Deckchairs by Jean McConnell : Summer 2008 & February 2009
Allison and Jenny performed and directed three of Jean McConnell's short comedies as one programme.
"Cupboard Love" concerns two fitness fanatics who discover they have quite a lot in common.......... in particular a gentleman friend.
"Cruise Missile" sees Janet encountering Goldie, the passenger from Hell. Janet only gets rid of her by becoming equally irritating herself!
"Doggies" illustrates class conflict between two dog walkers .......... and their owners.
Weekend Breaks by John Godber : October 2008
Directed by Allison, this play featured Rob , Jenny and Bob in the roles of Martin Dawson and his ageing parents Joan and Len. Theatre studies teacher, Martin (separated from his wife and children after an affair) has invited Joan and Len, to visit him in the Lake District. This "enjoyable" weekend break evolves into an opportunity for the release of the pent-up frustrations of a lifetime. The play combines biting humour with serious intent in this thought-provoking comment on age, communication and life in general.
A Comedy Trifle - July 2009
"Purvis" by Nick Warburton
featuring Allison Rowe & Rob Graham
of a C of E church is the scene. Uptight, down-trodden Rachel, the vicar's wife, chats to recently-widowed Mr Purvis there and is rather cornered into offering him the post of the church's Health and Safety Officer. The consequences are unexpected: Purvis is keen but, frankly, causes more problems than he solves, the vicar being the prime victim of his misguided attempts to make things safer, and Rachel, though exasperated and embarrassed by Purvis, grows in self-confidence as their friendship deepens. Funny, touching and wry, this play for two actors is an example of comedy writing at its very best.
"Melody" by Deirdre Kinahan
featuring Jenny Pike & Bob McLure
"For Starters" by Nick Warburton
featuring Allison Rowe & Jason Munn
The appreciative audience for "A Comedy Trifle" at Hoopers, Carlisle
Salt of the Earth by John Godber - October 2009
"Salt of the Earth" follows the highs and lows of family life in a mining village in West Yorkshire . The humerous, affectionate and touching portrayal of Annie and May Parker takes the audience through their ambitions, trauma and pain from their teen years in the 1940s through to 1988. The play spans all these years and the changing times are reflected in their experiences and attitudes as well as the music and clothing of the time as the characters age.
Backstage at "Salt of The Earth" - The Buccleuch Centre, Langholm
HOLDING by Ruth E Cockburn Spring & Summer 2010
at
THE BUCCLEUCH CENTRE, LANGHOLM
Holding - Reviewed by Alan Weatherstone
Ruth has been writing comedy sketches and plays since she graduated in 2005 from Manchester Metropolitan University School of Theatre, where she studied acting, but this is her first full-length play; and it is a cracker!
The Happy Hour Theatre Company, comprising Allison Rowe, Rob Graham, Jenny Pike and Bob McLure, has become very popular with Langholm audiences over the past two or three years and audience numbers for this production proved this with around 200 filling the auditorium.
“Krisi has worked for the Civil Service for 15 years but when Lynda turns up her life takes an interesting twist........................This adult comedy, set in a call centre, makes us realise that there is more to life than schedules, statistics and promotion!”
The action begins with Call Centre Manger, Tony Grainger, played by Bob McLure, addressing the audience as if he were giving his staff a Team Brief. Bob, consummate actor that he is, relished this part giving vent in an impeccable “Pan Loaf” accent whilst portraying the disingenuous Tony to perfection and making the most of the comedy in the cleverly written gaffes.
Enter new recruit Lynda – Allison Rowe – newly separated and back to work after thirty years as a housewife, fragile, raw and very nervous. Allison’s professional background was apparent in this role as she slewed back and forth from self-pity to anger and frustration delivering the lines empathically whilst expertly leaving room for the humour.
Krisi has been in the same job, without promotion, for 15 years and the sheer drudgery and languor of this is portrayed effortlessly by doyenne of the Langholm stage, Jenny Pike. Discovering that her new workmate is in fact an old school chum opens up an emotional can of worms for both ladies and exposes Krisi’s inherent unhappiness. Is Lynda a threat or is this the chance to escape? We are presented with a wonderfully written dialogue between the two – interspersed with flashbacks to their childhood – exposing all kinds of emotional baggage lugged around for thirty years by each of them.
In the middle of all this is the supervisor, snivelling “Jobsworth” “Stuart” played by Rob Graham - obsessed by meeting targets and achieving goals, whilst managing to avoid any emotional entanglement with his staff. Rob had a perfect handle on this part, first reaction is to dislike him but he adeptly turns that round by the end of the play when he succumbs to Lynda’s prying ways and reveals all!
This is not a play full of action, indeed, for the most part, it is played in front of two Call Centre desks so be prepared to listen. By listening, you will be presented with a feast of cleverly written, expertly delivered lines more than worthy of the professional stage. I feel sure that Ruth will go on to greater things as this play shows off her acting, comedic and real-life experience and there aren’t many people who can write this down turn it into a play of this quality.
Alan Weatherstone
Rehearsing "Holding"
Summer 2012
THE SOCIABLE PLOVER by Tim Whitnall featuring Rob Graham & Bob McLure
Roy is sequestered away in a bird spotter's hide awaiting the arrival of an elusive vagrant, the rare and beautiful Sociable Plover. However before the bird can arrive he is interrupted by another visitor battling his way through the floods. In the course of their unexpected meeting we learn much about each and discover that Roy has other plans......................
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Men of The World by John Godber - Spring 2013
Ladies on The Loose - September 2014
4PLAY
September 2016
Four one act plays performed at a variety of venues
All four plays involved two characters
Blind Date showed the Jonathan (Rob Graham) at his first meeting with the Wendy (Jenny Pike) via a newspaper dating service, trying to form a friendship to combat their loneliness.
Peas tackled the same theme, although the couple (Rob Graham and Allison Rowe) were middle-aged and more computer savvy.
The Holiday moved onto the theme of divorce and how Bobby and Shelly (Rob Graham and Allison Rowe) coped, or otherwise, with their break-up in a Spanish holiday setting.
In Coffee Break two old school friends discussed how they were coping with their divorced or separated situations. The more street-wise Lucy (Jenny Pike) gave a hand-up to the devastated Charlotte (Allison Rowe).
Photos in rehearsal and Review published in Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser
Hightae, Workington & Harraby, Carlisle
(Workington & Harraby were new places)
Houghton (private show for WI)
THE HAPPY HOUR THEATRE CO
presents
3 by 2
An evening of comedy
with Alli & Jenny
“Cupboard Love” & “Cruise Missile”
by
Jean McConnell
“Bottled Up! An Evening With Agnes & Elsie”
by
Ben Brinicombe
The Jean McConnell plays had been performed before
"Bottled Up" was specially written for Jen & Alli by Ben