Prima Donna
When Sharon, the leading soprano, has a car accident, the group's latest production of Orpheus in the Underworld is in jeopardy. Where can they find a replacement soprano? To save the show, Jack produces a substitute who nobody has seen before.
But when the new soprano turns up late for her first rehearsal, throws a tantrum and walks out in disgust because the chorus don't know their parts, what are they to think? What does Jack know that he's not telling? And why is Aggie keeping so tight-lipped about her? And why are Richard and Barney so nervous? Is Eurydice really Brunhilde?
The answers to all these questions (and more) will become clear when you put on the hilarious show - Prima Donna.
The part of Eva Rossini was written for the enormously talented soprano, Jo Herco - and we eventually got round to getting together to perform it!
If you don't have time to listen to the complete (podcast) version, here are two excerpts from Prima Donna (the stage version)-In the first, we hear Eva's interpretation of how she wants to play the role of Eurydice - and Richard and Barney's reaction. Click here for this extract from Act 2 (Word document)
In the second, Mike (the new musical director) and Jack manage to persuade Eva that the set doesn't have a central staircase, that she doesn't have her own dressing room, and that she doesn't even have another costume to change into - click here for the extract from Act 2 (Word Document).
Prima Donna - the podcast
Prima Donna has been recorded - at last! We managed to get the whole cast in the country at one time! This is the third of the Off-The-Wall plays to be recorded for the internet, and the first to have musical extracts which are integral to the play.
Despite the difficulties of getting the cast together, we managed to record the majority of the play in two sessions. If I thought that would be the end of the problems, I was in for a nasty shock! Because we had to record the music separately, we had to arrange a further recording session for the chorus parts, and yet another two for the various solos that went with them. Add that to the time it took to synchronise the musical arrangement with the script, and you can get just a hint of the work involved. I'm very grateful for the efforts of the members of the Concept Players, who had to put up with endless retakes, and for the patience of our two accompanists - Gary Mullins and Nicky Rose. I'm also extremely grateful for the hard work of Jo Herco, who recorded her bits after a sleepless night, with an awful cold, and while balancing baby Jonathan in one hand, and the score in the other!
Despite all of the above, this was the podcast which had the most outtakes - not because of mistakes, but because of the cast laughing so much!
The cast was:
Eva Jo Herco Anne Lisa Sadie Jack Howard Turnbull Barney Paul Buckle Aggie Janet Holloway Christine Fiona Thomas Richard Kevin Welch Doris Cheryl Payne Sharon Lorna Welch Mike Steve Davies Reporter Jeff Heenan-Davies Receptionist Rachael Jones
We hope you enjoy our podcast of Prima Donna - you can download it by clicking on the links below:.
Episode 1 Episode 4 Episode 2 Episode 5 Episode 3 Episode 6