The Government Inspector
Performances: Betchworth Village Hall 11-14th May 2022
Director: Diane Mayall
First staged in 1836, The Government Inspector is a play set in Russia, written by Ukrainian-born Nikolai Gogol, but its themes are timeless and without geographical boundaries. Over nearly 200 years there have been numerous adaptations and interpretations, and the story even inspired an episode of Fawlty Towers ! Alistair Beaton’s hilarious translation brilliantly captures the dazzling blend of preposterous characters in their all too real situations.
In a small far flung back of nowhere town corruption is rife, with the mayor and his cronies filling their pockets at the expense of the downtrodden citizens but their comfortable situation is thrown into chaos and panic when word comes of an imminent visit by a government inspector ‘travelling incognito’. A classic case of mistaken identity ensues and the hapless officials fall victim to their own stupidity and greed.
This amateur production of The Government Inspector is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French Ltd
Cast
| Mayor | Roger Nelson |
| Magistrate - Lyapkin-Tyapkin | Amy Mager |
| Commisioner for Health - Zyemlyanika | Gerald Hulf |
| Director of Education - Khlopov | David Ames |
| Postmaster - Shpyopkin | Lucy Hamilton |
| Doctor Hubner - Physician | Ian Stone |
| Bobchinsky - Landowner | Stephen Tickell |
| Dobchinsky - Landowner | Tracey Hulf |
| Police Constable | Linda Peckham |
| Police Superintendent | Jane Khan |
| Anna - Mayor's wife | Linda Slater |
| Marya - Mayor's daughter | Vicki Hodges |
| Avdotya | Lucy Hamilton |
| Osip | Ian Stone |
| Khlestakov - a minor civil servant | Neil Mayall |
| Waiter | David Eccles |
| Mishka | John Mole |
| Abdulin - Shopkeeper | Diane Mayall |
| Shopkeepers | Linda Peckham, David Eccles |
| Locksmith's Wife | Jane Khan |
| Widow | Julie Bickerdike |
| Khlopov's Wife | Julie Bickerdike |
| Magistrate's Wife | Linda Peckham |
| Korobkin | Julian Edney |
| Rastakovsky | John Mole |
| Gendarme | David Eccles |
Crew
| Lighting | David Ames, Lee Upton |
| Sound | Amy Mager |
| Set Construction | Julian Edney, Gerald Hulf, Tracey Hulf, Neil Mayall, Stephen Tickell, Neil Williams |
| Publicity | Stephen Tickell |
| Programme | Lucy Hamilton |
Rehearsal Photos
All Time Music Hall
Performances: Betchworth Village Hall 12/13th November 2021
For the first show since 2019, BODS presented a selection of Music Hall solo and company songs and monologues, together with some more contemporary music
Musical Director and accompanist: Ian Stone
Director: Julie Bickerdike
Lighting: David Ames
Cast: Lynda Barrett-Mercer, Julie Bickerdike, John Bryant, Carolyn Burnley, David Eccles, Vicki Hodges, Jane Khan, Jane Johnson, Diane Mayall, Stephen Tickell, Sarah Weston
FOH: Alison Cooper, Angela Terribile, Jane Flanders, Roger & Kathy Wilman
The Merry Widow
Performances 13-16 November 2019
Director: Alison Cooper
Musical Director: Ian Stone
The Merry Widow is Franz Lehar's most popular and enchanting operetta. With dazzling melodies, wit and elegance the story unfolds as the fabulously wealthy widow, Anna, arrives in Paris. Pursued by numerous suitors, complications and misunderstandings abound when at an Embassy party, she rekindles her relationship with her old flame, Danilo. But, will he forsake the Grisettes, the famous dancing girls at Maxim’s, and declare his true feelings for Anna…?
An amateur production by arrangement with Glocken Verlag Ltd (music adapted and arranged by Ronald Hanmer)
Cast
| Anna | Sarah Esser Haswell |
| Danilo | Peter Thomas |
| Baron Zeta | Trevor Allen |
| Valencienne | Jane Khan |
| Camille | David Clark |
| Njegus | David Longes |
| St Brioche | Andy Davis |
| Cascada | Mark Edwards |
| Kromov | Roger Nelson |
| Bogdanovitsch | David Eccles |
| Olga | Jane Seymour |
| Sylvia | Jane Johnson |
| Praskovia | Gini King |
| Grisettes |
Diane Mayall, Sue Nelson, Margaret Longes Diana Barnsley, Kathy Wilman, Linda Slater |
| Parisian Guests | Pam Patch, Vicki Hodges, Edward Marston |
Lighting: David Ames
Photography Mick Mercer
Privacy Policy for members and supporters
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We may keep your information after you leave BODS, in case you decide to later rejoin and take part again in our activities. However, you can ask us to remove your personal information from our records at any time and we will do so and stop sending you any further newsletters.
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Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may amend this Privacy Policy from time to time; for example, to keep it up to date or to comply with legal requirements. If there will be any significant changes made to the use of your personal information in a manner different from that stated, we will seek your permission first.
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For any questions or concerns relating to this Privacy Policy or our data protection practices, or to make a Subject Access Request, please contact us in one of these ways:
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Or by phone/post to the Secretary
Linda Slater
10 Lazell Gardens
Betchworth
This policy was last updated 31st May 2018
