The Anniversary: A Black Comedy by Bill MacIlwraith, Greenwich, London
30 October 2008: The Anniversary: A Black Comedy by Bill MacIlwraith
You're invited round to Mum's living room in The Anniversary by Bill MacIlwraith to celebrate her wedding anniversary with the rest of her family. Nothing too strange about that – except her husband has been dead for several years. Come along and wit
Ever wondered what it might have been like to live with one of theatre's evil mothers? From Medea to Gypsy, Carrie, Marie Christine and Mommie Dearest theatre and film audiences have always been mesmerized by overbearing mums. Now you have a chance to meet one of them.
You're invited round to Mum's living room in The Anniversary by Bill MacIlwraith to celebrate her wedding anniversary with the rest of her family. Nothing too strange about that – except her husband has been dead for several years. Come along and witness this evil, charming woman as she vilifies all those around her, especially her three sons. Be warned – you'll be in for an evening of delicious comedy and toe curling embarrassment.
The lead role of Mum has previously been played by such stars as Sheila Hancock, Bette Davis and, originally, Mona Washbourne. Now Ellen Sheean will be taking up the talons of possibly the theatre's most feared mother in this deliciously dark comedy.
Ellen has worked with a variety of well known companies and directors including several lead roles with The Citizens' Theatre in Glasgow. During the course of many years in the profession Ellen has gathered several funny anecdotes – a couple of which have been included below.
Following their successful production of A Christmas Carol last year, Flat Pack Productions return to the Greenwich Playhouse to collaborate with director Joseph C. Walsh.
Additional information
Please find attached a pdf version of the press release, and a low resolution production shot.
For further details about the production, cast and company visit our website where there are further high and low resolution images available to download:
www.flatpackproductions.com
Production: The Anniversary by Bill MacIlwraith
Director: Joseph C. Walsh
Dates: 14th October to 9th November 2008
Tuesday to Saturday @ 7.30pm, Sunday @ 4.00pm
Press night: Thursday 16th October 2008 @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £12.00 and £10.00 (concs.)
Box Office: [number available to members only] 256
[email address available to members only]
Venue: Greenwich Playhouse
Greenwich Station Forecourt, London SE10 8JA
Quotes and Anecdotes
Joseph C. Walsh: As a director it is a rare privilege to be able to work on a piece that is so taut and beautifully constructed. Bill MacIlwraith has written a masterpiece that is dark, shocking, moving and extremely funny. The play works because it examines the universal struggle of family dynamics and exaggerates them.
Ellen Sheean: Interview with Susan Mansfield, The Scotsman, October 2002
She was a "star-struck slave" at a summer theatre in Massachusetts, when Marlon Brando and Jessica Tandy arrived to put on A Streetcar Named Desire. "I was absolutely hopeless at almost everything. In lighting I was a disaster. I once sat on the lighting board and there was a total black-out just as the star came on. So I was always on wardrobe. Brando was in his 30s, the most beautiful man I had ever seen in my entire life. Everyone was absolutely transfixed. I expressed my love by washing all his clothes all the time and ironing them very, very carefully. He was very courteous and eventually he came to me and said ‘I'm playing Stanley Kowalski, I don't need a starched T-shirt!'"
"Hermione Gingold drove me mad. She was a terrible tease. She had apparently been refused admission to RADA, and someone told her I was going, so she couldn't have been nastier to me. She told me she needed to have her underwear washed in Indian tonic water, which isn't that easy to find in a small town in Pennsylvania. Of course it was a complete tease, she was just making my life hell."
Previous reviews: A Christmas Carol, Flat Pack Productions, Dec. 2007 to Jan. 2008
"Book your ticket today. It really is worth it."
The Stage
"it's by far the best version of the story I have seen"
Macela Olivares, indieLondon
"An excellent dramatisation of Dickens' classic ....... you can only enjoy it"
Richard Woulfe, UK Theatre Network
OUTeverywhere member organiser
This event has been added to the OUTeverywhere calendar by Joe W from Greenwich in the London area.
Met some nice guys who were out for a few drinks from this site so thought I would join. I love going to the theatre, enjoy the cinema and nice chats in pubs. Am a fun-loving and interesting guy. Looking to broaden my circle of friends and maybe meet some new mates to go to theatre, cinema, explore the city or just have a pint and a laugh with. Originally from Boston came here
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