AdLib – AdLib – March April 2013: A New Era Dawns for Pinelands Players
AdLib – March April 2013. As the Cape Town autumn leaves began to turn in 2013, Pinelands Players stood at a crossroads. This transitional newsletter captures a pivotal moment in the society’s 65-year history – the dawn of the Fogell era, the scramble for male actors in The Melodramas, and the vibrant community connections that kept amateur theatre thriving.
A Committee Transformed: The Winds of Change
The 24 February 2013 AGM marked more than just another annual meeting – it represented a generational shift in leadership. After lively debates (and with proxies bolstering attendance to achieve quorum), members ushered in:
-
Glyn Fogell as Chairman: The tech-savvy sound engineer stepped up from committee member to leader, bringing his institutional knowledge from Shout! The Mod Musical‘s technical success
-
Returning Stalwarts: Secretary Tanya March and Treasurer Nigel Stephenson provided continuity
-
The Chenara Conundrum: The popular events coordinator’s abrupt withdrawal left a gaping hole in social programming
“We’re like a stage missing its spotlight,” joked outgoing member Tina Gough, “but spotlights can be replaced – and aimed in exciting new directions.”
Curtain Up on The Melodramas
With typical Pinelands Players flair, the mid-year Candlelight Supper production promised to turn theatrical conventions upside down:
🎭 Audience Participation Gone Wild
-
Soft projectiles encouraged for villain-hissing
-
Cheer cards distributed for heroes
-
The most enthusiastic hisser each night won a “Boo-tiful Performance” certificate
⚠️ Casting Crisis
After initial auditions yielded just two men for five male roles, director Roché Buckle took drastic measures:
-
Extended audition notices to rugby clubs
-
Offered free bar tabs for successful referrals
-
Considered rewriting parts for “very deep-voiced women”
“It’s like Steel Magnolias in reverse,” Buckle quipped. “Everyone wants to play the Southern belle, but where are our good ol’ boys?”
Beyond the Proscenium: Society Revival Strategies
The new committee hit the ground running with bold initiatives:
🎤 “Pinelands’ Got Talent”
Planned for September school holidays, this competition aimed to:
-
Showcase undiscovered community talent
-
Offer mentorship from PP veterans
-
Identify future committee members (particularly those “with biceps”)
📊 Membership Drive
With numbers dwindling post-recession, the team devised:
-
“Two-for-One” subscription specials
-
Free workshop trials
-
A “Bring a Bloke” recruitment campaign
The Cape Town Theatre Tapestry
Pinelands Players remained deeply woven into the local arts fabric:
🎪 Inter-Society Quiz (25 Nov)
After years of “gracious losing,” PP fielded two teams who stunned rivals by taking 2nd and 3rd places. “We studied like it was finals week,” admitted Chenara Fenton. “Turns out 60s girl groups count as history!”
🎭 Community Calendar
-
Supported MADS’ Hedda Gabler (15-23 March)
-
Cheered on Milnerton’s Moon Over the Brewery
-
Celebrated at the CATA Awards (18 March)
Why This Historical Snapshot Matters
1️⃣ Governance Blueprint
Documents how societies navigate leadership transitions while maintaining artistic standards
2️⃣ Creative Problem-Solving
Highlights innovative responses to casting crises – lessons still relevant today
3️⃣ Network Effects
Demonstrates how amateur groups thrive through collaboration rather than competition
Perfect For:
• Theatre historians studying post-2010 SA amateur theatre
• Community leaders designing membership drives
• Directors tackling gender-imbalanced casting
[Download the full PDF newsletter] to experience the original meeting minutes, audition panic, and quiz team preparation in glorious detail!