M&D History Pt 20 (1985-86)
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After a public outcry of insufficient performances of "Dimboola" in 1977 when it was staged at the Golf Club, Veronica Fellows decided to have a rerun at the Coachman Hotel eight years later. Marg Carey was the bride, Maureen Delaney and John Short the groom, Morrie McAdam, the brides parents were Liz Matthews and Steve Scarlett while the grooms parents were Nancy McElroy and Warwick Tom. Uninvited guests, Bayonet and Mutton were Chris Wright and Geoff O'Donaghue, Father Patrick O'Shea was Paul Barraston. Other cast members were, Ian M'Nab, Joan Lemaire, Mike Harris, Vern O'Hara and Lorna Parkhill. The band, “Lionel Driftwood and the Piledrivers” consisted of Bernie Crowe, Kitty Harper, Kevin Stone and Alan Wright.
"Dimboola" is a send up of a mixed marriage wedding in a small country town with no love lost between the two families and out spoken guests, it played for six nights and once again proved a great success.
As well as directing "Dimboola", Veronica was elected President of the Society, overseeing a full program for '85 in which one act plays were performed for festivals followed by a comedy to finish the year. The first play " Mr Foot" was directed by Alan Wright for the Lithgow Festival of One Act Plays in July. Geoffrey, played by Steve Scarlett responded to his wife’s conversations with foot movements rather than talking, the wife Nibs, was played by Hilary Wright. Also at the Festival was Parkes other play “Once a Jolly Jumbuck” directed by Marg Carey with Chris Wright, John Short and Veronica Fellows.
“Jumbuck” was later teamed with two plays from the Vandenberg Players, Forbes at the Little Theatre in August in “3 of the Best.”
The final production for the year was “For Services to the Community” directed by Liz Mattews with fifteen of the Society regulars acting the various individuals from two small country towns, fighting to keep their library against a Shire Council with its own political agenda keen to eliminate one of the libraries. This comedy was very well received by the audience and played over two weekends.
After many hours of discussion with ideas, the Society staged the home grown revue “The Amazing Electric Thong Show” in June 1986. The show was co directed by Veronica Fellows, Kim Johnston and Alan Wright with music by Kerrian Hood, Vern O’Hara, Phil Redenbach and Lyn Fuller. Eighteen cast members sang and acted thru nineteen skits and songs with the feature song being the “Bonza Bush Barby”. These revue’s were great fun and allowed performers to really show their creative skills. The CWRTC One Act Play Festival was held in Forbes in July with Parkes entering “The Kiss” directed by John Short who won Best Novice Director. Playing the various roles were Marg Carey, Kim Johnston, Fran Tonks, Geoff O’Donoghue and Veronica Fellows.
In December, the final show was “Reedy River” with Cheryl Brown as Mary Campbell and Neil Wescott as Joe Collins playing the leading roles with four females and ten males making up the rest of the cast. Music was provided by the band “Billy Tea” consisting of Mike Keogh, Musical Director, playing piano, tin whistle, recorder, Katrina Causley, guitar, Phil Redenbach, bass guitar and Noel Priest on largerphone. “Reedy River was directed by Warwick Tom who was reminded of an incident in one performance, when Joe tossed his swag on the stage in an argument with Mary, his shears flew out,up in the air and came down, sticking point first centre stage amongst a startled cast. One of the highlights of the show was the male chorus unaccompanied singing the haunting ballard “1891”. A great show to finish the year.