Theatre on a Shoestring


A Penny for a Song




The Story


Written in 1951 and revised in 1962, "A Penny for a Song" features a family of eccentric Dorset gentry: Sir Timothy Bellboys - obsessed with the threat of Napoleonic invasion and constantly devising plans to thward the Corsican fiend; Lamprett Bellboys - Timothy's younger brother who neglects his family in pursuit of his one true love...a fire engine which he dutifully tends in the hope of a major conflagration. Add a languid aristrocratic family friend, stir in an ex-mercenary-turned-social- reformer, apply the steady heat of a local defense volunteers' military exercise and await hilarious consequences. Toss in a young girl's dawning womanhood in the shadow of her mother's dominance, and the plot thickens -- dramatically and hysterically.





The Cast




Sir Timothy Bellboys -- TJ Smith

Lamprett Bellboys -- Tim Smith

Hester Bellboys -- Liz Lefevre

Dorcas Bellboys -- Amber Freeman

William Humpage -- Roger Swigart

Pippin -- Heidi Andrew

Hallam Matthews -- Bryan Eddy

Samuel Breeze -- Ben Johnson

Edward Sterne -- Jarrod Roll

the Small Boy -- Autumn Freeman

George Selincourt -- Frank Dloniak IV

Rev. Brotherhood -- Tim Leonard

Giddy -- Tom Smith

Piggot -- Aaron Freeman



The Production Crew


Director - Laurie Swigart

Stage Manager - Heidi Andrew

Assistant Stage Manager - Pam Roatsch

Set Design - Laurie Swigart

Scene Painting - Laurie Swigart

Set Dressing - Laurie Swigart

Properties Mistress - Sheila Jeffery

Scenic Construction - Roger Swigart, Todd Brooks

AJ and Casey Johnson, Jim Lefevre

Jef Skinner, Deb Warthan

Melissa and Jeremy Swigart

Maria Wilson, Jerry Zimmerman

Costume Designers - Laurie Swigart, Mark Lakowske

Costume Mistress - Roxie Lefevre

Seamstresses - Shay Cresina, Kathy Schubert

Makeup Designer - Liz Lefevre

Makeup Artists - Amy Roeske, Laurie Swigart

Master Electrician - TJ Smith

Light/Sound Designer - Laurie Swigart

Light Technician - Kristin Mull

Sound Technician - Tara Sagehorn

Box Office Manager - Kathy Schubert

House Manager - Mindy Johnson

Lobby Display - Jo Gaul, Sue Zimmerman

Poster Artwork - Laurie Swigart





The Show


(Photos taken during dress rehearsal)

Keeping an eye on things.
Keeping an eye on things.
But I've just been that way!
But I've just been that way!
They seem to be a pair.
They seem to be a pair.
Nice to have old friends.
Nice to have old friends.
My name is Dorcas Bellboys!
My name is Dorcas Bellboys!
Just look at the weather!
Just look at the weather!
Timothy shoots...
Timothy shoots...
...Humpage dies. (not really)
...Humpage dies. (not really)
Try it this way.
Try it this way.
I shall descend the well.
I shall descend the well.
Perhaps the war had better begin.
Perhaps the war had better begin.
S-E-L-I-N-C-O-U-R-T
S-E-L-I-N-C-O-U-R-T
1 minus 1/3 equals...
1 minus 1/3 equals...
The Tom Payne bit
The Tom Payne bit
All forgotten.
All forgotten.
Where is small Dorcas, mmm?
Where is small Dorcas, mmm?
Not what Pippin expected.
Not what Pippin expected.
Ready for action
Ready for action
The days of our youth
The days of our youth
What..is that?
What...is that?
No more, if you please!
No more, if you please!
Hallam reminisces.
Hallam reminisces.
There's your hereditary monarchy!
There's your hereditary monarchy!
The Fencibles
The Fencibles
12 Shillings!
12 shillings!
You should be ashamed!
You should be ashamed!
Timothy descends the well.
Timothy descends the well.
You!
You!
Frail old man?
Frail old man?
Will the real Napoleon please stand up?
Will the real Napoleon please stand up?
Ready for the Amazon Corps
Ready for the Amazon Corps
A French farewell
A French farewell








RETURN TO THEATRE ON A SHOESTRING