Moulton Players Present 'The Ghost Train'

A chance meeting with 'Max Troy' the Theatre Director led to me getting a part in 'The Ghost Train'. To say I was reluctant would be an understatement. I hadn't done anything since pre Covid times. 

Taking on any role requires a large commitment and dedication. However Mr Troy can be quite persuasive explaining that it was a small part and would get me back into the swing of things.

I was vaguely familiar with the play if not the plot. Probably because I knew it had been written by Arnold Ridley of 'Dad's Army fame playing 'Private Godfrey'. After a series of setbacks and disappointments in his early acting career he started writing plays. The GT being the first and enjoyed great success in London's West End and beyond. More than 30 other plays were to follow! 

 Arnold Ridley was awarded an OBE in1982.

Things started to get a bit more serious on May 24th when the performers met for a 'Read through'. It is a quick turnaround as the previous play 'See How They Run' has only just finished. There will be around 6 weeks to get ready for the opening night on July 11th. 

The Theatre at Moulton aim to deliver 5 shows a year to the local community. The GT is a Drama  in three Acts.    
My character 'Jackson' doesn't make an appearance until well into Act 3.Originally I was under the impression that he was a traditional style Policeman. This would change as we get nearer to the full dress rehearsal. 

I must admit to struggling a bit to work out the plot line. The classic dram is set in 1925. A silly young man pulls the emergency chord and strands six other passengers at a remote Cornish Station. Despite the Stationmaster's  tales of hauntings and bizarre goings on they decide to stay the night in the Waiting Room. It is only then that other characters are introduced and the real truth is revealed.

The production is directed by Matt Gundel (Pictured left), his third at Moulton Theatre. In next to no time the stage has been transformed into a very convincing Station Waiting Room. Being an old Methodist Church the stage isn't very big, so there are many limitations.

I haven't got that many lines, what is more confusing though are the entrances and exits. More importantly getting the timing right of when to come in and when to leave! 

Things do start to make more sense when rehearsals start to vamp up. I don't need to attend all of them as I'm only involved in Act 3. 

Unfortunately most of my rehearsals seem to coincide with matches in the T20 Blast at the County Ground. There is also the odd false start too, when things over run and I don't get to do my scenes. 

This is pretty frustrating but that's showbiz I guess? It isn't all glamour and wine and Roses. Patience is key and you move on to the next time.

The first week in July brings three full rehearsals midweek. Followed by a full dress rehearsal on the Sunday. Some of the cast are already starting to add bits of their costume to their performance. 

This is the point that I find out that I am actually a 'Secret Service' Agent and not just an ordinary Policeman. I am kitted out with a very nice full length woolen top coat, a scarf and a Trilby hat. All seems to be going very well, except for one thing. ... Act 3 is nowhere near as polished as Act 1 and  Act 2 for some reason? Can't all be down to me surely? Although I still haven't mastered my timing and door opening and closing.....The Full dress rehearsal on the Sunday with all the technical bits, lighting and sound effects goes very well. Looks like we are all set for the opening night after all !  

One thing that had been on my mind was how to hide my hair? Shoulder length blonde hair probably wasn't the look of a 'Secret Service' Agent in the 1920's. Help was at hand though and with a bit of 'back combing' and twisting I suddenly had what I believe is referred to as a 'Man Bun'.? It tucked neatly under the Trilby and and the 'wispy bits' were covered by the scarf.

I managed to time my arrival at the Theatre to just before the interval. As mentioned previously I don't appear until well into Act 3. It was a nice chill out time really. I say 'chill out', the Dressing Room was an absolute sweat box! No windows or ventilation, just as the weather hitting It's Summer peak.

There is a screen in the dressing room so I can where the play is up to. The cast soon arrive in an air of excitement as the curtain comes down on the interval. All appears to be going well so far!  After the interval I move down to a position backstage for when I make my dramatic entrance.

It's not easy coming on late in the day. The audience are drawn into the new character who becomes the focus of attention. I'm so focused on remembering what I need to say and do though. It isn't easy to pick out familiar faces. 

All goes well though, things seem to happen much faster than in rehearsals. I remember which doors to open and close which is helpful. The audience seemed to enjoy the performance too which is the main thing. 

 

 

  

Heart of England Way (3) Longborough, Bourton On the Hill and Blockley

A beautiful Summer's day for a walk in The Cotswold's. We are on the edge of a heatwave according to the Met Office. Today should be more bearable than the 'scorchers' on the way over the next week or so hopefully.
Our starting point once again is the village of Longborough. We started here last time in April but walked in the opposite direction. We are parked up even closer to the village pub , a good sign for later I'm sure.   

Bit of an uphill climb as we leave the village, an early test for my knee injury. I have been resting it for 4 days and icing it regularly. It is well strapped up today, but I won't be pushing it too hard. Today we will be walking in an anti-clockwise direction for those who like to know these things. Picking up the 'Heart of England Way' path straight away.  

The views are already spectacular to our right. To the left are colourful wild flower meadows. 

We are now on the 'Sezincote' Estate, 3,500 acres of rolling Cotswold countryside. In the distance is 'Sezincote House'. It has a Dome! It was built in 1805 in a Neo-Mughal architectural style of Rajisthan. It really is a piece of India in The Cotswolds. The house was the whim of Colonel John Cockerell, grandson of the diarist Samuel Pepys, who returned to England having amassed a fortune in the East India Company.He commissioned his brother Samuel, an architect, to design and build the house.

 

 

 

Sezincote (pronounced Seezincote) is derived from Cheisnecote, from chêne, French for oak, and cot for dwelling. The interior of the house is purely classical – Greek Revival – and no attempt was ever made to Indianise it!

We only got a small glimpse of the Gardens from the footpath sadly. There are a number of water gardens and follies to be found by the look of things.I think it is a place I would like to return to in the future, and have a good look around the gardens. We continue on this lovely path meeting several other walkers too for a change.There are a few Americans tourists stretching their legs, also a couple of small groups from Japan.

We arrive at 'Bourton On The Hill'. It has really got hot now and I'm already regretting not bringing more drink on the walk. It is a stunning little village with great views overlooking Moreton In Marsh in the valley below. There are numerous plaques in the bus shelter commemorating wins, and highly commended achievements in the Bledisloe Cup.

Not to be confused with the annual Rugby Union series between The Wallabies and the All blacks. This is is a Gloucestershire and Cotswolds in particular, ' Best kept village' competition. I noticed strangely there hadn't been many recent awards?  A little bit of research revealed that the competition was scrapped in 2009 after 70 years. Costs and a lack of interest was laid to blame , quite sad really.

We continue on the path that is gradually getting steeper. We join the Monarch's Way once again as we pass close to Batsford Arboretum. Really enjoyed my visit there back in November (A write up is on my blog). 

Our elevated position gives us a fantastic view of our next destination 'Blockley'. I actually find walking down a hill more difficult than going up! Puts a lot more pressure on the dodgy knees. The village of Blockley is a unique collection of buildings reflecting its past glory of mills and silk production and is quite different in character to other north Cotswolds villages. Blockley bears some resemblance to the villages of the Stroud valley but the stone much more golden in colour.

We pass an area called 'Dovedale' scattered with ponds as we walk the edge of Bourton Woods. Wild Raspberries are growing in the hedgerow and provide a tasty treat. It is a private woodland owned by Lord Dulverton. However permits can be obtained from the Batsford Estate.  
 

We swap the shady and quiet cover of the woods, for a stretch on the fairly busy A424...Quite a contrast. Thankfully it isn't for too long as we turn off towards Bourton Hill House. Another beautiful valley opens up with more spectacular views. 

The 'Diamond Way' runs along here too. A diamond shaped walk was created by The Ramblers Association  North Cotswold Group to celebrate the 60th Jubilee in 1995. It takes you through a series of pretty Cotswold villages starting from Moreton In Marsh.

Down below us is the 'Grade II listed  Gentleman's Farmhouse 'Hinchwick Manor'.

We pass a large slate monument as we continue our climb. I suspect that Hase & Michael Asquith were former occupants at 'Hinchwick Manor'. On the back of the monument is an extract from the William Blake Poem 'Augeries of Innocence'. 'He who shall train the horse to war shall never pass the polar bar'.  A poem  around the theme of innocence vs experience.

We are on the homeward leg now heading back towards Longborough. The spectacular views just keep on coming and it is still very warm indeed. I do like to see a nice or interesting bench. The one in the photos below  is under a smashing Copper Beech Tree and commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the ending of the 2nd World War. (15th August 1995).

The end is in sight, the end being 'The Coach & Horses' at Longborough. A  pint of the local Donnington Brewery Best Bitter (3.6%) could not have gone down better! A superb walk, outstanding scenery and glorious weather. a touch over 12 miles in total.