Synopsis:

The Cleveland Grand Opera Company is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a gala performance of Otello, guest starring world famous tenor, Tito Merelli, known as Il Stupendo, who has not arrived at the expected time, leaving Saunders, the General Manager, with a huge problem to solve if he and the Cleveland Grand Opera Company are to remain solvent!   There follows a stream of chaos, confusion, double entendres, scantily clad young females, mistaken identity and ensuing comic mayhem!

Dates: Tuesday 1st May through to Saturday 5th May

Times: 7.30pm (Sat Mat: 2.30pm)

Venue: Pump House Theatre & Arts Centre

Address: Local Board Road, Lower High Street, Watford WD17 2JP

Nearest Station: Watford High Street (London Overground)

Prices: Tuesday Preview £10; Other performances – £12 (£10.50 concessions)

Call Box Office 0844 745 1944 to reserve or Click Here to Buy Tickets Online NOW

http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/leisure/reviews/9386452.Meet_Me_In_St_Louis_at_Watersmeet_Theatre___/

So Amber, you’re designing dance routines for our show, is this something you always wanted to do?

Actually, no. When I was little, I wanted to be a singer. It might still happen, but at the moment I’m doing 6 jobs! I work as a cover teacher at Bishop Ramsey School (Ruislip), as well as the musical theatre teather at Pauline Quirke Academy (Amersham). As well as choreographing Meet Me In St Louis, I’m also director and choreographer for Panda Players  Boogie Nights show; I’m a drama teacher for Mad Cow Performing Arts in Amersham and I’m also membership secretary for HLOC. I’m also studying for a teacher’s degree as well as learning British sign language at college.

Goodness, you have got a lot going on. What achievement would you really want to be known for?

I would love to direct and choreograph a West-end or Broadway musical.

What’s your biggest fear?

Balloons! I absolutely hate them! They are the devil’s creation!

And so what is the most daring thing you’ve attempted?

I would say that tandem abseiling over a 60ft cliff was scary and very daring for me, but hugely satisfying after I’d done it.

So what’s your proudest moment?

My proudest moment follows my lowest moment. In my early twenties I was badly injured in a car accident and was told by doctors that I was paralyzed and would never be able to walk again, never mind dance. However, I proved them wrong and my so proudest moment was getting through my first dance class after that accident.

That’s amazing Amber, you would never have known. Good luck with the show, really looking forward to seeing it.

So Geoff, we’ve managed to persuade you to perform on stage this time. Tell us about your character in Meet Me In St Louis

Apart from being in the ensemble, I play Sidney Purvis who is a serious gentlemen at the ball who gets to dance with the heroine, Esther. He’s a terrible dancer.

Do you and Sidney Purvis have any similar characteristics?

Apart from being the same age, I think not, because actually I do dance a bit of ballroom and Latin with my wife, Margaret, so it’s not been very easy to waltz badly. But if I have to play Purvis as a grump, then I think I could do that very well. But this definitely ranks as one of the most daring things I’ve ever done!

So what’s your biggest fear?

I have a very low pain threshold, so anything to do with pain is something I’m fearful of

What did you want to be when you were 8 years old?

I wanted to be a train driver, that was in the days when trains were trains, steam and all that

And what do you actually do for a living?

I’m a senior HR consultant – a lot cleaner than driving steam trains!

What’s been your proudest moment so far?

I recently became a granddad for the first time!

Aww, that’s nice. What achievement would you most like to be known for?

I’m an ardent golf fan, and it would be a dream come true to be playing gold off scratch. In fact getting any sort of handicap would be a major achievement. But at the moment I’m enjoying singing in the ensemble and trying to remember all the words and the base line in all the chorus numbers.

Good luck and enjoy your first show on stage this time!

So Emily, welcome to Ricky Players. Tell us about your role in Meet Me In St Louis.

Hi, I play one of the younger children aged about 7 or 8. My character is quite cheeky and lively and I tend to get into trouble with the adults.

What similarities are there between you and your character?

I’m normally lively and awake and I can also be quite funny and cheeky

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I want to be an actress or a chef

Who’s been your biggest influence in your life so far

My best friend Connie and my mum

Which singer and/or actor do you most admire?

My drama teacher Bryn at Sylvia Young because he’s really encouraging and the singer, Adele, I think her voice is amazing.

What’s your biggest fear?

Big hairy spiders

What is the most daring thing you’ve attempted

The most daring thing I’ve done so far is a parachute jump

What’s your proudest moment

My proudest moment was being on the West End stage at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in Cameron Mackintosh’s ‘Oliver’. It was an amazing experience.

What did you dream of last night

I was having a picnic with Winnie the Pooh and the pop group, One Direction

What achievement do you want to be known for

I’d like to act in a Hollywood film, or be a world famous chef

Well good luck and enjoy Meet Me In St Louis. I know I will.

Hi Erin, welcome back to another Ricky Players show. Tell us what role you’re playing for us in Meet Me In St Louis

I play one of the Tootie’s, we’ve got two teams of children, and I’m performing on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings.

Is your character Tootie anything like the real you?

Well Tootie and I are both bright and funny, but I’m not as over dramatic and I definitely don’t bury my dolls.

Looking ahead Erin, do you know what you want to be when you grow up?

When I leave school, I want to be a famous singer like Adele or an actress. I really admire the actress Julie Andrews because like her I love singing and acting.

What is your biggest fear?

Being on stage and opening my mouth to speak and no sound coming out of my mouth!

Well I think you’re probably not alone in that fear! What’s the most daring thing you’ve done?

Singing in front of 20,000 people at the O2 Arena – that was really scary!

What was your proudest moment?

When I heard the news that I was picked to play Tootie!

Well congratulations and good luck! I’m really looking forward to seeing you on stage again.

So Jevan, it’s nice to see you back again this year. Tell us about the character you play for Meet Me In St Louis

I’m Grandpa Prophater and, quote: I like my second childhood, I’m enjoying it immensely!”. Grandpa also has an obsessive fascination for hats, is about 70 years old going on 7!

Are there any similarities between the real you and Grandpa?

Only that I actually became a real grandpa a few weeks before being cast.

Congratulations! You say that Grandpa is reliving his childhood, do you remember your childhood and what you wanted to be when you grew up when you were 8 years old?

All I remember when I was 8 years old is that I wanted to be 9 years old!

Ha ha ha, so what did you end up doing as an adult?

I’m enjoying gardening, having taken redundancy 3 months ago. I am a retired Naval Commander and Senior Civil Servant. I’m also still a practising Toastmaster and Voice Artist.

So what was your proudest moment?

Being the Queen’s Guard Office and Parade Commander for Prince Charles

And who would you say has been your biggest influence in life

That’s easy, it’s my wife, Chrissy. She’s DSM* for Meet Me.

[*DSM = Deputy Stage Manager]

What achievement do you want to be known for?

I would love to be known for performing the definitive Mack in a revival of ‘Mack & Mabel’.

So how are rehearsals going for Meet Me?

I would say it’s getting quite intense now. I’m even dreaming about Meet Me In St Louis!

Well good luck, can’t wait!

So, Alexis, welcome to Ricky Players, we know you’re in the ensemble, but do you have a character?

Well, yes, I swap between being a parasol lady, to being a nanny, to being a passenger on the trolley bus who’s hanging on for dear life whilst looking happy and dancing at the same time!

That sounds quite scary, what’s the most daring thing you’ve ever attempted?

Not so much daring as challenging – I took part in ‘Strictly Learn Dancing’ in aid of the  Hospice of St Francis. I had 8 weeks to learn the Tango and Cha Cha Cha and perform it in front of a huge audience!

That sounds like quite a challenge. So what is your proudest moment?

Well I’ve had a few, but I think the proudest moments were watching my sons receive school awards when they were little.

So, then when you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Well I remember when I was 8 years old, I wanted to be a vet.

And what do you do now?

I’m a Resource Manager – completely unrelated to animals!

And do you live locally?

I grew up in Colindale, North West London, but I now live in Kings Langley.

And back to the show, what are you most looking forward to?

Well, apparently as a nanny I have to push a pram with a baby in it. I’m really looking forward to pushing a real pram and charge and not just an ‘air’ version!

I’m sure it will be a great show and can’t wait to see it too!

So, Isabelle, this is your first show with Rickmansworth Players, tell us what you’re role is in Meet Me In St Louis

I’m one of the children that appear in crowd scenes causing havock with the adults. I’m quite little so I can get away with a lot because I look a lot younger than I am.

And what would you like to be when you grow up?

I’d really like to be an actress, because I really admire Judy Garland and I’d like to be like her. But if I can’t be an actress, then I’d like to be a nurse. And if that doesn’t work out I’d quite like to be a teacher.

You’re quite young still, but what’s been your proudest moment so far?

I danced on stage in front of hundreds of people – I loved it and was so proud of myself. I really want to be known for winning dance awards. I can’t wait to perform on stage for Meet Me In St Louis.

Well, I’m sure you’ll be great in Meet Me In St Louis, I’m looking forward to seeing it.

Photos by Paul Sergeant

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