News Article
Preview – Four Old Broads
24 Oct 24
Co-directors LilyAnn Green and Barry Heselden introduce their sassy comedy, set in a retirement home in Georgia.
You stepped up from being cast members to direct this play - what was it that appealed to you about it?
LilyAnn (LA) I stepped up because I wanted the show to go on and I was already fond of it. But then no one came forward to play the role I was originally cast in. Barry then suggested co-directing; I’ve directed him before (this is the fourth time) but he’s never directed me, and despite knowing each other for 18 years we’ve never really acted together. So, I quickly said yes! The show is just so much fun and silly with roles for five older actors. It had to go on!
Barry Heselden (BH) I couldn’t resist the chance to be on stage with LilyAnn and of course these other talented actors. It’s a great fun play, and growing up as an Elvis fan I couldn’t resist this chance to play a retired Elvis impersonator!
No spoilers of course, but what's the plot?
Four older women in a retirement home in Georgia, US are planning a cruise. Now throw in intrigue created by an evil administrator, a romance novel-obsessed assistant, the discovery of a plot involving fake pills, a wayward son, a senior’s beauty pageant, a retired Elvis impersonator – then leave your brain at the door and come and have a good laugh!
Tell us about the characters we'll meet.
Imogene (Carmel Gilligan-Fernandes) is new to the home – sweet, divorced, lonely and worried about her ‘loser’ son Frank. Eaddy (Kait Feeney) is overly-religious and keeps an eye and ear on everyone else’s bad language and thoughts, but secretly loves it! Beatrice (LilyAnn) is Eaddy’s best friend – outrageous, mouthy and slightly sex-mad, but we find out more about her as we go!
Sam Smith (Barry) is a retired Elvis impersonator with an eye for the ladies. Maude (Lorraine Spenceley) is a depressed widow whose children don’t visit, and is obsessed with her funeral and her favourite soap opera. Pat (Jo Parry) is the awful new head nurse at the home. No one knows much about her or likes her. Ruby Sue (Sapphire Shoferpoor) is the newest member of the staff – sweet, kind and always reading a romance novel.
What have you found most challenging in directing this?
(LA) Being in it as well as directing has been extremely challenging. I often put my hand up and say – “director note now”! And sometimes have to ask Sapphire (who was my AD for Whose Life is it Anyway?, and as she has a smaller role in this, is often watching) and Barry, “is what I’m doing working”? Well actually, I don’t ask Barry – he just tells me when it’s not! Also, we’ve had one actor away on a cruise (research she says!), another on 2-week holiday, another working several evenings and recently Barry’s company sent him to Finland for several days!
(BH) It’s been a long time since I directed a comedy, so it’s been great to ‘find the fun’ and develop the comic moments, keeping them real and without them becoming over the top.
What's been the most fun part?
(LA) The script. The jokes. The cast. We have laughed!!
(BH) All the above and having the bar open on our rehearsal nights. Great to see lots of new members volunteering to keep the heart of the club open on non-show nights.
Sum up the play in three words?
(LA) Silly, naughty, funny!
(BH) Sexy, dangerous, angelic!
