Tag Archives: Midsummers Night’s Dream

Activity Review – thehorleyviews 2015

Below are some excerpts from a report based on the activity statistics in 2015 for our village site thehorleyviews.com :

In 2015, there were 175 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 220 posts.

The busiest day of the year was October 5th with 185 views, with the most popular post that day was Wow That’s A Lot of Apples!.

Thehorleyviews was viewed about 17,000 times in 2015. There were 336 pictures uploaded, averaging about 6 pictures per week.

Most visitors came from United Kingdom with the United States & Bahrain not far behind, from a total of 63 countries.

The most-viewed pages where:

1 Calendar

2 Planning

3 Parish Council Meetings

4 2015 Midsummer Night’s Dream

5 Notice Board

 

Click here to see the complete report.

What’s New – October 2015

Photo credit. Richard Bord. AFP.Getty Images

Lunar Eclipse ~ Super Blood Moon Photo credit: Richard Bord/AFP/Getty Images‬

Did you get up early on Monday morning (28th September) to see the Super Blood Moon eclipse, Hanwell Observatory ‎estimated it would be best seen at 03:47am BST when the moon should appear red due to light bent by the earth’s atmosphere.

harvest festival auctionHarvest Festival – two events this week the first on Friday  (tomorrow) 2nd October 7:00pm at The Red Lion and sees the return of the ever popular Harvest Festival Auction. Please either drop off your produce or bring it with you at 7:00.

Then this Sunday October 4, 11:00 at St. Ethedreda’s Church a traditional Harvest Holy Communion.

Vanished Past Volume 1A Vanished Past – Clare Marchant has kindly agreed to let us take a “look inside” her two books to share some photo’s and excerpts. Here are two emails we’ve received from former Horleyites ….

“I have been very fortunate in getting the first two issues of this wonderful account of life in Horley.   Memories came flooding back and I cannot thank Clare enough for all the time, effort and dedication she gave to this huge project. Eagerly awaiting volumes three and four! Read and Enjoy! Gratefully, Pat Hassan-Jan (the daughter of Vic and Lucy Shawyer of Box Cottage)”
 A Vanished Past Volume 2Hi Debra, Thank you for replying to my email and yes, of course, it’s quite o.k. for you to include my email in the October update. Although I have not visited Horley in a number of years I am always very happy to see photographs of the village and read all the events taking place. I must say I think the people who now live there are exceptionally lucky to have such a wonderful calendar of events. I hope to be in the Banbury area in the early part of October and, time permitting, I will certainly come through Horley and look at the houses which have been built in the field (Astells) behind the house where I once lived.   I am in touch with Clare and spent a lovely time with her recently and also met up with Shan after a very long time (1965) it was such a good feeling.    Looking forward to reading the October update! With best wishes Pat (the daughter of Vic and Lucy Shawyer of Box Cottage)”

You can buy them directly from Clare by sending your address and cheque made payable to Clare Marchant to 15 Circus Street, London SE10 8SN. Each book is £15, Post & Packing is £3 whether you buy one or both.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM – Took place in our magical church last weekend, and was the most spectacular production so far. In addition to the “5 Reasons” each and every actor played their parts brilliantly, the feedback from each of the audiences was that they were amazed at how highly entertaining and professional it was. Full credit goes to Tessa Howell for her brilliant creativity in reducing this play to its pure essence and re-imagining it here in our church. Tessa adapted the script and had been struggling to recruit the cast for over a year. It was also no mean feat managing the scheduling of the rehearsals ; only on the final dress rehearsal the did she have a full cast!

Tessa always encouraged the cast to do their best and although you will probably find this hard to believe she did on occasion even shout at them, ensuring they played their role to their full potential.  Tessa paid special thanks to David Kyle for his musical contribution and to Mike Patching for all his help with the stage, music and lighting.  She says this is her last production and what a high to end on….. however we have a feeling that our sprite-like, inexhaustible and incorrigible director may be persuaded to do another small adult production, never say never – “Lord, what fools these mortals be!”

Reminder: The Parish Council pages are frequently updated; see the Notice Board for items that are sent to the Parish Clerk that may be of interest; see Planning  for applications that are received and those decided. Also due to the transparency requirements all Parish Council Meetings agendas are published in advance and then the resulting meeting minutes are posted.

Also remember you can always see what Lucy submits to the  Banbury Guardian, these pages are updated regularly as are the photo’s and headers. I’ve started to include photo’s of Horley Views from Facebook and if you have any you would like to share you can always email them to horleyviews@outlook.com . We really enjoy getting your feedback and are delighted to include your ideas, information or memories in fact anything that you would like to share.

So let us know…….. Di (Marriot) & Deb (Fox)

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Last Performance, Last Chance, Today 2:00……..

Untitled_21014249554_lLast performance today at 2:00, last chance to see Tessa’s last production! It’s spectacular and funny, there are few seats available (tickets on the door), so please join us and help make this performance one to remember.

Untitled_21015901663_l“Lord, what fools these mortals be”

A Midsummers Nights Dream

A Horley Footlights Production

What’s the Story, Who’s Doing What to Whom?

A sneak peak synopsis of  “A Midsummers Night’s Dream”

The action is based in a wood near Athens 

(aka St.Etheldreda’s Church, Horley).

Cast and their Characters – The Court of Athens: Tim Allitt – Theseus, Sarah Allitt – Hippolyta, David Foreman – Egeus, Chris Howell – Philostrate, Sue Patching – Servant. The Lovers:  Carlie Lee – Hermia, Tanja Miles – Helena, Joseph Turner – Lysander, Hal Wallis – Demetrius.  The Mechanicals: Julian Wright – Nick Bottom, David Foreman – Peter Quince, Jack Curd – Francis Flute, Sue Keenan –Tom Snout, William Hamer – Robin Starveling, Martin Hamer – Snug. Fairyland: Johnny Lynn – Oberon, Charlotte Curd – Puck, Debra Fox – Titania, Fairies and Indian Child, Millie Gamage and Lucy Hamer – Gate Keepers

Act 1 Overture and Prologue – Fairies flit about the woods and Titania takes the Indian orphan child to Fairyland. Members of the court of Athens are introduced.

Scene 1: Theseus is looking forward to his wedding day and wonders how they will pass the time until then. He sends Philostrate off to organise some entertainment. Egeus enters, complaining that his daughter, Hermia, refuses to marry Demetrius and has been seduced by Lysander. He claims his right as a father to either send Hermia to a convent or have her killed, if she does not marry Demetrius. Theseus takes Egeus’ side and agrees with his wishes. Hippolyta is appalled at this show of male chauvinism and storms out followed by Theseus, Egeus, Demetrius and Helena. Hermia and Lysander are left to mourn their fate until Lysander suggests they elope to the woods. This idea cheers them up just as Helena arrives back on the scene. She bemoans the fact that she cannot win the love of Demetrius, because he loves Hermia and asks what she should do about it. Lysander and Hermia confess that they are going to elope and say their goodbyes. Helena decides to tell Demetrius about the elopement to try and win his favour and, she, too, follows them to the woods.

Scene 2: A group of workers, called The Mechanicals, (because they work with machines), meet to plan a play they might perform for Theseus and Hippolyta on their wedding day. Peter Quince, the director, assigns them their roles and hands out scripts. Bottom wants to play all the parts!

Scene 3: The fairies play and dance. Puck arrives to tell them that Oberon is close by and warns them to keep out of his way because he has quarrelled with Titania, (over an Indian child who they both want) and is in a rage! Oberon and Titania arrive and continue their quarrel. Titania flounces off and Oberon vows he will punish her. He sends Puck off to get a magic herb which will make Titania fall in love with the first person or thing she sees. Oberon hides when Demetrius enters, followed by Helena who throws herself on him, much to his annoyance. They run off and Puck arrives with the magic herb. Oberon explains how he will find Titania asleep and use the juice of the herb to bewitch her. He also gives some of it to Puck, telling him to find a young man (Demetrius) and use the magic to make him fall in love with the young lady (Helena) for whom he feels sorry.

Scene 4: The fairies sing Titania to sleep. Oberon squeezes the juice of the magic herb onto her eyes. Lysander and Hermia enter and find they are lost. They decide to spend the night in the wood. Hermia lays down the rules of where they are to sleep, much to Lysander’s disappointment. Puck enters, and seeing Lysander and Hermia asleep, thinks they are Demetrius and Helena and so uses the magic on the wrong man. Helena is still chasing Demetrius, but stopping to get her breath, notices Lysander asleep. She wakes him and he immediately falls in love with her. Helena, is alarmed at the turn of events and thinking he is mocking her runs away. Besotted, he follows her. Hermia wakes up having had a nightmare and, finding Lysander gone, rushes off to try to find him.

Scene 5: The mechanicals rehearse their play, watched by Puck who changes Bottom into a donkey. This frightens all the others and they run away in alarm. Bottom sings to cheer himself up which wakes Titania who, of course, falls madly in love with him. She summons her fairies to attend to him and orders them to lead him to her bower.

Interval, then Act 2

Scene 1: Oberon and Puck meet to discuss how the plans are going. Demetrius enters with Hermia who is threatening him, because she thinks he has killed Lysander. Puck realizes that he has used the magic on the wrong man and is reprimanded by Oberon for the mistake. He makes Demetrius fall asleep and commands Puck to find Helena and bring her to the sleeping Demetrius. He then squeezes the magic juice on Demetrius. Puck returns with Helena, followed by a love-sick Lysander. Demetrius wakes and seeing Helena, he also falls madly in love with her. Rather than being delighted, Helena believes that Demetrius and Lysander have joined forces to make fun of her. Hermia arrives delighted to have at last found Lysander, only to be brushed aside in Helena’s favour. Helena believes Hermia has joined in the game of mockery and the girls start to squabble, while Lysander and Demetrius are fighting over Helena. The girls start to fight in earnest and have to be separated by the men, before they continue with their own fight. Oberon blames Puck for all the mess and muddle and Puck complains that it’s not his fault. Oberon tells him to lead the lovers through the wood until they fall asleep exhausted. Puck must then repair the damage he has done, which he duly does.

 Scene 2: The fairies settle Titania and Bottom to sleep. Oberon and Puck watch and Oberon tells Puck that he has made it up with Titania and removes the spell. Puck changes Bottom back to himself. Titania wakes and tells Oberon about the weird dream she has just had. They dance and go happily together to Fairyland. Bottom wakes and goes off to find the other Mechanicals.

Scene 3: It is the morning of the wedding. Theseus, Hippolyta and Egeus are taking a walk when they are surprised to find the four lovers asleep. Theseus wakes them and inexplicably all their differences seem to be resolved. Theseus revokes his promise of support to Egeus, and they all go merrily away to prepare for the weddings.

Scene 4: The Mechanicals meet sadly to discuss the missed opportunity to do a play, when Bottom arrives to tell them that the play is to go ahead and they all hurry away to get ready for the performance.

Scene 5: Theseus and Hippolyta are married, together with Hermia and Lysander, and Helena and Demetrius. They need an entertainment to occupy them before they go to bed, so Philostrate reluctantly calls the Mechanicals to perform their play of “Pyramus and Thisbe”. The actors do their best, but it is a sorry affair, ending with a somewhat inept dance. The wedding party, by now rather drunk, are happy enough and retire to bed at midnight.

Scene 6: Puck evokes the spirits of the night and as dawn breaks, Oberon, Titania and the fairies sing and dance by way of a blessing on the three newly married couples. Puck has the final word, which is to say that the whole thing has been a dream!

Cast:

Court of Athens: Tim Allitt – Theseus, Sarah Allitt – Hippolyta, David Foreman – Egeus, Chris Howell – Philostrate, Sue Patching – Servant,

The Lovers:  Carlie Lee – Hermia, Tanja Miles – Helena, Joseph Turner – Lysander, Hal Wallis – Demetrius

The Mechanicals: Julian Wright – Nick Bottom, David Foreman – Peter Quince, Jack Curd – Francis Flute, Sue Keenan -Tom Snout, William Hamer – Robin Starveling, Martin Hamer – Snug

Fairyland: Johnny Lynn – Oberon, Charlotte Curd – Puck, Debra Fox – Titania, Fairies and Indian Child, Millie Gamage and Lucy Hamer – Gate Keepers

Production Team:

Director – Tessa Howell,  Assistant / Prompt –  Louise Jeffries.  Musical Director/ Pianist  – David Kyle.  Costumes  & Props- Tracey Parsons, Alison Wynn, Alison Carr.  Set /Sound/Lighting – Mike Patching. Make-up  Jane Roberts. Photographer- Gary Fox. Programmes- Barry Moss.  Box office- Jenny and Dave Reynolds

This production is dedicated to Brenda Barnwell who would have loved to have been part of it all.       

See all previous posts about this production, Brenda and others about Horley Footlights

“Lord, what fools these mortals be!”

msnd

The Horley Footlight’s production of A Midsummers Night’s Dream is nearly sold out for the only evening performance this coming Friday. There are a few more seat available for the two matinees at 2:00 on Saturday and Sunday 28th.  So to avoid disappointment, don’t delay and book your seats now by either calling  Jenny and Dave Reynolds on 01295 738125 or email them at  daveandjennyreynolds@btopenworld.com.

All staged in St Etheldreda’s Church, Horley… part of the 5 reasons not to miss it, here’s a reminder of the performances times:

  • Friday evening 25th September at 7:00 pm,
  • Saturday matinée 26th September at 2:00pm
  • Sunday matinée 27th September at 2:00pm

£6 Adults, £3 School Children age 7 and over

A Week Today – Who’s Playing Who?

msndAs we count down to our opening night on Friday 25th lets take a peak at who’s playing who ?

From The Court of Athens we have:  Tim Allitt as Theseus; Duke of Athens, engaged to Hippolyta, Sarah Allitt as Hippolyta; Queen of the Amazons, David Foreman as Egeus; Father to Hermia. Chris Howell as Philostrate; Master of Revels. Sue Patching as a servant.

The Lovers are : Carlie Lee as Hermia; in love with Lysander. Tanja Miles as Helena; in love with Demetrius.  Joseph Turner as Lysander; in love with Hermia.  Hal Wallis as Demetrius; Egeus choice of husband to Hermia.

The Mechanicals  are the workers who put on a play: Julian Wright as Nick Bottom; a weaver who plays Pyramus. David Foreman as Peter Quince; a carpenter who directs the play. Jack Curd as Francis Flute; a bellows-mender who plays Thisbe. Sue Keenan as Tom Snout; a tinker who plays Wall. William Hamer as Robin Starveling; a tailor who plays Moonshine. Martin Hamer as Snug; a joiner who plays Lion.

From Fairy land we have: Johnny Lynn as Oberon; king of the fairies. Charlotte Curd as Puck; servant to Oberon. Debra Fox as Titania; queen of the fairies, and the Indian Child, with Millie Gamage and  Lucy Hamer as the gate keepers to fairyland.

Clear? See if this helps……..

MidsummerNightsDreamCharactermap

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”   By William Shakespeare.  Music by Felix Mendelssohn with the Fairies’ Lullaby composed by  Jeremy Jackman, for the Children of Horley

Brought to you by the Horley Footlights Production Team:  

Director – Tessa Howell,  Assistant / Prompt –  Louise Jeffries.  Musical Director/ Pianist  – David Kyle.  Costumes  & Props- Tracey Parsons, Alison Wynn, Alison Carr.  Set /Sound/Lighting – Mike Patching. Make-up  Jane Roberts. Photographer– Gary Fox. Programmes- Barry Moss.  Box office- Jenny and Dave Reynolds

This production is dedicated to Brenda Barnwell who would have loved to have been part of it all.     This our first play without her; we have missed her organisational skills, drive and energy.     

See all previous posts about this production and others about Horley Footlights

Salacious Fly Back Stage Gossip….

flySo. I hear Magic Mike has had to reinforce the bower, up in the church. He’s been made to build a ‘love plinth’, by all accounts, where a character called Titania gets intimately acquainted with one of the cricketers. He’s wearing a mask, of course, but the shoulders of Horley’s slog-it star batsman is unmistakeable. One imagines terrifically exciting maiden-overs; I do hope Magic Mike used adequate bracing.

Talking of the barely-dressed (Oh? We weren’t?)…well. Oberon. That polo player, and good golly, can’t we tell those hours in the saddle? He obviously doesn’t feel the cold – one wonders why he bothers with any clothes at all.

There are two dressers, apparently – a brace, already rapidly becoming known as the ‘Un-Dressers’, as costumes become smaller and smaller. There was talk yesterday of frilly knickers and plunging necklines. Really quite inappropriate.

My dear, I must run, but before I do…I hear Mrs Robinson was rather put out last week. She was forced into a clinch with an unlikely stand-in, as her young lover was stuck at school. Shocking! The Nordic Blonde thought it most amusing, but soon shut up when the scrapping started. I hear there was blood spilt during one scene at least. From whom it came, I couldn’t say…

Sources not disclosed, see previous Salacious Gossip and the Latest Backstage Buzz for more insight into the goings on in our church!

The Latest Buzz From Backstage

silly_cute_cartoon_fly_character_Fly on the Wall – Midsummers Night’s Dream

Rehearsals are underway with the whole cast , well mostly. They have run through the play twice now and it’s shaping up nicely. Enough so that soon they will have five days off whilst the Ironstone Chamber Musical Festival is on. This is because A) it’s also being held in our wonderful church, B) Tessa Howell with her ole man Chris (remember he’s the terribly attractive one) are also organising that little event! No mean feat but then Tessa was prepared to wait for her young lovers to do their GCSE’s and you can see why: they were worth the wait.

Here’s the latest fly-on-the-wall titillating notes written as they have unfolded in each rehearsal………..  (with more to follow shortly no doubt from that salacious gossip fly )

Tuesday 1st September – Act 1 notes

  • Stage builder “Magic Mike”  was found building  the Bower with extra reinforcement for the goings on between Titiania and Bottom.
  • Wardrobe wizard “Transformational Tracey” was fitting up that Oberon so you could see his chest amongst other things.
  • 2nd director and prompt “Lucky Louise” was doing her thing very well and even stood in for a young man.
  • The costume duo  “The Alisons” have been cutting off, stitching up and making good the fairy outfits as well enjoying the fittings with other cast members .
  • The Fairies flounced their stuff and made mischief of their Queen’s new love interest
  • Being back stage at the time I didn’t see much of the lovers’ scenes, nor Oberon or Mechanicals but I hear there was a lot of crotch grabbing (and shocked gasps….)

Friday 4th Sept – Act 2 notes

  • Those young males lovers are fizzing with testosterone, and visibly scaring the older ladies.
  • As for those (no so ) young ladies… well they are a sassy pair all sweetness and light, then fur flying cat fighting, all very mesmerising.
  • Talking of cats there were a few being strangled as the Queen of the fairies led the singing unaccompanied.
  • We have a new addition to the cast – a serving wench. She doesn’t have to say a word, her character is perfectly drawn with her very obvious seasoned sashaying and experience showing through.
  • The mechanicals are a triumph in casting, just too funny, especially when they are not supposed to be. That “chink” in the wall has a bit of a attitude; not very courteous. Their dancing is a joy to behold.
  • Thisbe got so carried away with her (his) “a feared” departure that s(he) slid on the mat and practically did a bounce into backstage
  • Oberon, the consummate professional, carried on rehearsing his lines backstage, including all the moves much to the agog giggling fairies.
  • The Fairies think he (Oberon) is quite scary (so does his Queen and Puck) when he gets into full swing, a real force to be reckoned with.
  • Puck was enjoying watching “their fond pageant see” from the pulpit and was laughing at “what fools these mortals be”.

Sunday 6th September – Act 1 & 2 The whole play

  • Well what a 1st full run through! Lots of drama on and off stage with the fairies having to deal with one of their fairy attendants nose bleed.
  • Good to see the whole play in one go as the shape of it appears and the subtleties of plot and the way Tessa has interpreted it unfolds.
  • All of which is very nicely explained in a synopsis that Tessa has written; I saw it in the programme as I buzzed by.
  • The Mechanicals are getting funnier and funnier, just looking at them makes me laugh with some subtle and not-so-subtle performances by both the young and older cast, a real treat to behold.
  • Now those young (mostly) lovers are heating up as they become secure with their lines and start to really through themselves into it.
  • I am getting a bit concerned for Hermia, as she gets violently thrown across the stage, and I wasn’t sure if the limp afterward was meant to carry on.
  • As for those two approaching their nuptial hour (Theseus and Hippolyta) they seem very familiar with each other. You can tell that he in particular has taken very easily to lording it about and making merry, me thinks he may have had prior experience?
  • Young Puck is starting to take more centre stage as she grows in confidence, and as the character requires, is a quick and lively imp.
  • Bottom has a large part (in the play) and is now “off script”, he is the only character that crosses into fairy land, and what a reception he gets!
  • That Queen only has eyes for him and is “much enamoured with his note and enthralled with his shape” as she vamps over him.
  • As for those fairies, they don’t need much encouragement to flounce around and flick their hair. They are quite mesmerising, especially when they sing their Queen to sleep.
  • So it’s shaping up and soon they will have a stage to rehearse on, piano accompaniment, and costumes to get to grips with, to make sure there are no wardrobe malfunctions.

Good news both acts are less than an hour, so with the interval it should be a done and dusted in two hours, leaving you wanting more! It is fast-paced, with speedy entrances and exits making the play fly. It’s such a romp through each scene that you have to be awake to take in what’s going on, not  something that usually “this fly” manages to do with Mr. Shakespeare.

*** Stop Press 123***

  1. The box office has reported high volume of ticket sales for Friday night (Friday 25th 7:00, Saturday 26th 2:00 & Sunday 27th 2:00)  so if you want to go then you had better get in quick…….
  2. Help wanted to transform the cast with make-up, no previous experience required
  3. The stage is struck and so the countdown begins

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What’s New – September 2015

WHAT a September we have in store for our beautiful medieval church with not one but

Two marvellous events:

Ironstone ConcertsNext weekend Friday 11th and Saturday 12th the Ironstone Chamber Music Festival and a Choral Mass at the Sunday Service. Organised by Chris and Tessa Howell, If you haven’t already done so you can still get you tickets 

msndThen on Friday 25th, Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th a Horley Footlights production of Midsummer Night’s Dream, see the 5 reasons not to miss … once again produced and directed by Tessa Howell – see the “fly on the wall” report (… more to come) with all the  backstage gossip !

Both events as you can see are brought to us by Mr & Mrs Howell, thank you Tessa and Chris for everything you bring to our village.

Other Village News –

Superfast Broadband has arrived in Horley welcome to the 21st Century !

See the Parish Council minutes for the latest developments following the last meeting and remember to check the Notice Board page for general information you maybe interested in.

Also remember you can always see what Lucy submits to the  Banbury Guardian, these pages are updated regularly as are the photo’s and headers. I’ve started to include photo’s of Horley Views from Facebook and if you have any you would like to share you can always email them to horleyviews@outlook.com . We really enjoy feedback and are happy to include your ideas, information or memories that you would like to share.

So let us know…….. Di (Marriot) & Deb (Fox)

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