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One of Bahrain’s oldest English-language theatre groups is preparing to bring 10 comedic mini-plays to life in a one-of-its-kind show next month.
Rehearsals have begun for the Manama Theatre Club’s (MTC) Pint Sized Plays, which will be staged at the British Club and Dilmun Club.
“Pint Sized Plays are a live short-format theatre performed in smaller venues featuring a small cast, and using minimal set, props and tech support,” the show’s producer Chris Cheval told GulfWeekly.
Six directors with diverse styles and tastes have taken on the mantle to direct the 10 plays in the 90-minute show.
Chris will be directing The Sweet Smell of Lemon and Good Innings.
In The Sweet Smell of Lemon by Simon Birkbeck, a passionate salesman is trying to train up a not-so-bright apprentice, while in Good Innings by Barry Wood, the recently deceased Colin Innings is being interviewed by an eccentric Saint Peter, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, who is determined to have a little fun with his latest applicant.
Ghassan Chemali will be directing The Lady and ‘The Tyger’ and Role Play.
In The Lady and ‘The Tyger’ by Trace Crawford, a man is sitting quietly reading poetry when he is accosted by a very unusual woman and somewhere between her screaming about not wanting to be touched and him describing the meaning hiding within a William Blake poem, they manage to make a strong interpersonal connection.
Role Play by Derek Webb takes a walk through the life of Samantha Arnold, who has enrolled in a course to improve her interview techniques and arrives to find that the course is being run in a pub.
Meanwhile, Carrie Lunt-Bell will be directing Body Language and La Mouche.
Body Language by Simon Birkbeck centres on a quick-fire conversation between two people about a gesture, while in La Mouche by Stephen Bittrich, a customer, having ordered his first course, makes a startling discovery and asks for a waiter - with unexpected consequences.
Sowsan Hasan will be directing Smooth Criminals and The Internal Quadrangle.
Smooth Criminals by Simon Birkbeck tells the story of Beth, who has some terrible news and has asked her friends for their unwavering support in a bizzare plan.
On the other hand, The Internal Quadrangle by Hugh Smith tells the tale of a man and his wife’s imaginary female friend enjoying a romantic dinner together when his aggrieved wife turns up unexpectedly, and a bemused waiter witnesses the ensuing drama.
Ebrahim Khan is set to be the director of A Load of Bull by Tony Cottrell, in which it is not immediately obvious, as Daisy and Frieda are dressed as humans, although they are, in fact, cows in a milking parlour.
And finally, Catherine Noor will be directing Will’s Dramaturg by Rich Rubin, in which an undiscovered William Shakespeare receives tips on how to write a play by a know-it-all colleague.
“All the directors were passed around the Pint-sized books with all the plays to chose from and read through all of them,” Chris explained.
“Each director shortlisted a number of plays that made them roll on the floor laughing while reading them, and we all sat down to discuss which ones would fit well together for the show.”
The two shows will take place on May 15 at the British Club, and May 17 at the Dilmun Club, with doors opening and catering available starting at 6.15pm, final orders at 7pm and the show kicking off at 7.45pm.
Tickets for the shows will be sold through Platinumlist, starting on April 24.
For more details, follow @mtcbahrain on Instagram.
