April in Paris
by John Godber
A brilliantly funny look at the English abroad, and the reawakening of a relationship
A brilliantly funny look at the English abroad. Al and Bet lead a quiet, boring life in Yorkshire. After 20 years of working for the same company, he has been made redundant and cannot find another job. Frustrated with their life and worried about their future, the marriage has stagnated. Then Bet wins a “Romantic Breaks” competition in a magazine. The prize: a holiday for two in Paris. This is their first experience abroad, and they struggle with French cuisine, the French language, and fight off muggers in the Metro. And it’s about the reawakening of a relationship and how people view the world outside their horizons.
Sponsored by Morris Gregory
Cast & Crew
Cast
Bet ………………………………………………………………….Elizabeth Travis
Al ……………………………………………………………………….Paul Dawson
Crew
Directors …………………………………….Verity Mann, John Matthews
Set design ………………………………………..Keith Begley, Verity Mann
Set construction ………………………………….Keith Begley, Colin Watt,
………………………………………Jan Wieringa, Mike Clegg, Verity Mann
Stage manager ……………………………………………….. Andrew Wilson
Technical ………………………………………………………..David Plowright
Lighting operation ……………………………………………….Tim Newbold
Sound ……………………………………………………………………Luke Settle
Costumes …………………………………………………………….Verity Mann
Props …………………………………………………………..Lorraine Reynolds
Make-up …………………………………………………………Mariella Ciniglio
Prompt …………………………………………………….Margaret Thompson
DIRECTOR’S NOTES
Whether we like it or not, whether we are aware of it or not, we all choose how we behave in a relationship. Just like many people
who have been together a long time, Al and Bet are not getting on as well as they did. Their relationship is stale; Al out of work; life not living up to Bet’s daydreaming expectations. And so it happens they get a chance to shake things up, to do something exciting together. But will they choose to enjoy it, to make the most of it and seize the moment? Or will they let their rote behaviour get in the way? This is what interests me in this play.
J.M.