A Dame Remembers

BOB Charteris knows there’s nothing like a dame.

He’s the writer and director of A Dame Remembers at Stirling Theatre, one of three short plays on offer under the collective title “Famous Family Felonies”.

Charteris’ play focuses on ageing actress Dame Cecilia Coleridge, who is trying to revive her career.

It was originally staged at Melville Theatre at the start of 2021 but was disrupted by a COVID lockdown and only four shows were performed instead of the planned seven.

“Despite this, the show received excellent reviews and Stirling Theatre was happy to include it in their 2022 program,” Charteris said.

“The Stirling production will have two of the original cast, including Jenny Wrenn as Dame Cecilia.

“There have been minor changes to the script and costumes but the main plot remains the same.”

Wrenn said the changes helped to keep her performance fresh.

“Doing this again is very interesting because the other characters are being played by different actors this time,” she said.

A professional singer by trade, Jenny previously worked at Frank Baden’s Old Time Music Hall in Northbridge in the 1970s and appeared in Company at The Playhouse in 1988.

More recently, she appeared in Are You Being Served? and The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s production of A Christmas Carol, both at Stirling Theatre.

“The role of Dame Cecilia appealed because she’s a nasty piece of work but amusing,” Jenny said.

“It’s a type of character I hadn’t played until I was first cast in the role last year.”

Joining A Dame Remembers for Famous Family Felonies are the plays Pulling Weeds and Fluff.