The Wheel of Life: A new play by Ron Wawman
- At May 29, 2019
- By The Red Spider
- In News
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By Ron Wawman…
It is 12 years since Red Spider Company staged Like A Buoy, the community play written by me to commemorate the life of our local celebrity, Sabine Baring-Gould. As you may remember that play was performed in the round and was very much a musical romp that largely glossed over the troubled last years of his life. I am delighted to be able to tell you that on 26, 27, 28 March 2020, Red Spider Company will be staging a new play by me at the Parish Hall, Bratton Clovelly which this time lifts the lid on the surprisingly very troubled last eight years of his life. It is an intriguing story and far from being a musical romp.
The Wheel of Life is essentially a study in bereavement and the desire to write it came to me some months after the death of my wife, Margaret, when I suddenly realised I was at the same age and in the same boat that Sabine was in after the death of his wife, Grace in 1916. Then I thought to myself “now I know what he was going through, how he felt and why he struggled to cope.” There was absolutely nothing in Sabine’s published work or in biographies written about him to guide me and I have relied almost entirely on letters written by him to friends and family and, to a lesser extent, on the unpublished memoirs of his daughter Joan and granddaughter Joyce, both of whom appear in the play.
The first act follows the troubles faced by Sabine and his family through the last two years of the First World War, while the second act highlights the problems facing the family after the war, including what they should do about Sabine’s worrying use of alcohol following the death of Grace. There are no villains, but a very interesting but probably innocent relationship that develops between Sabine and a strange young woman. This leads to alarm in some members of the family leading to tensions with Sabine when they try to do what they think is ‘the right thing’ for the family. A little light relief is provided by two grandchildren.
The play has a cast of 17 and takes place in a host of intimate short scenes located in 9 different locations and with rapid scene changes. As such it lends itself to theatre in the round, which is how it will be performed.
With many attractive and some quite challenging parts on offer Red Spider Company believes that there is much to attract actors to this play. We therefore want to throw the net as wide as possible when it comes to casting.
We therefore plan to hold a group read through and provisional casting for the play from 3 pm on 14 July at Lewdown Victory Hall to which all will be very welcome.
You do not have to be a member of Red Spider Company to attend and you do not have to commit yourself to taking things any further if you would rather not. Just come and enjoy yourself. I am delighted to be able to tell you that Anthony Richards, the professional director who was with us for Like A Buoy will be with us for the read through.
The Cast List
Sabine Baring-Gould: 82. A famous author who was previously a very active and self-confident man. Now after the death of his wife, Grace he is uncharacteristically struggling to cope with life.
Mary Dickinson: 47. Sabine’s eldest child. Married with 3 children. A very caring and thoughtful woman living in North Devon but giving as much attention to her father’s needs as she can.
Vera Baring-Gould: 43. An unmarried daughter who during the war years lives in Lew House looking after the father’s needs. Pleasant and caring.
Joan Priestley:29. A married daughter with two children. Living and working as a nurse in London and therefore not a large part to play.
Joyce and Diana Priestley: Around 8 and 6 years old. The children of Joan, they come to spend to spend the last two years of the war living with Sabine and away from the Zeppelins in London. They provide some amusing light relief in Act I.
Edward Dickinson: 21. Mary’s son. Injured during the war. An interesting but small part.
Marian Baring-Gould: 47. The American wife of Sabine’s eldest son, Edward. Somewhat nervous of her father-in-law with whom she has a difficult relationship after she and her husband reluctantly take over the management of Lew House after the war because the family are concerned over Sabine’s ability to cope with only the servants in the house. The move was greatly resented by Sabine.
Edward Baring-Gould: 45. Sabine’s eldest, son. An important but not very large part as much of the time he is either serving in France or busy with his successful business in London. A self-confident assertive man.
Mrs Davey: A very small part. A parishioner and wife of the churchwarden.
Mr Davey: Churchwarden. A small but amusing part.
Evelyn Healey: 33. An intriguing young woman who deliberately strikes up a relationship with Sabine after attending a church service while on holiday in Devon. After this they enter into a correspondence with only very occasional meetings thereafter. Some of Sabine’s family become suspicious of Evelyn’s motives leading to actions that aggravate Sabine’s resentment of Marian.
Charlie Dustan: Sabine’s friendly coachman. Not a large part. Preferably needs a Devon accent.
Nursemaid to Joyce and Diana: A small part.
Lily Langford: Servant in Lew House. A not very large but important part. Could have a Devon accent.
Grace Calmady-Hamlyn: 25. Sabine’s youngest daughter. Lives in Bridestowe but during the war years relieves her sister Vera to look after Sabine during the winter months. Pleasant and caring.
John Baring-Gould: 26. Sabine’s youngest son. Badly injured during the war but makes a good recovery. Not a large part to play.
If you have any questions please contact Ron at ronwawman@googlemail.com
