As Paphos’ Stage One celebrates 20 years, it stages the classic Oscar Wilde play
BACK in 1985 one Freda Worsnop put up posters in Paphos asking for anyone interested in drama to help form the Paphos Players. The new group had no real home and performed in back gardens, an art gallery and even at Paphos Gymnasium but, undeterred, they pressed on using, on occasions, an ordinary mobile caravan as a changing room.
In l987 the group took the brave step of leasing the old cinema in Emba even though the stage had no wings or flies and little room for scenery at the back. Nevertheless, the Stage One Group, as they were now known, staged their first ever production, Patrick Hamilton’s Gaslight, although it is ironic that they had to borrow lighting to do so.
Finances were meagre in those early days with only 44 members so money had to be borrowed and jumble sales became a regular part of life for the group. Improvements to the theatre had to be done by the members themselves for there was no money left over for such things. Programmes were just a simple page of A4 paper folded inside a glossy cover, not a patch on today’s offering which has advertising and sponsors. Audiences were never very large in those days and even by 1994 only 152 paying customers came to see the show over the three nights – hardly encouraging (or profitable) for the group or its finances.
A lot of the early productions were comedies and the company was in danger of becoming stereotyped until the committee decided to present plays that would appeal to a wider audience and included drama, thrillers, etc. It was a move that paid off as audiences began to increase and the production of Blythe Spirit by Noel Coward in 1999 broke box office records and the professional attitude of the actors engendered a new spirit in Stage One productions.
This new approach attracted more talented people to join the group (current membership stands at 160) and the run of each play was extended to four nights and in this 20th Anniversary year, a five-night run will be the norm. The cast deserve it and the high demand for tickets justifies it. This was borne out with the group’s most recent production Comfort and Joy, when the dress rehearsal had to be opened to the public and it too was a sellout.
Stage One have presented 54 plays to date and their 55th production will be Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest produced by Brian Meakin and directed by Terry Dionne. Private Lives, Educating Rita and their first ever musical, My Fair Lady will close the 2005 season.
Everyone knows the plot of The Importance of Being Earnest, and the one line they can always quote, “In a handbag”! is gifted to Jillian Ford as Lady Bracknall. Karl Kwiatkowski plays Algernon Moncrief and his real life wife Alison Kwiatkowska plays the Hon. Gwendoline Fairfax; Group Membership Secretary, Peter Sandwith, is John Worthing JP with Alashna Gordes as cousin Cecily Cardew along with Denise Richards in the plum part of Miss Prism, paired with Mike Crowther as The Rev. Canon Chasable, DD. Colin Garland, Paul Minvalla and Brenda Miller complete the talented lineup who will not only make Earnest feel important, but the audience as well.
The company has a computerised ticket system which not only produces a numbered seat ticket but has your name printed on it as well! Membership of Stage One offers more than just the opportunity to act or work backstage. If you are interested contact Peter Sandwith on 26 652630
l The Importance of Being Earnest by Stage One. March 1 to 5 at 7:30pm. For tickets call the box office on Monday or Friday mornings between l0am and l2 noon on 99 967737. Tickets cost £5
