When I was asked, in August of last year, if I would write
something to celebrate the 650th anniversary of the founding of the
magistracy by King Edward 111, my initial reaction was, ‘…?’.
However, a challenge is a challenge. And, after a few weeks of in-depth research -
Which chiefly consisted of badgering friends, relations and (as time moved on
and I became increasingly desperate) total strangers, to pass on any
information they might have about life in South-East Wales in 1361. There were some sensible and printable
answers and some not so sensible and definitely not printable. With one member of the BLT executive
committee, who shall remain nameless (Huw Rosser), actually suggesting that
1361 might be shorthand for one-minute-past-two!
“How’s the new play coming on?” asked Neil Maidman one day
in mid September. “Fine” I said (not a
word written!).
“Good”, he said. “We
have a two free dates the 14th and 15th of next
month. We’ll put it on then and we’ll
enter it in next year’s One-act Festival.
What’s it called?”
“Haven’t thought of a title yet,” I managed to gulp.
“Well you’d better think of one hadn’t you?” he said;
suspicion written all over his face.
“Bring the script next week ”.
And so Biscuits was born: in three days and nights of desperation
and sleepless panic.
The first reading went well - I’m told. I was in an exhausted stupor and in no state
to judge. A small amount of judicious
cutting brought the running time down to within the 50-minute deadline required
for competition (though I personally saw nothing wrong with the original 2
hours and ten minutes!) and we were away.
Rehearsals with Neil in charge are always a fairly
easy-going and highly enjoyable affair and Biscuits proved to be no
different. His choice of cast proved to
be inspired. Apart from the fact that he
does have a disconcerting habit of casting a certain young, talented and
still-rather-good-looking-in-a-certain-light poet, actor and playwright as a
disgusting old man! But with the rest of
the cast including such BLT stalwarts as Vic Mills; Huw Rosser; Gareth
Baskerville; Trevor Howlett and Yve Price there was always a feeling that the
play was in safe hands.
Our two October performances went down a treat with both an
audience of magistrates and with our regular patrons.
“Great!” We
thought. “We’re all set for the Gwent
One-Acts.” Not so! The lovely Rhiannon Rees, who had worked so
hard and had played the part of Gwen so remarkably well, was forced, by work
and family commitments, to pull out. Disaster? It could have been, but not with the
wonderfully talented Gwen Livingstone ready to step into the breach!
The lines were learnt and the moves perfected in double
quick time. Her cooking scenes in
particular quickly became the talk of the theatre: the things that woman can do
with a bowl of cake mixture and a wooden spoon could make your eyes water!
And so to the Gwent One-Acts: Best Actor: Vic Mills; Best
director: Neil Maidman: Best Play: Biscuits; Festival Winner: Biscuits;
Adjudicator’s award: Gwen Livingstone (That spoon again!). Biscuits through to the Wales Final.
And the Icing on the cake?
The wonderful Godfather Death by Vic Mills was also placed in the final. Two plays in the Wales Final for
BLT. Well, if that doesn’t take the
biscuit!
Graham J
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