Director Ross Bootes said the idea was to get the public enthused about the play and encourage local people to take part.
“Screenplay is the perfect production for novice actors to dip their toe into a life on stage, without having to dive in head-first,” Ross said.
“It is a really funny play. And it’s nice and easy to do as the characters have their scripts on stage and can focus on character voices and the like.”
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Ross said he first heard about Screenplay from a friend of his father's who had worked as a theatre critic in New York.
“We were talking about the playwright AR Gurney one day and he told me he had written a play based on a pseudo script reading.
“So I went out and bought a copy and found it hilarious, and decided I'd love to direct it one day.
“It is a spoof on American politics based on Casablanca.
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“It features a group of professional actors getting together for their first read-through of a script.
“So essentially when we put the show on it will be a bunch of amateur actors, pretending to be professional actors, pretending to have a first read-through of a script we have all read many times - just to be confusing.
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“I've never directed a play so I thought this would be a great way to start.”
The beauty of Screenplay is that the characters are on stage holding scripts.
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So while there will be rehearsals, actors will have the benefit of not having to memorise every word.
“Our intention is to have two shows in early October,” Ross said.
“We are still ironing out some details, such as location. We are looking at either the town hall or CWA hall.”
Ross said the original plan for LUEY when it started was to do two shows each year.
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“However, with a town the size of Benalla that has not always been possible,” he said.
“So we tend to do a different event, such as the trivia night we held earlier in the year.
“We will look to do something similar next year. So anyone who would like to join can also get involved with that.
Ross said LUEY was always on the lookout for new members and anyone who interested can come along to the information session at the CWA hall at 4.30 pm on Tuesday, July 27.
If you cannot make it that day you can call Ross on 0409 505 859 or email lueyinc@hotmail.com
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