Alman club hopes MASH is a smash
Hamish Hutchinson • Published 1 Jun 2011 08:00
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THE Alman Dramatic Club will be hoping to raise the roof with their latest production while their own roof is being fixed.
The Alloa-based amateur theatre group will perform M*A*S*H in the Devonvale Hall, Tillicoultry.
It will be the first time in three years that the club has performed outwith their usual home, the Coach House Theatre in Inglewood.
The reason for the switch is due to the scale of the production - 22 cast members and two stages - coinciding with much needed repairs to the roof of the coach house.
Alman stalwarts Gerry Docherty and George Marcinkiewicz will co-direct the play which runs from 14-18 June.
Gerry told the Advertiser, "It's been a long time ambition by George to do M*A*S*H. A play that big demands a huge cast and takes us out of the theatre. It's good to get out and put things on in other parts of the community as that is our aim as a charity. It also means the roof repairs can go ahead."
For three years the club has failed to realise any funding from Historic Scotland to make repairs to their theatre (a listed building) however their Raise the Roof campaign and other funding grants mean work can begin to take place this summer.
In the meantime the club will delight audiences with the play adapted from the book, MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, which itself was the basis for the hit film directed by Robert Altman.
The classic war comedy follows the exploits of military doctors and nurses at Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, M*A*S*H 4077 as they carry out their business three miles from the Korean War front line. Gary D'Arcy and Denzil Wright take the roles of Hawkeye and Duke, made famous by Hollywood stars Donald Sutherland and Elliott Gould.
Rehearsals began in mid-April and have moved to the Centenary Hall in Tillicoultry due to the scale of the play which includes the stage extended into the audience.
Gerry joked, "It is a terrific play, very funny, and the advantage of doing it in the Devonvale Hall is it's got a bar.
He went on, "It's very much true to the story and is wonderfully written with amazing one liners. It'll be a really good night out. As co-directors George and I get on remarkably well. We have different ideas but he has managed to put up with me and keep smiling."
Tickets are £8 and can be booked through the box office number 07929561311 or online www.thealman.com
This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 01 Jun 11
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