Dying to be a Walrus
Context
Dying to be a walrus – an absurdist play, with an end-of-life 'edge’.
After toying with some absurdist drama in 2021, Encore decided to put together a piece for free performance before invited audiences early in 2023. The material was drawn from writing by members of the Company and from If so, then Yes by ‘Wally’ Simpson.
Performance
"As we rehearsed our Walrus compilation under director Kevin Katner, further developments took place to character and plot. The company also experienced the challenge of performing drama requiring high accuracy of witty text and inventive movement with minimum set.
Who will ever forget Richard Worland’s portrayal of the charity salesman for The Little Known and Unfairly Neglected Poems Rehabilitation Society? "We have a team going out to Zanzibar to recite The Lay of the Last Minstrel".
Sandra Melville excelled herself as Lorna, the devoted but lovelorn personal secretary to the infinitely boring senior resident Geoffrey of Hereafter House rest home, played by Donald Elliott.
Other cast members were Judith Bevan as Lorraine and Viv Peyton as Tracy, domestic workers at Hereafter House contemplating joining the Rapture at the Second Coming; Jeannie Dean as Dame Hilda, with no sympathy for funeral director, played by Nina Ezra; Yvonne Levy as Hereafter House manager, Maureen, whose guilt-ridden persona almost persuades her to become a walrus; Judy Elphinstone and Sean Kibbey as Claudia and Robert whose son Robin, played by Angie McIntosh, undergoes forced ordination to be a high-flying clergy person. Ann Andic El Mahjoub played a nosey fresh resident at the rest home; and Anna Brown was a visitor at the Hereafter House Summer Fete. Most cast members played several other parts.
We enjoyed good audiences who in turn (mostly) enjoyed the free show."
Donald Elliott
Production
Director: Kevin Katner
Assistant Director: Miranda Williams (Royal Central School of Speech and Drama)
Stage Manager: Lauren Sammé (Royal Central School of Speech and Drama)
