A dastardly, gold digging doctor and a naughty school girl-turned astronaut are the unlikely stars of the Inverell Theatre Company’s newest production.
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From Thursday, a mix of regulars and fresh stars will take to the Beaulieu Theatre stage on Copeton Dam Road to present Dogsbreath Devereaux – the Dastardly Doctor and Marmalade Atkins in Space.
Billed as ‘a night of melodramatic mayhem’, director/actress Jade Bradley said the cast are having a blast in rehearsals.
“Every time we run through Devereaux and Marmalade, we just laugh. You’d think we’d be over it by now, but we still get a real kick out of all the one-liners. That’s a good sign,” she said.
Starring as naughty school girl Marmalade Atkins, school drama teacher Jade is taking cues from some of her students.
“I don’t think I ever was a naughty school girl. So I’m kind of channeling cheeky kids to try and pull off that role. It’s interesting to say the least,” she said.
The play follows Marmalade’s family and a convent of nuns as they reach their wits’ end, and finally blast the young girl out into space, in the hopes that boredom will turn her into a ‘good little girl’.
“It’s absurd, but it’s not a completely out-there absurdist play. I think there’s common elements there that everyone can value,” Jade said.
A veteran in the local theatre scene, Peter Caddey savors the opportunity to play the villain, as the lead in Dogsbreath Devereaux – the Dastardly Doctor.
Womaniser Dr Devereaux is relentless in his pursuit of recently widowed Lotta Cash, owner of Hanover the Cash Clinic, with the help of his head nurse, Hilda Hatchett.
“He’s very much a ladies man. He pretty well tries to crack on to any female with a heartbeat,” Peter said.
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He enjoys the variation between the devilish doctor and his second role as Marmalade Atkins’ posh, controlling father.
“They are very fun roles to play. I can sink my teeth into both characters,” he said.
Starting from 7.30pm, the plays will be held on August 30, 31 and September 1 and then on September 13, 14 and 15. Tickets are $25 each, $20 for concession, and are available at Tourism Inverell.