CLASSIC: Lynda Baron (Lilly Bless Her), Bill Owen (Compo) and Kathy Staff (Nora Batty) on the set of Last of the Summer Wine. 27th May 1983. PICTURE / GETTY IMAGES
CLASSIC: Lynda Baron (Lilly Bless Her), Bill Owen (Compo) and Kathy Staff (Nora Batty) on the set of Last of the Summer Wine. 27th May 1983. PICTURE / GETTY IMAGES
Compo, Cleggy, Foggy and Norah Batty are coming to a theatre near you. Whenever The Last of the Summer Wine is mentioned I always smile, remembering a cousin I was especially fond of watching her husband and brother-in-law mooching around the garden. "We call them the last of the summer wine,"she grinned. I could see why. Our chaps, however, did have wives, whereas the West Yorkshire men didn't. They were free of marital ties, free of any responsibilities, so they behaved irresponsibly at times, aimlessly speculating about their friends and neighbours, often concocting ill-conceived plots. Well, we all smile at the memory of the popular TV sitcom. The good news is that The Last of The Summer Wine will be staged at Repertory Theatre from July 21 to 29. Bringing the well-loved characters to life is well-known director Glen Cameron who will return to Wanganui around June 6, when rehearsals will begin. Repertory President Phil Hudson will oversee auditions at the theatre from 4.30pm on Sunday, June 4. Hooray - roles for older actors! The cast for Summer Wine consists of four older gentlemen and two ladies, (Norah Batty and her 'over-the-hill' niece, Constance). The over-grown children (they may be older but they refuse to grow up), Compo, Cleggy and Foggy will also be romping around the stage with Gifford Bewmont, cyclist and bugle player, determined to protect the ladies from all perceived threats. Peter Oliver, in his 2014 review of the stage play said "...in my opinion it was one of the funniest stage plays...with madcap antics and a cast of rather eccentric characters...". One of the attractions of Summer Wine is its delightful, positive portrayal of older people, putting to rest a lot of the misconceptions and negative connotations surrounding 'old age'. There's no pathos, only laughter. This show promises to be hugely entertaining for both young and old. Come and audition on June 4, but if you can't do that please come and laugh along with us in July.
