There was great laughter from the cast at the comedic lines and already a great rapport forming between the two hit men Phil and Charlie (to be played by playwright Darren Little and Whole Hog regular Owen Fishwick, who makes a welcome return to the company).
Darren had the habit of adding the odd line and was scolded by the director for changing the dialogue the writer had written (he would probably argue that he’s re-drafting as he goes!) The reading showed great potential for the play with the mixture of gritty dialogue and a ‘stylised’ setting. Some of the plays language is very strong but if you’re going to stage a play about two hit men that involves violence then it’s not going to be ‘Mary Poppins’! A second run-through with basic blocking will be rehearsing this week before the Christmas break and then 4 more rehearsals until the preview performance.
Wetwork’s entry into the Swindon One Act Play Festival completes a busy time of festival entries locally and nationally. Whole Hog will also appear at the Arts Centre with a re-worked version of Matthew Clift's & Becky Cann's already performed ‘Funny Ha Ha!’ before taking the play onto summer dates at festivals in Wallingford, Abingdon and Henley. Whole Hog are also entering the Manx Amateur Drama Federation Easter Festival of Plays next April with Harold Pinter’s’ classic of Absurdist Theatre, The Birthday Party’. It will be the fourth year in a row that the Company has been part of this prestigious festival that allows them to perform in a beautiful 900 seat Victorian theatre.
Having said all that the entry forms have only just gone in so Whole Hog may not be accepted for any of the afore mentioned festivals! Meaning a very quiet next few months... watch this space!