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STONES IN HIS POCKETS OPENS THIS SPRING

Posted: Mar 17 12:29

The news from the rehearsal room at Theatre by the Lake is that the ‘vast cast' of Stones in his Pockets is having fun.  Marie Jones's award-winning play, sponsored by Jennings Brewery, opens at the theatre in Keswick on Saturday 27 March (preview Friday 26 March) and runs until Saturday 17 April. 

The ‘vast cast' consists of just two actors who between them play 15 characters in a show that follows what happens when Hollywood descends on County Kerry to make an ‘Oirish' blockbuster.  Dennis Herdman and James Nickerson, familiar faces at Theatre by the Lake, have taken on the challenge of switching characters at the drop of a tweed cap. "Usually if you are playing more than one character in a play - and it's rarely more than two - you have periods where you go off stage and change into a different costume,'' said Nickerson. "The audience has time to forget about you as one character before you come back on as someone else. But in ‘Stones' we are not allowed to leave the stage or have any major costume changes."

Herdman says he is exhilarated by the task of having to work out how to make each character as distinct as possible. "Part of what drives me on is the idea that those people watching wouldn't do what we are doing and are impressed just by the fact that we have attempted it. One of the main things is to give yourself over to the pleasure of it and to do it with élan and joy. That helps you carry it through."

"The challenge is to make the characters real,'' added Nickerson. "You can pull as many faces as you like but the hard thing is making the characters believable even if they have only three lines. We have also been working hard with a dialect coach on the Kerry accent. A lot of it is about the rhythm of the accent, not just about the sound of the words."

Herdman has the tricky job of translating himself into Caroline, the movie's haughty star. "It's certainly a challenge and there are several layers to the challenge. Not only is the character a woman, she is an American Hollywood star attempting to be Irish. But I enjoy these challenges so long as I can have fun with them."

Herdman and Nickerson have worked frequently together and both have played the Dame in pantomime at the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds (although Nickerson is currently winning 9-1). The good news is that after long rehearsal for ‘Stones' they are still friends. And none of the 15 characters has started fighting each other yet.

Make sure you don't miss this brilliant production and book your seat today by calling 017687 74411.  Tickets cost between £22.50 and £8.  Don't forget there are still tickets available for First Night on Saturday 27 March for the special price of just £14 or £10, to book your First Night tickets call Box Office on 017687 74411. Visit http://www.theatrebythelake.com/ for more information.