The Guild Theatre launches its 2016 season with a riotous comedy that unites both the old and the new. Veterans of the group work together with aspiring young actors in this fun play, to provide an evening of laughs and a little sentiment.
Exit Laughing is a joyous comedy about starting afresh and living life to the fullest.
For 30 years four ladies meet for a weekly bridge game lead by the indomitable Mary. Connie, Leona and Millie are at a loss as to how to get on with their lives after Mary, the life-of-the-party and true adventurer in their close knit group passes away. They embark on a desperate attempt to capture the memory of Mary for one last bridge game in her honour. What unfolds is an uproarious celebration of life’s possibilities, through unexpected events that will have you gasping and wondering where it will go next!
Exit Laughing is the first production for 2016, a year which heralds 50 years that The Guild Theatre has been situated at Walz Street, Rockdale. The very first production staged there was Quality Street and it is exciting that Allanah Jarman, playing ‘Leona’, was a part of that first production. A seasoned actress, Allanah says she still has to struggle to keep a straight face during the outrageously funny lines and situations in this play. While it is a comedy from beginning to end, Allanah points out that it also touches on something we all have to deal with at some time in our lives – the death of a good friend – and shows a novel and surprising twist that uplifts the spirit. She believes audiences will love how it all pans out and will be talking about it for a long time.
Allanah is joined by another veteran of the Guild theatre, Val Farrow, who plays the role of ‘Millie’. After 27 years acting onstage at the Guild Theatre, Val points out she still has her work cut out for her. The challenge in this play – to make the character believable, even though she is quite empty-headed.
Kathy Goddard rounds off the trio as the third member of this talented and experienced group of actresses. Playing ‘Connie’ a single mum to her daughter ‘Rachel’, (new Guild member Danica Taylor), Kathy says “When it comes to playing a comic role, I don’t plan anything. I run on instinct and let the character unfold”, and we certainly are in for some interesting revelations.
This is the type of play where all the actors enjoy the comic jibing and camaraderie as each of their characters are tested to the limit. The unexpected turn of events is largely represented by ‘Bobby’ played by Jack Stout, who arrives with some outrageous surprises that won’t be easily forgotten.
For a good night out Exit Laughing will have you doing just that.