www.southenddrama.co.uk

Play it Again, Sam

Author: Woody Allen

Director: Kay Banning

Production: 16th - 19th July 2008

Theatre: The Dixon Studio Theatre, Westcliff

A mild mannered film critic finds himself alone when his wife leaves him, crushing his ego. His Hollywood idol is Humphrey Bogart, whose ghostly apparition begins showing up to give him advice. With the encouragement of his two married friends the critic tries to get on with his life again, with less than satisfactory results.

Press Release:

Following its successful production of Family Circles at the Dixon Studio last November, which received very good reviews, Southend Drama Society hopes to further enhance its reputation with a production of Play It Again, Sam by Woody Allen.

People are probably more familiar with the film of the same name, but the story started as a play presented by David Merrick on Broadway in 1969.

The story centres on Allan Felix, a young man who writes articles and reviews for an intellectual film magazine.

He daydreams of someday doing something important in either literature or film. Allan daydreams a lot - in fact, his mind is a hyperactive mass of preposterously neurotic contradictions that make the world a little too much for him.

He is nervous, shy and insecure, and has been in and out of psychotherapy for years. Yet, Allan has this thing about Humphrey Bogart.

His wife has left him and his friends have been trying to fix him up with suitable dates, but he is so awkward that they inevitably end abysmally.

Allan's daydreams of Bogart and his surreal fantasies are always rudely shattered by real life, and when he falls for his best friend's wife things really seem black.

But the homely hero is eventually saved and we leave him dreaming of greater things.

Play it Again, Sam is being performed at the Dixon Studio, in the Palace Theatre, London Road, Westcliff, from Wednesday, July 16, to Saturday, July 19. Performances are at 8pm with a 2pm matinee on the Saturday. Tickets cost £10. To book, call the Palace box office on 01702 351135.