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That Was The Weekend That Was

By Brendan Charles (Association Manager) on Thursday 08th December 2011

HATS once again entertained a packed house over the weekend of November with their production of ‘Don’t Get your Vicars in a Twist ‘. It ran from Thur Nov 24th – Sat 29th – and showcased new members to the group, an excellent cast and equally impressive set all of which have, in past productions, seen HATS win awards in excellence & other categories from NODA.

Audience feedback has been wonderful:

‘Everyone was laughing’
’It was good to see a full house’
’The entire evening was so well organised …you could pre-book your drinks for the interval’
’What a great night out for £5.00 (plus a free mince pie!)’

Their winter production for 2012 is now being planned …a Panto, Babes in the Wood – a joint production with our Merchistoun Youth Arts.

On the Sunday we entertained the Chain Gang with a three course Christmas lunch with all the trimmings! Pigs in blankets, brandy butter & homemade roast potatoes.

During the afternoon, we were presented with an engraved glass keepsake inscribed with: ‘The Chain Gang wishes to place on record its appreciation for all the years of unstinting support given by Brendan & Julia‘

We will welcome the Chain Gang back for their quarterly lunches in 2012; dates are booked and menus being planned!

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TWTWTW – Frankenstien

By Brendan Charles (Association Manager) on Wednesday 16th November 2011

Merchistoun Hall on a dark autumnal evening was the perfect setting for a brand new adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the story re-animated by professional touring theatre Proteus Theatre Company.

A small cast of just 5 versatile performers told two stories linked together by the nightmare created on that fateful dark night on the shores of Lake Geneva. A story that resounds & bears such relevance to the world we live in today!

The production was set against a back drop of a simplistic yet highly effective set of created from a backdrop of cloth with hand drawn pictures of the human body dissected & draped across it on a rope. The furniture design was from an era of long ago … wording that bled in to darkness re-told some of the pertinent lines from the script through projection on to the scenery itself, all complimented by original and haunting music.

Simplicity was the key word in this production – a removal of a jacket & a subtle change of lighting would inform the audience that Shelley’s husband would soon become Victor Frankenstein in another story …. the placing of an eerily created head bandage would allow the character to transform from Byron into the hideous yet tortured monster. This illusion was enhanced further by the monster looking down on the scene in play from the heights of a simple ladder, the creature lumbering and inquisitive & animal like reactions to those actions unfolding in front of him. The simple putting on of a pinnie whilst in one character would transform Mary Shelley from one story into Elizabeth in the horror fantasy.

Even the the use of a delicate paper puppet was also cleverly employed to symbolise the fragility of the child involved & the fate it endures in both stories.

The play explored the ensuing pain and anguish of all the characters from Byron & Mary through Victor and his creation – all as a consequence of that fateful decadent evening on the shores of Lake Geneva.

The company then spent quality time with members of our own MHYouth Arts in a post show event discussing the plan of MHYouth Arts and how the production of Frankenstein took shape from page to stage.

A Tomb with a View Review 8-9 October 2011

By Lisa Clements (Youth Arts) on Friday 14th October 2011

With the open dress rehearsal to the Trustees on the Friday night Merchistoun Youth Arts’ Footlights were given a taster of the impending opening night nerves! A Tomb with a view by Norman Robbins was deemed a great success of short-sighted Romans, family solicitors, extrinsic scientists and dodgy dealings! Footlights entertained a full house on the opening Saturday night with the tales of the tomb family’s missing millions! And an equally as entertained audience on the Sunday evening with the story of their late father’s will reading.

Callan Riches gave a sterling performance as Peregrine Potter who as if by magic later after the car had conveniently ended up in the Tomb’s family lake re appeared looking suspiciously like a certain other Mr Potter! That was once he was allowed to get dressed after one of the Tomb sister’s Monica played by Beck Davey finally let him! The mad scientist and head of the Tomb household Lucien played by Danny Burke showed the true neurotic scientist who felt the best way to deal with issues was to write to the Prime minister! Poor old Lucien lost his head literally! Of course not forgetting Agatha Hammond the trustworthy house keeper played by Jen Morris who was convinced the old man was not dead and was playing nasty games! Unfortunately met her unexpected end with a meat axe!

Doug Correa played Marcus Tomb who was convinced he was Ceaser and spent most of the evening dressed in a toga whilst Nurse Franklin played by Kris Woodthorpe tried to sway the visitors to the mansion that he was not mad merely disturbed! Vicky Legge as Emily Tomb the comical bitchy sister excelled with on stage banter with the rest of the Tomb clan! Dora Tomb played by Hannah Gorman secretly weaving her magic with her ‘home-made’ wine that had seen off many a visitor ended up dead too! Then of course not to forget Mr Penworthy the family solicitor played by Tom Robson who after telling the Tomb’s of their ‘mis’ fortune was indeed too murdered, obviously he played his part far too well!

The twist to the plot relieved that in fact the mysterious Miss Ash aka Freda Mountjoy played by Alice Robson was not in fact the famously novelist the Tomb family thought she was! Her very convincing assistant Peregrine Potter was in fact the novelist but having been cleverly worked out by the evil Nurse Franklin who herself ended up being killed after admitting to murdering the others rounded off an excellent weekend of theatre!

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That Was The Weekend That Was

By Brendan Charles (Association Manager) on Friday 30th September 2011

We hosted two events and one activity for the That Was The Weekend That Was for Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th September.

This week’s review is a little different we received the following testimonial and review from the father of the bride, and with his permission we are pleased to share his words.

Saturday – 1950s Style Wedding of Georgiana & Michael

On arrival the impressions were “What a beautiful building and setting”. And with the tarmac, flowers and the lights it did look good.
On entering the hall the table set up and decorations by RKdia looked very attractive.
The side doors of the hall allow free access to the side lawn where groups under the columns to chat and sip their refreshments.
The youngsters were also able to play ring-a-ring of roses through the lobby and hall to the front door which was very popular. Their parents were also able to keep an eye on them whilst socialising.
The children guests had a great deal of fun on the play area and the grounds in general.
The larger children (18 to twenty five) also congregated around the carved chair. I did not have the courage to get too close!
The stage was perfect for the band ensuring a separation between band and guests and looking and sounding good at the same time.
The location of MH means the the band (and they WERE loud) did not affect any local residents. Someone said they could hear the tiles on the Colonnade area bouncing but this may be an exaggeration.
Talking about the band, having the bar as a refuge for those of a delicate disposition was brilliant. Incidentally, the louder the band, the greater the exodus the greater possibility of bar sales.
Sid and the bar staff were effective and unobtrusive.
And, finally, the settee in the lobby was host to a selection of groups all evening chatting together. There was definitively enough data there for a sociology PhD.
Veronica and myself would like to thank you and your staff for a very successful, stress-free and enjoyable evening on Saturday. The responses from our guests were all very positive and everyone appeared to have had a good time.
Thank you again.
John – Father of the Bride

Sunday

We hosted the autumn lunch for the Chain Gang – they dined on Red peppers stuffed with cream cheese and ham on a bed of salad leaves, premium quality sausages, home-made mash potato (with cream & butter), seasonal glazed vegetables & onion gravy followed by a Belgium chocolate taught & cream for dessert. We look forward to their return for their Christmas lunch meeting

Much set building (wood sawing, nail hammering), costume changing, light rigging, prop making took place in the main theatre space as Footlights spent the first of two whole days at MH from 11am – 9pm preparing for their production of A Tomb with A View in October

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That Was The Weekend That Was

By Brendan Charles (Association Manager) on Friday 16th September 2011

Merchistoun Hall had a thriving weekend over the period Friday Sept 9th – Sunday Sept 11th.

The Friday evening saw the wedding reception of Rebecca Wells & John Sims welcome drinks of Pimms & Lemonade were served to over 100 guests in reception foyer to a background of fairy lights that lit the fireplace & staircase, Catering & a decorated Merchistoun Hall were provided by HCa recommended caters RKdia.

We hosted another wedding celebration on the Saturday evening for a Miss Michaela Nimmonds. A wine reception welcomed the guests on arrival to Merchistoun Hall and Michaela’s guests joined in her celebrations during the course of the evening and afternoon.

On The Sunday HCA hosted its very first & highly successful OPEN HOUSE showcasing Merchistoun Hall as a: community /office space / corporate / theatre / wedding venue. We will be giving another more in-depth story on this day later complete with pictures and an overview of all the stalls, events & partners who joined us on the Sunday.

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