On Monday Next – now not many people know this play or even heard of it. Written way back in the 50’s, it’s a classic ‘old-school’ farce depicting a play… within a play.
Theatre Arts of Dukinfield and Ashton are no stranger to a farce, and this is the next showing after a very successful run last year of ‘Hi-De-Hi’ in last year’s season. As a company, they very much have a strength in musicals but it’s always important to keep the culture of the community play alive, ‘On Monday Next’ is the perfect example.
Community theatre is all about people coming together to bring a project to life, and this is a prime example.
‘On Monday Next’ follows the story of ‘Drossmouth Reportary Company’ rehearsing a play with a ragtime group of actors all with their own problems, a producer who is all about himself and a stage manager who can’t stand any of them! Couple this with the author of a play coming to see his work made into reality to find out it’s nothing what he wrote at all. As I said – a real old school farce.
TADAA always do a great job of pulling ensemble pieces together, usually coupled with a nice set. With the nature of this show it’s actually very different. The set is an unfinished set, as per the nature of the show being a rehearsal process, and it does add a very different spin and gives the show a quirky and unique feel.
Every character is very pointed, each different in looks, voice and temperament. For me, the two spearheads of the cast are Scott Robert and Katy Cullen. Two very seasoned actors who know how to navigate the stage, and comedies at that. This play bursts to life when Scott (Playing the stage manager) enters. His flamboyancy and energy really throw excitement up and gives the script an iron rod of support. Katy on the other hand has a much different character. The emotional pro actor with all the drama in her life to fuel it. John Cocks-Evans also takes on the mammoth role of the producer, with a heap of audience interaction and sass.
This production shows you that community theatre is for everyone, and it’s always important to support the local arts to keep the scene alive – if you are stuck for something to do between the 12th and 14th of March, why not head over to Hurst Community Centre and support ‘On Monday Next’!
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/theatre-arts-of-dukinfield-and-ashton
