A Bad Year for Tomatoes, a Good Night of Comedy

A Bad Year for Tomatoes, written by John Patrick,is a comedy about Myra Marlowe, a beautiful and famous television actress who retreats to a quiet town of Beaver Haven in New England to write her memoirs. As Myra tries to settle into a quiet life alone with just her tape recorder and the chance to grow tomatoes, her tranquility is soon shattered when her nosy neighbours arrive on her doorstep.  This community of zany characters constantly bombard Myra with their own special brand of loony tunes moments.

The hospitality begins with Cora Gump and Reba Harper, the local welcoming committee calling on Myra. These two Christian ladies love to gossip. The laughter continues with Piney the local woodsman and skunk trapper dropping by. With his long, scraggly beard and wild eyes he answers Myra’s questions with as little words as possible. It’s when local hippie and crazy Willa Mae comes a calling that catapults the comedy to one of side-splitting laughter.

Myra tries to keep her sanity and maintain a sense of graciousness under the most unusual circumstances for as long as she can.  When these kooky neighbours start to constantly invade into her sanctuary she devises a plan to keep her intrusive neighbors away. However the consequences are not what Myra expected and hilarious complications soon follow.

Director Meredith Jacobs promises to fill the Pavilion stage with a collection of crazy characters from Beaver Haven that wil keep the sophisticated Myra busy while keeping the audience entertained and laughing to the very end.

In a new twist on the old theatrical superstition, leading lady Annette van Roden broke her arm just a few weeks before opening night, making for an interesting rehearsal period. As the old adage says 'the show must go on", so the director made a number of changes to accommodate an actor with a broken arm. Known for her generosity of time and talent to the Castle Hill Players, now Annette  will be known for getting on with the job of leading lady with a broken arm in a sling, wearing high heels throughout. 

A Bad Year for Tomatoes is the final production for Castle Hill Players’ in 2015.Tickets can be booked online at www.paviliontheatre.org.au. A Bad Year for Tomatoes opens on Friday 20 November 2015 and runs until Saturday 12 December 2015. Tickets price: $21/$26.

Cast:

Myra Marlowe: Annette van Roden

Reba Harper: Annette Snars

Cora Gump: Mary Clarke

Piney: Jason Spindlow

Tom Lamont: Ben Freeman

Willa May Wilcox: Sandy Velini

Sheriff: Larry Murphy

Images: Annette van Roden and Sandy Velini, & Annette van Roden and Jason Spindlow.

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