Cash on Delivery – Interview with the Director
Our news editor recently caught up with Neil Revens, the director of our upcoming production, Cash on Delivery by Michael Cooney, to find out more.
When did you first take to the boards, why and where…what play?
Wow, now you’re asking. 48 years ago I joined a small theatre group called Chicken Shed. I was the youngest member of the group aged just 12. My brother was already involved with the group and Jo Collins, who ran Chicken Shed till very recently, sang in my father’s showband. Chicken Shed has gone on to be one of the most famous theatre companies in the country with Princess Diana as their patron; however when I was a member we performed musicals around the South East. My first part was as Bill a Lizard in a show called Rock Alice. I got the bug and moved onto Boden’s School of Drama as one of the founder members. My teacher was Tony Boden, who was a member of the RSC. He trained me and I won a Licentiate to London Academy of Music and Dramatic
Art (LAMDA) when I was 18. Since then I have lost count of the plays, musicals and comedies I have appeared in but it must be over 100.
You are now happily retired, would you rather sit on a beach Or direct for the KLP? Have you directed before?
Retirement has come early for me but I am loving it. It has given me the opportunity to take on this challenging role of Directing for KLP which I am very excited about. Would I rather sit on a beach? Who wouldn’t! It’s always a challenge! This is the 3rd play I have directed, I have previously directed for St Peter’s Players in Bushey. Its all about seeing the picture in your head and hopefully transferring that image it to your cast.
Why did you choose a Michael Cooney play? They are always wordy, with a large cast.
Michael Cooney is relatively new to play writing. He is famous for being the son of Ray Cooney (Run for Your wife and more). I saw a production of Cash On Delivery and if we can come close to that production I will be delighted. It is quite wordy, but it flows really well and everyone of the cast has an opportunity to add their own input to the characters.
So, who have you cast and why?
I was very lucky to have had a large turnout for the auditions so I had a difficult decision with the characters. Selecting someone to play a part, only having heard them
recite a handful of lines is difficult; so I have had to rely of previous performances to select the cast. I am also delighted that we have some faces in the cast who have not worked with the KLP before.
This is a challenging “farce” of a play, is your set complicated? Who has worked with you on it and can The KLP (Theatre @The Nap) do it justice?
We are working with a box set and we are delighted that Tony Adair has offered his services to build it for us. There are five exits which includes, as with all farces, doors being opened and shut in faces. We also have what I hope will be the defining moment in the play, when one of the characters spends several minutes upside down in a dustbin! If that comes off, then the theatre will be in hysterics. Not sure how the actor will be feeling after that though. (good luck Gary)
Who is your back stage team?
Without upsetting anyone else, simply the best Stage Manager in Ros Swallow. I have worked with Ros on a number of plays and shows as an actor so I know she takes no prisoners and my play is in safe hands. She will be putting together, as always, a professional team.
Why should we all dash and buy tickets?
Because you could either be sitting at home watching TV and falling asleep or having a rip roaring evening at the Nap laughing your way through a hysterical farce. Trust me, you will miss several moments because you will be laughing so much.
It truly is a very well written farce and one that deserves a full house. Come on Down!