Cold Comfort Farm
by Paul Doust - adapted from the novel by Stella Gibbons
Performances of Cold Comfort Farm will be as follows, Tickets available from Riverhouse Box Office on 01932 253354 or e-mail boxoffice@riverhousebarn.co.uk or on line via Riverhouse website www.riverhousebarn.com:
- 20:00 on the 18th Jul at the The Riverhouse Barn (tickets: £11.00/) 01932 253354
- 20:00 on the 19th Jul at the The Riverhouse Barn (tickets: £11.00/) 01932 253354
- 20:00 on the 20th Jul at the The Riverhouse Barn (tickets: £11.00/) 01932 253354
- 20:00 on the 21st Jul at the The Riverhouse Barn (tickets: £11.00/) 01932 253354
167th Production
This adaptation of the well-loved Stella Gibbons’ classic rural novel, set in the 1930s, is written with its tongue firmly in its cheek, giving wonderful opportunities for hilarious comedic acting.
Plot Summary The heroine, Flora Poste, is young, sophisticated and determined. She visits Aunt Ada Doom’s isolated farm in the fictional village of Howling, Sussex, where she transforms the lives of her unruly relatives, the Starkadders. As peace and harmony replace discord and violence we see the beautiful but wild Elfine made over as suitable wife material for the local gentry; Amos, the fire and brimstone preacher, released from his farming duties to set out on a nationwide crusade; brooding Seth transformed into a Hollywood sex symbol and cousin Judith miraculously cured of her neuroses. Most important of all we see the family released from the tyranny of Aunt Ada (who was never the same after seeing ‘something narsty in the woodshed’) and Ada herself launched into a new and glamorous existence. There is plenty of scope for characterisation and the Sussex family and farm hands can adopt a West Country accent. Charles and the Hawk-Monitors are the upper crust and Mr Neck has an American accent.
Characters There is a central group of 15 named characters. However, the number can be reduced to 10 with doubling if required. There is also a group of Chorus who perform a variety of roles such as guests at the ball and wedding, additional family for the Counting and the Quivering Brethren!
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FLORA POSTE - Kiran Millwood HargraveThe heroine 20/35. She is recently orphaned. A level-headed woman who applies modern common sense to the Starkadder family and helps them all adapt to the 20th century. |
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JUDITH STARKADDER - Jean WarnerFlora’s cousin, wife of Amos. Middle aged, she has an unhealthy passion for her youngest son, Seth. Prophesises disaster for the family. |
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ELFINE STARKADDER - Jill ColesJudith’s daughter 18/25. An intellectual, outdoor, fun-loving girl. Beautiful but wild, she is besotted with the local squire, Richard Hawk-Monitor. |
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AUNT ADA DOOM - Anne NunnThe matriarch, Judith’s mother. A reclusive, miserly widow, owner of the farm. She constantly complains of having seen ‘something narsty in the woodshed’, when she was a girl. |
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RENNET - Emma FrierDescribed as “poor daft Rennet”. Wild and mute, has a ‘thing’ for Mark Dolour (who we never see). Finds her voice at the end of the play. |
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MRS HAWK-MONITOR - Frankie GodlimanSmall character part. Richard’s upper-class mother and owner of Hautcouture Hall. Can also be in the Chorus. |
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AMOS STARKADDER/SNELLER - Paul FosterAmos is Judith’s husband; fire and brimstone preacher at the church of The Quivering Brethren (“Ye’re all damned!”). Sneller is the Butler at the Hawk-Monitor's home - Hautcouture Hall |
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REUBEN STARKADDER - Tony FrierAmos and Judith’s eldest son and heir, jealous of anyone who stands between him and the farm. |
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SETH STARKADDER - Jamie FrierThe younger son. Handsome, over-sexed and has a passion for the movies. Enjoys ‘mollocking’! |
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URK STARKADDER - Tom HudsonRelated way back, a young bachelor. Rough farmhand, not very literate, who wants to marry Elfine. |
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ADAM LAMBSBREATH - Roy SelfeThe old family retainer – farm hand. Obsessed with Elfine and – Graceless, Aimless, Feckless and Pointless, his cows. |
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CHARLES AND VARIOUS CHARACTERS - Nick LundFlora’s love interest who is studying to become a parson and who she eventually ends up with. A spiffing chap with lovely teeth. On at beginning and end of play, so can also be in Chorus. |
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RICHARD HAWK-MONITOR AND VARIOUS CHARACTERS - Troy ChessmanElfine’s intended, small part. Can be in Chorus. |
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MR NECK AND VARIOUS CHARACTERS - Ian ThomasHollywood film Producer. Can also be in Chorus. |
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VARIOUS CHARACTERS - Gillian SmithiesThe Chorus perform a variety of roles such as guests at the ball and wedding, additional family for The Counting and the Quivering Brethren! |
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VARIOUS CHARACTERS - Anna FosterThe Chorus perform a variety of roles such as guests at the ball and wedding, additional family for The Counting and the Quivering Brethren! |
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VARIOUS CHARACTERS - Pauline WaltersThe Chorus perform a variety of roles such as guests at the ball and wedding, additional family for The Counting and the Quivering Brethren! |
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VARIOUS CHARACTERS - Sarah MullinsThe Chorus perform a variety of roles such as guests at the ball and wedding, additional family for The Counting and the Quivering Brethren! |
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BRIDESMAID JANE AND VARIOUS CHARACTERS - Katie Cooke |
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BRIDESMAID DANDELION AND VARIOUS CHARACTERS - Amy Hewson |
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Director - Faith Powell |
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Stage Manager - Liz Thomas |
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Assistant Stage Manager - Clare Pinnock |
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Set Design and Construction - John Godliman |
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Continuity - Jill Payne |
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Sound - Ian Santry |
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Lighting - Nigel Greenaway |
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Wardrobe - Judith Dolley |