The Book of Everything
A REHEARSED PLAY READING (One Performance)
MARCH 23, 2024 at 7.30pm Richmond School or Arts Corner March and West Market Streets, Richmond NSW Did you know that a play reading was how Richmond Players began – over 70 years ago? WHAT IS A REHEARSED PLAY READING? I HEAR YOU ASK!
It’s reading a play in front of an audience as the name suggests - but the actors who are ‘reading’ have spent a little time together getting to know the play, discussing what it’s about, learning about the objectives of the characters and actually doing several readings of the play so that they begin to take on the roles and make the characters more real. ABOUT THE WRITER
Richard Tulloch is an Australian playwright who spends half the year in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and the other half of the year travelling or coming home to Australia. He was one of the original writers of Bananas in Pyjamas. The Book of Everything is based on a very famous Dutch book by Guus Kuijer that Tulloch was commissioned to adapt for the stage. ABOUT THE PLAY
When I grow up, I’m going to be happy. This is nine-year-old Thomas Klopper’s greatest wish. He isn’t quite an ordinary boy because he sees extraordinary things. Things most people seem to ignore: canals bursting with tropical fish, hailstorms in summer, plagues of hopping frogs. Thomas draws them all in his book, The Book of Everything. For his stern and serious-minded Papa, the only books that matter are about God. Comical mistakes that Thomas makes are met with punishment instead of laughter. But when Papa attacks Thomas’ beloved Mamma he has definitely gone too far. Even the angels weep. Meanwhile a jovial Jesus drops in for chats, while Thomas befriends the startling Mrs van Amersfoort and a beautiful girl with a creaking leather leg. This is a magical story about a child who learns to act when beset by fear and faced with wrong. |
CAST
THOMAS KLOPPER | Ben Webb MARGOT KLOPPER | Bryony Pyke MR KLOPPER | Michael Eadie MRS KLOPPER | Katrina Stutz MRS VAN AMERSFOORT | Sally Winsor AUNTY PIE | Sydna Turner ELIZA | Jayne Fowler JESUS | Jony Teperski NARRATOR, BYSTANDER | Rhonda Jones NARRATOR, BYSTANDER | Jayne Fowler CREW DIRECTOR | Carol Wimmer PRODUCTION | Steve Wimmer PHOTOGRAPHY | Penelope Johnson IMAGE CREDIT | Matthew Whittet by Alex Craig |
THE PERFORMANCE
Congratulations to the awesome cast and crew of The Book of Everything!! Saturday night saw around 100 people come along to the Richmond School of Arts, to see a show that was more than “just a play reading”.
Carol Wimmer (director extraordinaire) brought together a wonderful cast with a variety of experience but common enthusiasm. The dedicated group put on a wonderful production under her guidance. Costumes and simple props helped the audience engage in the story. A compact, clever set, beautiful lights, sound and music created by Steve Wimmer provided an atmosphere that drew those watching into the story. The cast didn’t just stand and read from their scripts but came and went with blocking appropriate to the storyline.
The audience remarked that it was not what they were expecting (in a good way). They were drawn into a play that had humour, tragedy, love and family and did not shy away from some very tough topics.
Thank you for the hard work and kicking off the RP year with such a fabulous event. Thank you as well, to those who came out and were part of a unique and entertaining evening.
Congratulations to the awesome cast and crew of The Book of Everything!! Saturday night saw around 100 people come along to the Richmond School of Arts, to see a show that was more than “just a play reading”.
Carol Wimmer (director extraordinaire) brought together a wonderful cast with a variety of experience but common enthusiasm. The dedicated group put on a wonderful production under her guidance. Costumes and simple props helped the audience engage in the story. A compact, clever set, beautiful lights, sound and music created by Steve Wimmer provided an atmosphere that drew those watching into the story. The cast didn’t just stand and read from their scripts but came and went with blocking appropriate to the storyline.
The audience remarked that it was not what they were expecting (in a good way). They were drawn into a play that had humour, tragedy, love and family and did not shy away from some very tough topics.
Thank you for the hard work and kicking off the RP year with such a fabulous event. Thank you as well, to those who came out and were part of a unique and entertaining evening.
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