Gym & Tonic

page last updated 03/10/2009

Zoe                    Katie Bishton

Don Weston        Terry Cox

Shirley Weston    Jo Thomas

Shaun                Richard Kinnaird

Ken Blake           Andrew Cook

Chloe                 Julie Cox

Bellboy              Richard Sullivan

Gertrude Tate     Coreen Brookes

Holly Weston    Laura Bishton

Maggie Weston   Joyce Townsley

DIRECTOR'S NOTES

This play feels like familiar territory for me. It’s very similar to the format of “A Fistful of Mondays” which I directed in 2005, in that its central characters are a couple with relationship problems, and it has what I loosely describe as ‘musical interludes’. Here, the line-dancing sequences are replaced with exercise routines. Also, Gym & Tonic in style, bears close resemblance to John Godber’s “Fly Me To The Moon” which some of you may remember from 2003. I played Dave in FMTTM, very much the equivalent of G&T’s Don Weston.

I have to admit, and my wife will concur, that the world of fitness and beauty seems to have passed me by. Yet even I cannot fail to notice that there is a huge industry out there feeding off our insecurities and offering us the miracle products that will keep us young and sexy.

John Godber sees the funny side of this mega-industry as he takes us to Scardale Hall, a centre for relaxation in the Yorkshire Dales. Like holiday comedies, his customer characters are intent on having a good break, no matter what - and the staff? Well the staff have been on all the right courses.

But this is not just a comedy set in a Health Spa. The script is brimming with sharp observations on our modern-day pre-occupations with staying young, fit, desirable and staving off the inevitable effects of ageing. Gym & Tonic taps into all these familiar anxieties and sometimes strikes an uncomfortable nerve.

Casting was a luxury, in that I could have cast the play at least twice over. Rehearsing through July, August and September brings with it the inevitable problems of holidays. It was mid-August when I first got the entire cast at the same rehearsal. But forget all that - rehearsing this play has been incredible fun and, if nothing else, the cast are a whole lot fitter than when they started.

I like to use music to cover scene changes and being the director means that I can raid my CD collection and choose music that I like to listen to. It’s one of the few perks of the job - that, and not having to learn lines. Tonight’s “soundtrack” features the following artists, in order of appearance, Sam & Dave, Steve Miller Band, Rod Stewart, The Pretenders, Del Amitri, Pat Boone, The Bee Gees, Robert Palmer, Elvis Costello, Beautiful South, KC & The Sunshine Band, Heatwave, The Carpenters and The Beatles.

I’m always in awe of what we achieve at RTG in our spare time, armed with bags of enthusiasm and hidden talents. The cast and support crew have worked extra hard on this one, with time definitely not on our side. But it’s not felt like a chore - we’ve laughed all the way through rehearsals. I hope you do too during tonight’s performance.

JOHN BIRCH.