Gemquest
December 1988
by Mary Jones, directed by Mary Jones
Cast: Belladonna - Margaret Butt Beryl - Mary Pettit Jasper - Sam Pascoe Filofax - John Marshall Amy - Caroline Jones Alex - John Halliday Bulrush - Brian Bowker Eyebright - Mike Jeans Periwinkle - Stewart Price Moneywort - Richard Thorne Aconite - Rosemary Whltehurst Giant Hogweed - Bryan Stephenson Heartsease - Margaret Skeet Dr. Feverfew - Margaret Skeet Mr. Balm - Keith Palmer Angelica - Elizabeth Whittaker Sweet Cicely - Lesley Tricker Honeysuckle - Tamra Grubett Pennywort - Lynn Trout Ragwort - Kate Trout Sardonyx - Philip Jones Dandelion - Keith Palmer Burdock - Lynn Trout Dodder - Ben Grimsey Mrs. Daisy Jenkins - Rosemary Stephenson Pearl - Amy Pettit Jet - Gregory Pascoe - Other characters played by: - Jolyon Nott, Nicholas Bhanji, Ben Grimsey, Lynn Trout, Elizabeth Whittaker, Sam Pascoe, Amy Pettit & Mary Pettit | Production Team: Director - Mary Jones Stage Management - Chris Scanes Set Construction - Mike Trout & Barry Matthews Stage Crew - Chris Scanes, Mike Trout, Barry Matthews, Fred Wannell & David Hopper Lighting - Arthur Wheat Sound - Philip Jones Costumes - Isla Morgan & Lesley Tricker Props - Margaret Skeet Publicity - Carmen Scanes, Philip Jones Front of House - Carol Pettlt & Olive Rumford Photography - Don Steven Synthesiser Programming - Philip Jones |
Reviews:
From Exeter Leader:
...some stunning effects and costumes....
Audience fell for fantasy
Gemquest at the Barnfield Theatre last week was performed with gusto by Topsham's Estuary Players, provided a diverting 2.5 hours of unflagging entertainment that really was for all the family.
Gemquest is a fantasy musical play written by two local women, Mary Jones and Gillian Yates.
It had a hissable-at witch, Belledonna, played with bravado by Margaret Butt, who had the audience booing and cat-calling at her within two minutes; a knockabout duo called Dandelion and Burdock and an endearing green dragon who managed to be sinister and rather moving and funny as well.
Played with style, by Philip Jones, the dragon abandoned his head and turned into a song-and-dance man complete with spangled top-hat and psychedelic red shoes.
Audience participation was total, the talent was there - a pert Mary Pettit, a stalwart John Halliday. a clutch of fantasy-style swashbucklers played by Brian Barker; Richard Thorne, Stewart Price and Mike Jeans and a Master of ceremonies played with dignity and a sense of fun by John Marshall.
The play was directed by the author, Mary Jones who owed a large debt to some stunning effects and costumes that must have been hard work for the stage design team.
A special mention must go to Arthur Wheat for the excellent lighting and Philip Jones for the eerie synthesiser music programming.
I am glad to say rumour has it that Gemquest II is in the pipeline.
Photos:
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