Granny leaves Dame Polly in charge of telling the stories of Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and Jack (and his cow). But thanks to an interfering witch the stories

take on lives of their own. Soon the three bases are lost in ‘The Wood’.

Can Dame Polly rescue them from the clutches of the witch and the mad, bad Doctor Y and his ‘mashing’ monsters?    

This show (and the film made from it in 1963), it is a loose parody of Elvis Presley's life at the time when he was drafted into the American Army. Set in 1958, the key character is Conrad Birdie, a rock 'n' roll superstar who is suddenly drafted into the Army. Together with his agent/song writer, Albert Peterson, and Albert's secretary and love interest, Rosie Alvarez, a final Farewell performance on the famous Ed Sullivan TV show is planned to promote his single "One Last Kiss". As a grand finale for the performance it is decided that Conrad will select one of his fan club and give her "one last kiss" at the end of the show. 

The lucky fan chosen is Kim MacAfee from Sweet Apple, Ohio but as Albert and Rosie arrive in Sweet Apple to arrange the show, an over-enthusiastic and fame-hungry father, Harry MacAfee, as well as Kim's jealous boyfriend, Hugo Peabody, begin to create problems. The show catalogues the hilarious consequences of that fateful show and its aftermath as well as the development of Albert and Rosie's love saga, which suffers from the constant interference of Albert's mother, Mae Peterson.

The story provides many humorous moments in the show and the music is classic American 60s rock 'n' roll with a few ballads mixed in. As well as the principle parts listed above there are many roles for the various townspeople of Sweet Apple, The Mayor and his wife, a singing quartet of Barflies, a Teen chorus (ahem…we may need to make this a more "mature" chorus)  and, of course, the legendary Mr Ed Sullivan himself.

CAST

Albert Peterson – Jude Figueira
Rose Alvarez – Rebecca Jones
Kim Macafee – Siobhan Mc Innes
Mrs. Doris Macafee – Justine Knight
Mr. Harry Macafee – Barry Pavey
Mrs. Mae Peterson – Fidelma O'Neill
Conrad Birdie – Damian Jones
Hugo Peabody – Steve Norton
Teen Chorus – Emily Kirkpatrick, Laura Cole, Sarah O'Malley, Ursual Dekker,
Cat Ellis, Gemma Nicholson, Joanne Treacy, Hannah Davies,
Ursula Merkle – Lucy Dormandy
One Girl – Emily Kirkpatrick
Policemen – William Lewis,  Roy Parris
Reporters – Roy Parris, Tony Sanders, Sam Leach
Mayor – Sam Leach
Mayor's wife – Pauline Seagroatt
Mrs. Merkle – Deborah Osbourn
Randolph Macafee -Reynaldo Guevara
Nancy – Laura Cole
Helen – Cat Ellis
Penelope – Hannah Davies
Gloria Rasputin – Debbie Williams (Thurs & Fri) Laura Cole (Sat)
Ed Sullivan's voice – Tony Sanders
Traveller – Deborah Osbourn
Mr. Johnson – Geoff Bowes
Maude – Geoff Bowes
Alice – Hannah Davies
Margie – Gemma Nicholson
Harvey Johnson – Tony Sanders
Deborah Sue – Emily Kirkpatrick
Trainman/ Train Conductor – Roy Parris
Conrad's guitar man – Reynaldo Guevara
2 sad girls – Emily Kirkpatrick, Sarah O'Malley
Stage Manager – Geoff Bowes

Stage hand – William Lewis

Stage hand – Roy Parris

Music

(a musical by David Armitt)

Act 1 

Act 2 

               Cast:

• Celia Lack – Carol DeBurca
• Deloris 1 – Sinead Egan
• Deloris 2 – Jade Smythe
• Betty 1 – Caroline Smith
• Betty 2 – Fidelma O'Neill
• Marlene – Siobhan McInnes
• Charlene – Zeena Dhealley
• TP- Hannah Davies
• Peggy & Angie - Joanna Walker
• Sue – Nicki Oldham
• Mary Lou – Jo Treacy
• Miss Strict – Manuela Langotsch
• Blimey Benny - David Armitt
• Billy John Kool – Damien Jones
• Corny Collins/Slade/Host – Jude Figueira
• Janitor/Ziggy – Alan Pender
• Ricky Roast – Barry Pavey
• Shirl – Pauline Seagroatt
• Girl 1 – Debbie Featherstone
• Choir – Debbie Williams, Ruth Jones, Sam Leach

• Musical Director – Jen Green
• Band – Richard Burden, Andy Bragg
• Choreography – Joanna Walker, Hannah Davies, Siobhan McInnes
• Costumes – Debbie Featherstone
• Lighting Design – Darren Knight
• Stage manager – Richard Seagroat
• Box Office – Justine Knight & Sean O'Farrell
• Front of House – Geoffrey Bowes, Sarah O'Malley, Justine Knight, Gavin Buck & Sarah Weed

• Director – Mary Dunn

Don’t let the easy-going manner and sweet smile fool you. As a leading City Dealmaker this woman has more power at her fingertips than any of us can imagine. If she’s having a bad day she can erase entire nations at the touch of a button! With her portrayal of a fiercesome deck-chair attendant in “Half A Sixpence” we briefly saw the veil dropped and a candidate for the next big movie Baddie revealed. Ah Mr Bond, I’ve been expecting you… 

Hailing from New Zealand, our Kristina is a case in point of how far Phoenix is prepared to cast its net to recruit the finest theatrical talent. Not only has she taught dance since she was 16 but she has also been in about 40 different musicals in her career. Like you, we’re scratching our head as to what in Earth she is doing in Phoenix but we’re glad she’s arrived and we hope she’ll stick around! 

A newcomer to the gang for 2011's panto "Gerry & The Dragon" Ruth is a unique and welcome addition to the group. Her background includes singing with the prestigious Morley College Choir where pieces by Mozart, Vivaldi and the like were the order of the day. Quite how she’ll take the step down to clowning around with us on stage will be interesting to see. Nevertheless we’re sure this resilient Liverpudlian will manage it and we may even learn a thing or two from her. 

Rumour has it that normally Elanie likes to be in control of things (we’re reliably informed that those who attended her recent wedding know exactly what we mean by this!). Quite how then she has managed to cope with the chaotic (or we prefer the term “creative”) atmosphere of Phoenix Players is a bit of a surprise. But survive and thrive she has and for her first performance with the group, 2011's "Gerry & The Dragon" she rekindled a passion from her younger days to act. We think she’s got the hang of it pretty well and hope she’ll be around for many more.