Ogden Quiller’s Progressive Playshop Production of ETERNITY

By now I'm sure you know that Very Warm for May has a show within a show plot.  Well the "players" decided they wanted their moment to shine.  If you were one of the lucky few who saw the Ogden Quiller Progressive Playshop Production of Eternity at the Spofford Barn Theatre in Connecticut, you might have forgotten to get a show program.  Here it is.

Ogden Quiller’s Progressive Playshop Production of ETERNITY

Who's Who in the Cast

Ogden Quiller (Writer / Director / Adam Standish) is delighted to see Eternity, his 27th work, produced. He believes that this production will lead to his other 26 plays finally being staged as well. Ogden received his formal training with Karel Capek, while traveling in Czechoslovakia. As an actor Ogden has portrayed the role of Otto Paul Vanderkill, in Children of Manhattan (Wichita Community Presbyterian) and the title role in The Love of Don Perlimplin and Belisa in the Garden (Wallace Theatre in the Square). Ogden is currently working on the novelization of Eternity.

Elizabeth Rose Spofford (Hester Blankwiller) is a graduate of the Westover School for Girls, where she served as President of the Dramatic Club and was an inaugural member of Le Cercle Francais. Under the scrupulous artistic direction of headmistress Louise Bulkley Dillingham, she appeared as Miss Kate Hardcastle in Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer and as Lydia Languish in Sheridan's The Rivals. Upon graduation and with the encouragement of her mother, Elizabeth left for New York to train at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where she appeared in Edna St. Vincent Millay's Aria Da Capo and had the opportunity to work with Broadway notable Johnny Graham in his workshop production of The Gobble-Piper Kiss Off. Elizabeth has actively admired Mister Quiller’s oeuvre since witnessing his ill-fated attempt to engineer improvised performance (Teatrus Extemporanitus) at a mixer hosted by the prestigious Players Club. She’s delighted to be a part of this avant-garde journey in the nostalgic comfort of her childhood local.

Carroll Beamish (Heart Voice and Virginia Creeper) is delighted to make her debut with the Ogden Quiller Progressive Theatre Guild, Inc. A seasoned amateur in the local theatre circuit, Miss Beamish is currently studying Classical Vocal Performance at the Hollace Shaw Conservatory for Talented and Promising Young Women. Most recently, she has performed the roles of Girl (Pinewood High School Summer Musical Theater Review), First Soprano (Pinewood Show Choir Christmas Concert Extravaganza), Gooseberry Bush #4 (Hamlet), and the title role in Carroll Beamish's High School Senior Recital. The upcoming school year at Hollace Shaw will present Carroll in several recitals, concerts, and operas.

Smoothy Watson (Heart Voice and Virginia Creeper) is a graduate of the Eastunder Boys Academy. Although he has never acted before, he has spent a few summers in his church’s chorus under the direction of Choir Mistress Matilda Manly.  At Miss Manly's suggestion, Smoothy auditioned for Mr. Quiller's and is excited to start this new career in acting. Smoothy will be moving to Manhattan this fall with a group of his friends, where he plans on continuing his new path to 42nd Street and beyond!  Smoothy wants to thank his Mom, Dad, Miss Manly, and of course Jesus for all of their support.

Rhetta Hyde (Babbling Brook) has flipped her wig!  She is so excited to be a part of the Ogden Quiller’s Progressive Playshop. Rhetta was born Rhetta-Lynn Majorca Hydenonsvensson (she changed her name at 18 for obvious reasons) and hails from Georgia.  She comes from an old vaudeville family, the singing and dancing Hydenonsvenssons.  She set her sights on the stage and headed for the Big Apple. Needing some dough to get there, Rhetta was encouraged to audition for the Ogden Quiller Progressive Playshop since the summer gig paid “a sawbuck” a week and that buys an awful lot of pop!  Miss Hyde would just like to add: “Gadding about with these artistic types has really been the bees knees and Mr. Quiller’s direction will soon have my on my way to the Big Apple.  And that Lowell Pennyfeather is just to die for! I hope you enjoy my performance as the Babbling Brook because, well, it’s important!”

Shirley Wasserman (Old Musket) has trained since highschool by taking as many acting classes she could from Lou Fields (comedian/ vaudville actor). After landing staring roles in NY theatres including Smiling Faces (Cordoina Potts) with music by Harry Revel lyrics by Mack Gordon and musical book by Harry Clarke and also Walk A Little Faster (Bea Lillie) with music by Vernon Duke and lyrics by E Y Harburg, When the last vaudeville bill closed at New York's Palace Theatre in 1932, some feared that the Broadway musical was doomed to a similar fate. After 3 years of being off the stage, Shirley is excited to make it back again doing what she loves to do

Raymond Sibley (Composer) is happy to work with his Aunt’s childhood friend’s son, Ogden Quiller. Raymond has had some wonderful successes off-off-broadway, and is thrilled to be honing his craft writing for his first time in Connecticut. He hopes that you all enjoy his little ditties and wants you to know his work can be purchased through the Denton & Haskins Music Publishing Company.

Lowell Pennyfeather McGee (Weeping Willow and Personal Assistant to Ogdon Quiller) is joining the Ogdon Quiller Progressive Playshop, Inc. for this summer's production of Eternity to further his dreams of life on the stage.  Lowell first got a taste of the acting "bug" when his father took him to see a play at the local theatre, he doesn't recall the name, but it sure was swell! This led to 15 years of acting, singing, and dancing lessons.  However, it is as the son of a banker that Lowell both perfected the art of sycophantry and gained the organizational skills of a government contractor.  Lowell's exceptionally proud of his superior tenacity, as commented on often by Mr. Quiller, himself!  This is Lowell's first production.

May Graham (Dancer) is newly seventeen, and eager to do anything and everything she wants to do, when she wants to do it! May was born to William and Penny Graham. William and Penny were a Vaudeville pair, living their lives on the road, and eventually taking their two children along with them.  Will instilled his love of the theater in both of his children. Although May is unfazed by her brother Johnny's fame, she admires all he has done on the stage. Despite her connections to the Broadway stage, May is determined to make it on her own, and work her way up the ranks (even if that means working in a barn theater). May wishes to dedicate this performance to her Mother who passed away when she was 3.

Alvin S. Theodore (P-P-Prompter, Ensemble) is thrilled to be a part of Ogden Quiller's new production of Eternity.  Though trained in gardening, Alvin finds every excuse to juggle his tools, and is often seen balancing his hoe on his forehead.  A big fan of the circus, Alvin has also been practicing acrobatics for the past three years.  Alvin hopes that Eternity will tour Germany, as he is fluent in German!

Sonny Spofford (Lighting designer, Bird) is the lighting designer. He is also forced to fill in for people when they miss rehearsal. As well as he is being preassured by his sister and mother to fill out this stupid bio. I had nothing to do with the script, direction, or encouraging of this production.

Would you like to see Ogden Quiller's Eternity? Join Ogden Quiller's Progressive Playshop at the Eureka Theatre for one last week of performances.  For tickets, call the 42nd Street Moon Box office at (415) 255-8207 or click here.