4th - 6th December, 2003

Dead Man's Hand

by Seymour Matthews

The Cast
(in order of appearance)

Jennifer .................... Melanie Bloyce-Ellis
Brian .................... Alistair Anderson
David .................... Kevin Parker
Corinne .................... Jackie Herbert
Franco .................... Jack Burgess
Pamela .................... Lesley Wolowiec

Directed by Sally Lewis

The Production Team

Stage Manager .......... Jean Burgess
Prompt .......... Avril Dorey
Set Design .......... Lynne Gibson
Set construction .......... Russ Herbert, Tony Gibson, Mike Breeze
Lights and Sound .......... Jacek Wolowiec
Props and Furniture ....... Jackie Herbert, Pat Francis, Ann Dorman
Costumes and Make-up .......... Lynne Gibson, Pauline Wood
Publicity team .......... Kevin Parker, Jack & Jean Burgess
Tickets .......... Valerie Dugan
Front-of-house team led by .......... Chrissie Stephenson-Oliver

Our special thanks to:
Tim at Painswick Fabrics for loan of curtains
Gloucester Furniture Recycling Centre for furniture
The Shetland Shop & Painswick Post Office for ticket sales

ACT I
Scene i: The lounge of an Italian villa at dusk on a summer’s evening.
Scene ii: Later that evening

ACT II
Scene i: The same, a moment later
Scene ii: The same, a moment later

There will be one interval of 15 minutes between the Acts, when you can enjoy refreshments from the Bar.

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Sally Lewis (top left) oversees rehearsals and performance pictures, below...

Act I

Act II

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Programme note

Dead Man’s Hand is our third and final production for 2003, the year in which we celebrated eighty years of community drama in Painswick. 'Twas back in the summer of 1923 that Miss Lucy Hyett produced As You Like It in her back garden, ie the idyllic grounds of Painswick House. For the next 38 years, this truly formidable lady was responsible - virtually single-handedly - for 56 separate productions, involving some 93 plays, including a dozen Shakespeares. For more dramatic details of the intervening years - including pictures from Living Legends, our sell-out 80th Anniversary extravaganza - take a look at our website: www.painswickplayers.org.uk.

Dead Man’s Hand is set in the early 1980s and is a murder mystery by Seymour Matthews about two British couples apparently invited on holiday to a villa in southern Italy by a mysterious Greek tycoon. To reveal any more than that would be to give away too much of a plot which has more twists and turns to it than a Tory leadership contest. Simply be assured: nothing is quite what it seems… or is it?

One thing I can reveal is that a ‘dead man’s hand’ is the deadly mysterious hand in poker consisting of "both black bullets - the aces of clubs and spades - and both black eights." According to legend, this was the hand Wild Bill Hickok was holding on August 2, 1876 in a saloon in Deadwood, South Dakota, when he was shot in the back of the head and killed. And the mystery? Well, no-one knows for sure what the fifth card was. I can safely reveal all this because it has absolutely nothing to do with the plot… or has it?

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Dead Man's Hand reviewed: Painswick Beacon, January 2004

Painswick Players continue to amaze us with their very polished productions - you really should try to go one of their events if you have never been to one. This play was well paced, slick and most enjoyable.

Dead Man’s Hand is an intriguing play within a play. We are led to believe two couples, each unknown to the other, are invited to a holiday villa in Italy by a mysterious Greek tycoon. It transpires that we are watching the rehearsal of a play. The two couples are actors who, along with their director and stage manager have been brought together in an equally puzzling manner. After two apparent murders it is finally revealed that the whole set up is a device to expose a real murderer! The play was challenging for the actors, most of whom have dual roles and they carried it very well. For this concluding event in Painswick Players’ 80th Anniversary Year, the company invited Sally Lewis as guest director. It is always good to have fresh input and Sally brought great expertise to this production. I am sure the founder Lucy Hyett would have been proud to know that the company still flourishes- in fact on the first night we were well into the play when a butterfly flew onto the stage – was this her sign of approval?

Kevin Parker, Jackie Herbert, Alistair Anderson, Melanie Bloyce-Ellis, Leslie Wolowiec and Jack Burgess were the excellent cast. Without exception each played their roles with ease, confidence and sensitivity. The characters were distinct, delivery superb and stage movement particularly good. The stunning set was designed by Lynne Gibson and built by Russ Herbert, Tony Gibson and Mike Breeze. Lynn’s amazing tromp l’oeil effects, set the Italian scene. Excellent lighting by Jacek Wolowiec in the final scene enhanced the dramatic effect. Many more members of the company played supporting backstage and front of house roles to make the whole production go smoothly.

Audiences of about 200 over three days are average for a Painswick Player’s production - but they deserve a lot more. Note the dates for the next play, Ladies Who Lunch on 6,7, 8 May 2004. You are guaranteed first class, live entertainment – come and have an evening out with friends, right here in our community.

Naomi Dunn

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