme of
many of the plays was a sense of isolation,
loneliness and survival, lack of
communication, and older men and women
philosophising about the ups and downs of
life, particularly if sitting on a park bench in
New York City.
Worthy and popular winner of five of the
trophies was Hertfordshire company Karvid
Productions, from Hemel Hempstead, with
Jim Cartwright play
Two
. Depicting a typical
evening in a public house, the Landlord
(David Lodge) and his wife, the Landlady
(Karina Byegate) performed a variety of
characters who frequented the pub, each one
totally believable and deserving of the Best
Actor and Best Actress Awards. Director Yioda
Panayiotou received the Peter Shatford Award
as Director of the Winning Play. This
production also deservedly won the F J
Osborn Audience Appreciation Award.
Taking 2nd place and winning the Roy Brewer
Cup was Wilstead Players8217production of
Lear8217s Daughters
, a prequel to Shakespeare8217s
tragedy. In third place was the Scottish entry,
Tryst Theatre, with David Mamet8217s
Duck
Variations, an intriguing conversation on a
park bench about ducks, a metaphor for life.
Following its success as winners of the Youth
Drama Festival, held in Welwyn Garden City
earlier this year, was the Cas Drama group, for
topical play
Bang Bang You8217re Dead
, about
gun crime in the USA. Formed from students
from different schools studying within the
Welwyn Hatfield Consortium, this tense piece
was written by William Mastrosimone, The
young team gave impressive performances in
this view of the problem of increasing youthful
crime in modern society. Director Coral
Walton received the Behrens-Steinfeld Trophy
for her Complete and Imaginative Approach.
Although not receiving an award, Hertford
Dramatic and Operatic Society8217s play,
The
Nun8217s Priest8217s Tale, based on Chaucer8217s work,
was a welcome, cheerful and colourful look at
medieval life. The quirky chickens, cheeky
rooster, and the Wife of Bath, along with a
group of pilgrims and a fox, provided fun and
laughter in an otherwise serious selection of
plays.
Adjudicator Mike Kaiser remarked that there
had been an excellent Festival spirit and was
impressed with the wide variety of one-act
plays presented throughout the week, with
actors showing positive attitudes.
With such a wealth of talented amateur theatre
groups in Hertfordshire 8211 and beyond 8211 it is
essential to ensure the future of competitive
drama festivals in the county and to encourage
more people to attend both as performers and,
vitally, as an audience. Organisers of the
Welwyn Festival look forward to receiving
entries for next year8217s event which will be held
from June 1-6, 2009. Call (01707) 357117 or
visit
www.welwyndramafestival.org.uk.
Wendy Keeling Taylorwww.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk
June 13, 2008 MERCURY M 41Sevendays
stageFrom Carry On to
Come On, JeevesReview Welwyn Drama Festival,Campus West,
Welwyn Garden City,
Mon June 2-Sat Jun 7 Talent from across UK
in a dramatic contestStage listingsAm dramF
F
R
R
I
I


J
J
U
U
N
N


1
1
3
3


&
&


S
S
A
A
T
T


J
J
U
U
N
N


1
1
4
4
,
,


8
8
p
p
m
m
,
,


B
B
a
a
r
r
n
n


T
T
h
h
e
e
a
a
t
t
r
r
e
e
,
,
H
H
a
a
n
n
d
d
s
s
i
i
d
d
e
e


L
L
a
a
n
n
e
e
,
,


W
W
e
e
l
l
w
w
y
y
n
n


G
G
a
a
r
r
d
d
e
e
n
n


C
C
i
i
t
t
y
y
:
:Howard
Katz 8211 by Patrick Marber. A black comedy about
a hot, hustling showbiz agent for a number of B-
list celebs who is coming apart at the seams 8211
1639 booked through Campus West box office or
w
w
w
w
w
w
.
.
b
b
a
a
r
r
n
n
t
t
h
h
e
e
a
a
t
t
r
r
e
e
.
.
c
c
o
o
.
.
u
u
k
k
. BalletS
S
A
A
T
T


J
J
U
U
N
N


1
1
4
4
,
,


8
8
p
p
m
m
,
,


C
C
a
a
s
s
t
t
l
l
e
e


H
H
a
a
l
l
l
l
:
:
Ballet Central 8211 to
mark the Central School of Ballet8217s silver
anniversary, the third year touring company will
be performing its most adventurous repertoire
to date 8211 16313.
S
S
A
A
T
T


J
J
U
U
N
N


1
1
4
4


&
&


S
S
U
U
N
N


J
J
U
U
N
N


1
1
5
5
,
,


7
7
p
p
m
m


S
S
a
a
t
t
,
,


2
2
p
p
m
m


S
S
u
u
n
n
,
,
P
P
l
l
a
a
y
y
h
h
o
o
u
u
s
s
e
e
:
:In Sync II8211 by Ballet First. Back with a
show of specially choreographed ballets from
the troupe and guests, with a range of styles,
including classical, contemporary and jazz 8211 16310
(1638 concs).DanceF
F
R
R
I
I


J
J
U
U
N
N


1
1
3
3


&
&


S
S
A
A
T
T


J
J
U
U
N
N


1
1
4
4
,
,


7
7
.
.
3
3
0
0
p
p
m
m
,
,


P
P
l
l
a
a
y
y
h
h
o
o
u
u
s
s
e
e
:
:Step Into The Spotlight8211 celebrating its 25th
anniversary, students from Spotlight Theatre
School present an evening of entertainments,
with performers aged three to 17 8211 16312 (16310
concs). MusicalF
F
R
R
I
I


J
J
U
U
N
N


1
1
3
3


&
&


S
S
A
A
T
T


J
J
U
U
N
N


1
1
4
4
,
,


8
8
p
p
m
m


(
(
F
F
r
r
i
i


m
m
a
a
t
t


5
5
p
p
m
m
,
,


S
S
a
a
t
t
m
m
a
a
t
t
s
s


2
2
p
p
m
m
/
/
5
5
p
p
m
m
)
)
,
,


A
A
r
r
e
e
n
n
a
a
:
:Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolour Dreamcoat8211 starring Craig
Chalmers from Any Dream Will Do. Retelling the
biblical story of Joseph, his 11 brothers and the
coat of many colours 8211 16316.50, 16320.50, 16326.50.
F
F
R
R
I
I


J
J
U
U
N
N


2
2
0
0
,
,


7
7
.
.
3
3
0
0
p
p
m
m
,
,


A
A
r
r
e
e
n
n
a
a
:
:Gotta Sing Gotta
Dance8211 a magical night at the musicals. A new
musical revue featuring two hours of thrilling
song and dance numbers from stage and
screen. From Gershwin to Greaseand Lloyd-
Webber to Wicker via Les Mis, with a cast of
top West-End performers 8211 16316.50, 16318.50.
F
F
R
R
I
I


J
J
U
U
N
N


2
2
0
0
-
-
S
S
U
U
N
N


J
J
U
U
N
N


2
2
2
2
,
,


7
7
.
.
3
3
0
0
p
p
m
m


F
F
r
r
i
i
/
/
S
S
a
a
t
t


(
(
1
1
.
.
3
3
0
0
p
p
m
m
S
S
a
a
t
t
/
/
S
S
u
u
n
n


m
m
a
a
t
t
)
)
,
,


P
P
l
l
a
a
y
y
h
h
o
o
u
u
s
s
e
e
:
:Boogie Side Story8211
Boogie Street is divided by wealth, families
and gangs. The affluent Streaks look down on
the deprived Bullets. Hatred between these
two opposing gangs reaches a climax when a
relationship develops between a Streak and a
Bullet. This classic tale is modernised by the
talented drama, dance and singing of members
of Ntertainers 8211 1639 (1638 concs).StorytellingF
F
r
r
i
i


J
J
u
u
n
n
e
e


2
2
0
0
,
,


6
6
p
p
m
m
-
-
8
8
p
p
m
m
,
,


C
C
h
h
i
i
e
e
f
f
t
t
a
a
i
i
n
n


R
R
o
o
u
u
n
n
d
d
h
h
o
o
u
u
s
s
e
e
,
,
C
C
e
e
l
l
t
t
i
i
c
c


H
H
a
a
r
r
m
m
o
o
n
n
y
y


C
C
a
a
m
m
p
p
,
,


B
B
r
r
i
i
c
c
k
k
e
e
n
n
d
d
o
o
n
n
:
:

The Battle
of the Birds8211 a Celtic narrative of magical
journeys with warriors, princes riding ravens
and ladders of beautiful maidens, told by
Susan Samm 8211 1637 in advance, 16310 on the door,
call (01438) 718543 or visit
w
w
w
w
w
w
.
.
c
c
e
e
l
l
t
t
i
i
c
c
h
h
a
a
r
r
m
m
o
o
n
n
y
y
.
.
o
o
r
r
g
g
.TheatreF
F
R
R
I
I


J
J
U
U
N
N


1
1
3
3
,
,


7
7
.
.
4
4
5
5
p
p
m
m
,
,


P
P
l
l
a
a
y
y
h
h
o
o
u
u
s
s
e
e
:
:After the End8211
presented by Phoenix Theatre Arts. Louise and
Mark were in the pub when the explosion
happened. Mark has saved her life and now
they are waiting for it to be safe to go outside
8211 1638 (1636 concs).
F
F
R
R
I
I


J
J
U
U
N
N


1
1
3
3


&
&


S
S
A
A
T
T


J
J
U
U
N
N


1
1
4
4
,
,


7
7
.
.
4
4
5
5
p
p
m
m


(
(
S
S
a
a
t
t


m
m
a
a
t
t
2
2
.
.
3
3
0
0
p
p
m
m
)
)
,
,


G
G
C
C
T
T
:
:See How They Run8211 a comedy of
mistaken identities featuring an escaped
prisoner of war, a visiting priest, an actor and
a locum priest. Starring Jeffrey Holland, Frazer
Hines, Guy Siner and Michael Sharvell-Martin 8211
16318.50, 16317 (concs available).
T
T
U
U
E
E


J
J
U
U
N
N


1
1
7
7
-
-
S
S
A
A
T
T


J
J
U
U
N
N


2
2
1
1
,
,


7
7
.
.
4
4
5
5
p
p
m
m


(
(
T
T
h
h
u
u
/
/
S
S
a
a
t
t


m
m
a
a
t
t
2
2
.
.
3
3
0
0
p
p
m
m
)
)
,
,


G
G
C
C
T
T
:
:Come On, Jeeves8211 a comedy by
PG Wodehouse and Guy Bolton starring Anita
Harris, Victor Spinetti, Derren Nesbitt, Myfanwy
Waring and Judy Buxton 8211 16317, 16319.50 (concs
available).
W
W
E
E
D
D


J
J
U
U
N
N


1
1
8
8
-
-
S
S
A
A
T
T


J
J
U
U
N
N


2
2
1
1
,
,


7
7
.
.
3
3
4
4
p
p
m
m


(
(
S
S
a
a
t
t


m
m
a
a
t
t


3
3
p
p
m
m
)
)
,
,
W
W
y
y
l
l
l
l
y
y
o
o
t
t
t
t
s
s
:
:Outside Edge8211 by EGO. Set in a
cricket pavilion and dealing with an eventful
Saturday in the lives of five men and four
women. Roger struggles to keep together his
team to play against the BR Maintenance
Division, while the wives and girlfriends of his
players help and hinder to devastating and
hilarious effects 8211 1639. From EGO 020 8360 1957.KEY TO VENUESARENA8212Alban Arena, St Albans, 01727 844488
CASTLE8212 Castle Hall, Hertford, (01992) 531500
CIVIC8212 Broxbourne Civic Hall, Hoddesdon,
(01992) 441946
GCT 8212 Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage, 08700
131030
PLAYHOUSE8212 Playhouse Theatre, Harlow,
(01279) 431945
WYLLYOTTS8212 Wyllyotts Theatre, Potters Bar,
(01707) 645005PERIOD PLEASANTRY: Anita Harris in Come On, Jeeves(s)
Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5Page 6Page 7Page 8Page 9Page 10Page 11Page 12Page 13Page 14Page 15Page 16Page 17Page 18Page 19Page 20Page 21Page 22Page 23Page 24Page 25Page 26Page 27Page 28Page 29Page 30Page 31Page 32Page 33Page 34Page 35Page 36Page 37Page 38Page 39Page 40Page 41Page 42Page 43Page 44Page 45Page 46Page 47Page 48Page 49Page 50Page 51Page 52Page 53Page 54Page 55Page 56Page 57Page 58Page 59Page 60Page 61Page 62Page 63Page 64Page 65Page 66Page 67Page 68Page 69Page 70Page 71Page 72Page 73Page 74Page 75Page 76Page 77Page 78Page 79Page 80 Produced by PageSuite