Enchanted April
About the Play
Feeling lost in the shadows of marriage and forgotten in the rush of 1920s post-war society, two London housewives pool their savings to rent a villa in Italy for a ladies-only holiday away, reluctantly recruiting a pair of difficult upper-class women to share the cost and the experience. Together under the Mediterranean sun, the four women clash—and then begin to bond and bloom—until men once again upset the balance.
Enchanted April is produced by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals (Samuel French)
DIRECTOR’S NOTES
Do you live your life? Or, does your life live you? Do you take the time to stop and smell the roses, or is existence an endless grind on a perpetual treadmill? It often seems in the pursuit of happiness, we have passed life by. We chase an ideal existence rather than a realistic one. For life, with all its pleasures, is often awkward, embarrassing, emotional and at times very confusing. A different perspective is required. May we suggest an evening with four very different women on a similar quest. A relaxing vacation in Italy perhaps? How does next April sound to you? Enchanting? – Dale Kelly
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Welcome to North Vancouver Community Players production of Enchanted April. This is our first production of the new season. Please be sure to pick up a brochure for our upcoming 2015-2016 season. We know that you will love the choices. If you are not already a season ticket holder, now is the time to sign up so that you avoid missing one of our wonderful plays! This year you can choose your nights for your season tickets online. If you would like to join into the fun on and off stage, please check out our website North Van Community Players under the section Volunteer. We would love to have you aboard! – Fran Heaney
| Character | Played by |
| Lotty Wilton | Colleen Bignell |
| Rose Arnott | Leanne Kuzminski |
| Mellersh Wilton | Ryan Johnson |
| Frederick Arnott | Bryce Mills |
| Caroline Bramble | Isabella Ciccone |
| Mrs. Graves | Joan Koebel |
| Antony Wilding | Scott Alpen |
| Costanza | Helen Volkow |
| Director | Dale Kelly |
| Author | Matthew Barber |
| Production Manager | Rosemary Hundal |
| Stage Manager | Gary Logan |
| Stage Manager Mentor | Kathleen Denkewalter |
| Set/Décor Designer | Glynnis Brassil |
| Set Construction | Rob Clinton, Ken Thibault, and Cheng Zang |
| Set Decorators | Glynnis Brassil, Robin Hilliard, Linda Sharp, and Nikoletta Vecsei |
| Properties/Set Furniture/Dressers | Helen Dobric, Carolyn Coles, Meghan McNeight, Ray Boucher, and Solanges Santerre |
| Lighting Designer | Simon Drake |
| Lighting Assistants | Michael Morabito, Peter Zednik |
| Sound Designers | Dale Kelly, Anne Marsh, and Colleen Bignell |
| Special Effects | Nick Peerson |
| Lighting and Sound Operator | Keyaan Kassam |
| Costumes/Seamstresses | Sharon Alexander, Linda Jackson, Mitchell Mackay, Shelley Smith, and Pat McLean |
| Make-Up | Leslie Whittaker |
| Hair Stylist | Rob Walters |
| Graphic Artist | Linda Sharp |
| Publicity and Program | Anne Marsh, and Pam Kearns |
| Front-of-House Coordinator | Alison Precious |
| Box Office | Fran Heaney |
| Photographer | Damon Calderwood, and Scott Alpen |
| Videographer | Chris Wolfe |
| Original Performance Dates | September 11 to 26, 2015 |
| Venue | The Theatre at Hendry Hall, North Vancouver, BC |
| Production Length | 1 hour and 40 minutes |
| Production Style | Romantic Comedy |
| Special Thanks To | Bob LePine, David Read, Sandy Branning, Bernhard Niklaus, Chenier Hundal, Ian Read, Jennifer Morabito, Rona Park & Tilford, Meghan Gill, Gloria Shepherd, SMP Dramatic Society, Driftwood Players, White Rock Players, Vagabond Players, Liz and Andrew Massil, Sheila Allan |
| Dale Kelly | Director – Enchanted April marks Dale’s 86th turn in the director’s chair. A dedicated thespian, his past production with NVCP was Last Dance. Other directing highlights: Vagabond Players’ For Tainted Justice, The Transylvania Clockworks, The Lady’s Not For Burning and most recently White Rock’s I Hate Hamlet. His fondest moment was winning Best Production at Theatre BC’s Provincial Drama Festival for Stage 43’s Ravenscroft in 2010. |
| Scott Alpen | Antony Wilding – After 30 years as a producer/director of video programs, Scott stepped beyond the lens two years ago and has begun to take his own medicine as an actor. He is pleased and honoured to return for a second appearance at Hendry Hall and to be a part of the delightful casts and crew that thrive in this lovely theatre. Past roles include: debonair Randal Dellamar in Last Dance for NVCP; debonair Mr. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice for Metro theatre; debonair (in his own mind) Captain Hook in Peter Pan for SMP Dramatic Society. Is there a theme here? And now for a cup of tea and on with the show! |
| Colleen Bignell | Lotty Wilton – After what would seem waaaaaay too many years in the local theatre scene, there really are too many great roles and plays to remember. Highlights are Agnes in Agnes of God, Alma in Summer and Smoke and most recently Stage 43’s Mama Won’t Fly. When not on stage or in the booth, you can find Colleen spinning galaxies in the Star Theatre at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. |
| Isabella Ciccone | Caroline Bramble – ESL teacher at Sol Schools Vancouver by day, actor by night. Isabella has recently returned to the stage after a four-year absence, during which she received a Bachelor in English Lit from UBC, worked, and traveled. She is thrilled to be making her debut on the NVCP stage as Lady Caroline Bramble in Enchanted April. Earlier this year she was delighted to play Angela Warren in the Metro Theatre’s production of Go Back For Murder. Another of her favourite roles has been playing Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest. |
| Ryan Johnson | Mellersh Wilton – In the “Ryan’s Theatrical System”, the people are presented with two separate, yet equally important stages. The tragedy, who instigates tears and the comedy personnel who propels the laughter— these are their stories. |
| Joan Koebel | Mrs. Graves – This is Joan’s first appearance with NVCP and she is amazed at the fabulous production team who make the experience at this charming little theatre so enjoyable. With a background in musical theatre, Joan returned to community theatre three years ago. Most recent credits include: Cinderella for the Golden Years (Confed Centre), School for Scandal (United Players), Pride and Prejudice (Metro Theatre) and Aunt Biddy’s Wake (Laughlines 101). Joan coordinates and performs with Seniors Acting Up, sings with The Londoners and returns each year to co-direct the annual musical at Westerman Elementary School. |
| Leanne Kuzminski | Rose Arnott – Leanne is pleased to perform in her first show with NVCP. She has performed with several theatre companies in Greater Vancouver and also dabbles a bit in film and TV. Favourite roles in other productions include Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire (Open Door), Corrie in Barefoot in the Park (Stage 43), and Helena in Rebel Woman (Vital Spark). Leanne is the Artistic Director of Giggles and Gags, a sketch comedy variety show for which she also acts and writes. She thanks Dale and the cast and crew for this great experience. |
| Bryce Mills | Frederick Arnott – Bryce hails from an English background in productions such as Fagin in Oliver!, Geoffrey in Billy Liar, and Sir Andrew Augecheek in Twelfth Night. He is in Hendry Hall for the first time, but has enjoyed previous direction by Dale Kelly with the White Rock Players. He has appeared in the Mainstage Provincial Drama Festival as Richard the Lionheart in The Lion in Winter and won Best Supporting Actor as the Doctor in Woman In Mind for the Fraser Valley Zone of Theatre BC He hopes you will be enchanted and titillated (whoops! that’s the wicked Florian Ayers slipping out there) by our dramatic period piece this evening. |
| Helen Volkow | Costanza – Helen is very pleased to be making her first appearance with NVCP with this very professional and affable cast and crew. Helen’s credits are too numerous to list here, but some recent ones are Domina (Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum) for White Rock Players in 2014 and Yenchna (Fools) also for White Rock Players in 2013, for which she received the Outstanding Supporting Actor—Female Award at the Theatre BC Greater Vancouver Zone Festival. Enjoy the show and A L’Italia! |