Shopping With The Stars 2008
Dress Circle, 10 May 2008
by Emma Shane
©11 May 2008
No one, not even Dress
Circle’s paid staff quite knew what to expect of today’s event in aid of The
Theatrical Guild, one of our oldest theatre charities, and interestingly
one that has had a strong tradition of being run by actresses. An unusual
theatre charity in that it is very inclusive supporting all theatre workers,
male and female from front of house staff to back stage crew, as well as
performers.
Early on it is apparent that
on a notice about the day Christopher Biggins’s name had been crossed
out of the list of ‘Stars’ taking part, so presumably he won’t be, but the
other names are currently still included.
The shop opened at 10:00am,
and the first “Star” to arrive, five minutes later, was the event’s
coordinator, and current chair of the Theatrical Guild, Liz
Robertson. By quarter past ten, she had taken up a position behind the
counter, next to DC’s Chris on the till, from where she could help him by
getting out the plastic bags (kept under the counter) to put customers’
purchases in. This was a position which throughout the day would be occupied by
various stars. Liz makes sure that any customers buying things while she’s
beside the till are also given a leaflet about The Guild. At half past ten Baroness
Issy Van Randwyck turned up, (in the leaflet about the guild Issy’s name is
given with her title). Meanwhile Liz Robertson is now wandering around
trying to find where posters they are auctioning should be put up. The paid
staff put up the posters that are to be auctioned, but Liz and Issy keep a close
eye on where these are going. With Liz very much in the thick of things as
organiser, and Issy anxious to make herself useful, by around 11:25 the pair
are taping up notices about the silent auction. At around twenty to twelve,
with the other ‘Stars’ still absent, Liz resumes the position behind the
counter, while Issy slings a red bucket over her arm, and takes a book of
raffle tickets to sell, at her place behind the counter Liz also has a book of
raffle tickets. On the counter is a white bucket for donations (customers are
encouraged to put a donation in this bucket if they want autographs, or to take
photographs).
By noon the shop is beginning to fill with customers,
and another Star, Ryan Molly, arrives and takes the counter position.
The customers include some of Philip Quast’s fans, already waiting for
him.. One of the Guild’s staff, Jane Merrow, takes Liz’s set of tickets,
while Issy hands her book of raffle tickets, plus the raffle collecting bucket
to Liz, who is quite enthusiastic about selling raffle tickets. Her efforts are
frequently interrupted by having to take calls on her mobile phone, from the
other stars, including one from Philip Quast, still on his way, Liz
remarks that he says he’s “Coming up the hill”, as several of PQ’s fans
would have heard that, I include this comment in this write up. It this point Ian
Talbot enters, he soon proves to be a friendly guy, chatting to customers
and staff alike. At this point Young Frankenstein is playing on
the sound system, I found this an unexpectedly decent score. Issy returns with
her coffee.
At around half past twelve, Philip
Quast finally arrives, and soon finds himself behind the counter with a
great many autographs to sign, he remarks “it will get even worse when
At 12:35 Summer Strallen,
of Hollyoaks and Sound Of Music, turns up, as does
the press call. Philip Quast departs the counter, while Ian Talbot
just mingles with everyone alike in a very relaxed way. At 12:40, now that
Summer’s here the ‘Stars’ have a press call photograph in the basement. At
12:50 there is a press call (with microphone) outside the shop, Summer isn’t
quite ready for this, so Philip Quast kindly goes outside to explain to
the press reporter all about the Theatrical Guild and today’s event. Robert
Hands is another who fits very well into today’s event, chatting to anyone
and everyone alike. At 1pm however he and a number of the others have to leave,
as they have a matinee. It’s now Issy’s turn
to talk to the press, this she combines with ruthlessly handing out flyers for
her forthcoming new show, and then a press photographer (possibly Roy Tan)’s
camera falls off it’s tripod onto the ground, startling Issy. Long leggy Nadia
from Dirty Dancing turns up and is introduced to Philip, who is
now back behind the counter. Eventually the Dirty Dancing folk
have to go, as does anyone else who has a matinee. Issy also departs.
By around twenty past one
things die down, so much so, that Liz suggests to the remaining customers that
now might be a good time to go and have lunch. She says she expects more people
to come around 2pm. Even Liz herself took a short break around quarter to two.
However, Philip Quast remained
behind the counter. At around 2pm, Liz returned, and relieved the raffle
seller, possibly Jane from the Guild. Philip told Liz that he would stay
another ten minutes. One lady customer was looking for female vocal CDs for
Rodgers & Hart, Porter, and, Coward. Liz tries to help a little, but it’s a tricky problem,
Philip spends quite some time helping the girl locate the albums she wants. He
is so helpful and knowledgeable that the girl thinks he’s one of the shop
staff! It’s only when she asks of one CD he mentions “Do you stock that?”
that he has to explain “I don’t work here”. He really did help her like
a real pro shop assistant. Presently Philip departs, and by about twenty past
two things are really quiet. Liz is by the counter, while a few customers are
milling in the shop.
Suddenly
at a quarter to three things change. A redheaded ball of energy walks into the
shop, Louise Gold, who takes up the Star’s position behind the counter.
She’s very vivacious and has absolutely no side to her. Louise is dressed in a
manner that is smart-casual and summery. She is wearing a pale grey top, with a
white blouse (undone over it), and a long white skirt with a black pattern, on
her feet she wears chunky-medium-heeled canvas sandals. She seems to have cut
her hair a little shorter, or else pinned it tidy, it seems fairly tame, though
pretty, and not too short, I prefer it a little wilder, but its still quite
becoming, and I guess more suitable for the summer. She has a watch (with a
large rectangular analogue face on her right wrist). Robert Meadmore
enters, he joins Louise at the counter. At this the energy level rises
dramatically. Louise Gold is so much
the life and soul of a party. Chatting away loudly to absolutely everyone, no
matter whether they are staff, stars or customers, she treats them all alike.
Though she does make a point of saying to the customers “I’m just here for
dressing, I can’t actually do anything”. Nevertheless she, like most of the
stars who take up the counter position, does pass Chris whatever size plastic
bag he requests, and sometimes puts people’s purchases in the bags. Louise
decides she is going to buy some raffle tickets, but she appears to find raffle
books a trifle confusing, so Robert Meadmore has to help her. These two
then become something of a double act over promoting the raffle. Louise puts
her powerful pipes to good use demanding that people buy raffle tickets, and
when they do Robert appoints himself to the task of filling out the raffle
books, saying “I’m head of raffle”. Even so, at some point the Theatrical
Guild administrators may have some difficulty figuring out if he’s done it
right.
Some else is trying to buy a
CD of Brigadoon, and also a CD of Robert Meadmore’s. This
provokes much jovial comment from Louise, who proceeds to tease Liz and Robert,
with a somewhat coarse sense of humour.
The girl whom Philip had been
helping earlier finally makes her CD purchases and leave. She is buying a lot.
Whether it is Louise and Robert districting Chris so he didn’t cancel stuff
properly, or whether the security system just decides to malfunction, we’ll
never know, but somehow the security system goes off. So they have to call the
girl back, which Louise does loudly. They get the girl the hand over her bag.
She gets quite a joking berating from Louise, whose sense of humour gets the
better of her usually kind nature; it’s noticeable that on subsequent occasions
when the security alarm went off, although she’d always joke about it, she
never went that far again.
Another customer’s purchases,
include several CDs and a copy of Musical Stages magazine, Louise is supposed
to be finding a plastic bag for that, but decides to start reading the
magazine, well it does happen to have a review (by Lynda Trapnell) of
the musical play Next Door’s Baby (which she was in). Chris asks
the customer about some CDs left on the counter “Are you buying these?” to which the customer replies “Yes and,
that magazine, when Louise has finished reading it.” After a few moments
Louise shuts the magazine and puts it with the CDs, so that sale can be completed.
A contingent from Avenue
Q turn up, along with a large lidded plastic box (evidently containing
their puppets). They go down stairs and presently reappear armed with their
puppets. Sharpe-eyed actress/puppeteer Louise Gold, still behind the
counter, is among the first to spot them, exclaiming loudly for someone keep
an eye on those bears, they look like they’re up to no good. The Bad Ideas
Bears (performed by Mark Goldthorp
and Mary Doherty) are soon joined by
Trekkie Monster (performed by Chris Thatcher),
and briefly by Kate Monster (performed by York
Chen). Between them the puppets provide quite a distraction, prompting our
veteran Muppeteer to yell at the customers “Please don’t stop buying just
because there are monsters in the shop.”
Louise is of course a fantastic person to have around at this point. She
knows exactly how to deal with the situation, reacting as if the shop being
invaded by Muppet-style puppets is the most natural thing in the world. But
then of course not only has she actually done a cameo acting appearance on Sesame
Street, she has a great deal of experience of this sort of situation
from the puppeteer’s point of view.
The Avenue Q
puppets chat to the customers, and they pose for photographs, as long as people
put donations in the white bucket. They are being quite friendly, and though
making the shop a little chaotic I felt they were not too out of control; And
then, as if things weren’t already lively enough, Chris Thatcher, puppeteering Trekkie Monster, enlivened the
proceedings by attempting the embrace The English Muppet right across
the shop counter.
The Muppeteer wasn’t
expecting it, and seemed unsure how to react. “Keep off the money” she
barked at him, thinking he might be after the collecting buckets. But he simply
flung his furry left arm round her neck. It was mentioned, to Trekkie, that
Louise had worked on Spitting Image, and
At around half past three the
Avenue Q puppeteers leave DC’s
Louise and Robert are still
very much involved with selling raffle tickets, with Louise demanding people
buy raffle tickets, if that doesn’t work she shouts at them to do so, until
eventually most given in, possibly to shut her up for a few minutes, and if
that still doesn’t work, at least with the men, she tries seduction,
flirting with them until they agree to buy a raffle ticket, well she did with
at least one of the men. Louise also puts her powerful pipes to good use
whenever Chris needs to summon
By now the sound system CD is
the Hairspray soundtrack. So Louise and Liz sing along to Good
Morning Baltimore. Louise has been pretty loud all the time she’s been
here, which is driving Chris mad, but when he shouts at her to pass him a bag,
it makes her jump and she turns on him with “Don’t shout”. It really was
a case of speak for yourself. Liz and Louise then elected to take their “tea
break” at the shop counter.
A customer, one of Louise’s
fans, whose purchases evidently haven’t been properly cancelled, going outside,
causes the security system to go off again, and gets yelled at by Louise, but
this time she confines it to their name. Another customer, a regular at
Lauderdale, re-entering the shop also causes the system to go off (again
purchases not having properly cancelled) “Well they didn’t do that when I went out”
says the customer, while Louise exclaims loudly. “Stop Thief” but in
such a manner that everyone knows she is truly joking, and just wanted an
excuse to say that. This time, once Chris has put the customers purchases
through the security cancel again, Louise kindly checks they’ve gone through
this time, by taking them up to the doors.
Louise helps Chris tidy up
the counter, by going and putting CDs back on the shelves, particularly taking
one of Dirty Dancing CDs back to its place on the promotional stand. She
remains by it for some time chatting to Liz.
Att around 4:35, Louise
departs, with Liz quite rightly telling her “You did sterling work”. Louise Gold
is such an amazing ball of energy, that as soon as she leaves it’s noticeable
that the energy level really drops.
By five past five things are
really slack, Liz and Robert step outside for a while, and Robert departs, but
the event’s driving force, Liz returns to her post.
At around ten past five
things pick up a little with the arrival of Caroline Sheen, as well as
some more customers. Caroline soon proves to be another of those performers,
like Philip Quast and Louise Gold, who just fits right into this
sort of event. Someone with a fair amount of charisma, able to be larger than
life, but at the same time very friendly to everyone, and not a bit stuck up,
the sort who will chat to everyone; and has no side to them. Tony Timberlake
and someone else from Spamalot, possibly Alan Dale and/or Robert
Hands turns up. Tony in particular is very funny and fits right into the
event.
One of the Jersey
Boys, the one who wasn’t here earlier, puts in an appearance, to him
Chris ends up pouring out what a manic day its been. He says that “Louise
Gold and Robert Meadmore drove me mad”, particularly Louise, because she
was yelling, he makes some remark about needing the noise abatement society.
But still what can he expect from a woman whose mother played the farmer’s
mother in Withnail and I?
At around five past six a
bunch who were either in or watching Les Mis turn up, in the
company of one of Caroline Sheen’s ex leading men. Caroline, who
is being very friendly to all the customers, chatting to them casually trying
to get to know them, gives her Les Mis friends some autographs
(which of course they put a donation in for).
By quarter past six Caroline,
the Jersey Boys and mostly the rest of the stars have left. The
only ‘Star’ still there is Liz, who is looking a bit exhausted, so Chris gives
her a cheer up hug. With only another five to ten minutes till closing time,
Liz starts clearing away the raffle tickets and both buckets from the counter.
It really is the end of an amazing day.
It was an amazing event. I
think the best thing about it was that most of the stars taking part seemed to
be very relaxed, friendly and not on ceremony. If you are the kind of person
who thinks that “stars” should be “stars” and not fraternise with the hoi
polloi then this event wouldn’t have suited you, and nor would most of this
event’s “stars”. If however, you like your theatre stars to be approachable and
friendly folk with larger than life personalities, then this event was just
fantastic. Liz Robertson really did an amazing job organising and
coordinating so much of a fabulous and very jolly memorable day. Besides Liz, I
think there were three in particular who fitted the bill perfectly, Philip
Quast, Caroline Sheen and above all irrepressible Louise Gold.
Ok I’m biased, but so what. It was also a wonderful stroke of luck that the
furry Avenue Q crowd (whose show was owes so much inspiration to The
Muppets) chanced to co-inside with Louise Gold, a lady who some
thirty years ago was featured in the TV Times Look-in magazine, as the new girl
with The Muppets, where it was clear that they regarded her as
very much one of their family; as a result she of all people knows just how to
behave, as if marauding furry monsters in the shop is the most natural thing in
the world. I don’t know if it was Louise’s crazy vivacious presence in the
shop, or if the shear volume of her voice was distracting Chris, but for some
strange reason the security tagging system kept going off accidentally when she
was around, but generally didn’t when she wasn’t there. She must’ve had a funny
effect on it.
Overall just a fantastic event, and where else but Dress
Circle would one find a place to hold such an extraordinary very friendly,
jolly charity event. Dress Circle occupies a very special niche in show
business, as this event, coordinated by Theatrical Guild Chair Liz Robertson,
and DC’s Melanie, in aid of The Theatrical Guild most certainly proved.
Well done.
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