The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company returns

The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company comes to The Masonic Hall in St Leonards later this month with a show called The Dressing Book, their first winter season performance, writes HOT’s Zelly Restorick.

‘The Rudes’, as they are affectionately known, performed a magnificent show in St Leonards Gardens in the summer, Who Saw Marjorie Daw?.  I remember being immediately drawn in by the powerful atmosphere created by the company.  The script, white-faced make-up, the shining energy of the actors, their rapport with the audience and their amazing costumes all contributed to a fantastic, enthralling evening of entertainment – and the same can be expected from Pete Talbot’s latest play, The Dressing Book.

Only a few weeks ago, the company were awaiting confirmation from The Arts Council that they’d have the money to go on tour.  Celebrations of funding success were then followed by intense, lengthy rehearsals, learning of lines, sewing of costumes and developing of characters, in order to get everything ready for the tour to start last weekend.

This season, the company are performing at smaller, inside venues throughout the South of England with three actors, who each play multiples of roles.  The performance is a comedy and a tender love story in the company’s contemporary commedia dell’arte style.

The play follows the social rounds of Mrs Maybelline Erstwhile, who records which dresses she wears for each event in her ‘dressing book’ – and the men she encounters whilst wearing them.  A ‘dressing book’ was one of the prized possessions of a stylish Georgian lady.  Pete Talbot has also invested a lot of time and energy recreating the dialogue and speech used at the time, including writing a poem that sways and jogs to the rhythm of a horse drawn carriage.

‘For Maybelline, life becomes both a search for love in a ‘conventional’ marriage’, writes Talbot ‘and for freedom from the domestic round imposed on her by social convention and by her tyrannical husband – symbolised by the dresses she wears. The play begins in the late 18thC, but plays games with time.’

The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company : The Dressing Book

November 25^th 2012 at The Masonic Hall, St Leonards at 7.30pm.

For other venues on the tour, please check out the website.

Book early – limited seats available.

Tickets available from website or call the Central Box Office on 01323 501260.

All tickets bought on the night will be £10 – no concessions will be available


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rude Mechanicals Theatre Company returns

 

The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company comes to The Masonic Hall in St Leonards later this month with a show called The Dressing Book, their first winter season performance, writes HOT’s Zelly Restorick.

 

‘The Rudes’, as they are affectionately known, performed a magnificent show in the summer, ‘Who Saw Marjorie Daw?’, performed in St Leonards’ Gardens.  I remember being immediately drawn in by the powerful atmosphere created by the company.  The script, white-faced make-up, the shining energy of the actors, their rapport with the audience and their amazing costumes all contributed to a fantastic evening of entertainment – and the same can be expected from Pete Talbot’s latest play, The Dressing Book.

 

This season, the company are performing at smaller, inside venues throughout the South of England with three actors who play multiples of roles.  The play is a comedy and a tender love story in the company’s contemporary commedia dell’arte style.

 

The play follows the social rounds of Mrs Maybelline Erstwhile, who records which dresses she wears for each event in her ‘dressing book’ – and the men she encounters while wearing them.  A ‘dressing book’ was one of the prize possessions of a stylish Georgian lady.  Pete Talbot has also invested a lot of time and energy recreating the dialogue and speech used at the time, including writing a poem that sways and jogs to the rhythm of a horse drawn carriage.

 

‘For Maybelline, life becomes both a search for love in a ‘conventional’ marriage’, writes Talbot ‘and for freedom from the domestic round imposed on her by social convention and by her tyrannical husband – symbolised by the dresses she wears. The play begins in the late 18thC, but plays games with time.’

 

The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company : The Dressing Book

November 25^th 2012 at The Masonic Hall, St Leonards at 7.30pm

For other venues on the tour, please check out the website.

Book early – limited seats available.

Tickets available from website or call the Central Box Office on 01323 501260.

All tickets bought on the night will be £10.  No concessions will be available

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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