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Programme notes for The Family Hoffman’s CHRISTMAS MYSTERY PALACE
This Cahoots NI and Mac Co-Production is the magical Christmas story of the circus family, Hoffmann. They are a troupe of performers living in the golden age of magic.
Their desire is to inspire wonder in us all: their ambition is to offer young eyes feats of impossibilities they’ll never forget. The music, songs, illusions and effects, provide a very special show.
The Narrator, ALEXANDER, is played by Hugh Brown. Middle aged, he has balding white hair, and a tiny white beard. He wears a grey top hat, which has a band of red and black feathers to one side. His tight black jacket is trimmed with red around the cuffs, waist, and tails. Two rows of shiny buttons, grey epaulettes, a pocket watch on a chain, and a large diamond brooch decorate the jacket. His black trousers are piped with a narrow band of red. To complete this outfit, he has a floral scarf knotted over his white shirt, red and white striped socks and shabby pointed black and white shoes. Illuminated by three small lights on stands, he sits below left of the stage, playing a variety of percussion instruments, including drums, cymbals, and a saw played with a bow. He is surrounded by battered suitcases, and a tea chest on which circus posters are displayed.
HAROLD, the young man who runs away to join the circus, is played by Greg Fossard .He is very young; slim and lithe, with an oval face, dark spiky hair, and dark eyebrows and eyes. He first appears wearing a brown flat cap, brown waistcoat over a white shirt, long scarf, brown trousers, and boots. Later, he has a high necked white tunic, with two rows of shiny buttons, worn with black trousers tucked into shiny knee length black boots. Arriving in Paris, he wears a short black overcoat, flat cap and red scarf.
WILLARD Hoffmann, is played by Philip Judge, a sturdy man in his forties, who has a broad face, with short dark hair, thick eyebrows and neatly trimmed moustache and beard. He first appears wearing a brown robe, tied round the waist, and has bare legs. As an Egyptian Pharaoh he wears a striped blue and white head cloth, a white short sleeve shirt, over which is an wide gold and blue collarette, a wrap- over white and gold striped skirt, with blue and white striped cloth belt with two long ends hanging over his tummy, an attached money bag, bare legs and sandals..
Later, he has a high necked white tunic, with double rows of shiny buttons, and black trousers tucked into high brown boots. In Paris, he wears a wide skirted top coat with fur collar, and on his head, a top hat. Next, he is dressed in a knee length white robe covered with strips of white material.
MARIE Hoffmann, his daughter, played by Flo Fields, is young, tall and slim, with a pale oval face, and long blond hair. She arrives on stage dressed as an Egyptian princess, hair rolled back into a bun, and wearing a long white sleeveless dress, decorated with diamante at the waist, a gold chain necklace, sandals, and round her head a striped coiled snake head band. Long gold wings are attached to her arms for one scene. She also wears a long blue satin robe decorated with pink flowers. Another outfit is a fish tail white dress, and short black cape. In Paris she has a long red dress, and red hat.
Her sister, BESS, played by Kirsty Marie Ayers is smaller, with long brown wavy hair, dark eyes and heart shaped face. She runs in to the circus wearing a puff sleeved cream blouse over a long black skirt. A short white dress is worn later. When in Paris, she has a blue fitted jacket and matching beret to wear the same skirt.
The Beadle, MARGARET, who runs the workhouse from which Harold has escaped, is played by Abigail Mc Gibbon. Dressed all in black, she wears a shawl over a high necked blouse, long fingerless gloves, long wide skirt, and buttoned boots. Her hair is a thick matted blond on which is perched a small felt hat. Her round face has plump cheeks, a small mouth, and blue eyes.
Egyptian Dancers: Four young girls, with long dark hair, fringed over their foreheads, with small net caps. They are dressed in sleeveless white tops, red or blue at the back, with a wide band of pleats round the neckline, and brief white skirts, caught up at the front, and striped belts. Their legs are bare, and they have sandals.
A male dancer wears a striped head dress, white tunic striped belt, and short black trousers
As Circus hands, the girls have long black or red skirts, the men, black waistcoats worn over white shirts and black trousers.
In Paris, the girls have wide checked skirts and wide brimmed hats; the men have black suits.
Men who help with the magic illusions are dressed like Egyptian mummies, clad in all-in one white hooded suits, with dark red dashes, and strips of white bandage.
Four musicians sit to the right, just below the stage. Three men wearing red jackets and dark trousers, play a double bass, clarinet and key board. A lady in long dark dress plays a violin.
THE SET
The stage is round, and revolves when the scene changes.
We first see red velvet curtains, looped to each side, below an arch which says HOFFMAN
To each side are two tall columns, covered by red and white canvas, on which is written FAMILY HOFFMAN.
There are open door ways to each side of the stage between the columns.
A long wooden chest sits centre, with its back towards the audience; to the rear is a small trunk.
When in Egypt, two carved stone columns are to each side, between which are dark red walls with curved open doorways.
The round circus tent has wooden poles, and curved red and white striped roof
Margaret’s office consists of wooden chair behind a table covered with papers, a quill pen in an ink well, empty wine bottle and glass. A coat stand on which hang a coat and hat are to the right of the table
THE COMPANY
Story by Paul Bosco Mc Eneaney and Conor Mitchell
Directed by Paul Bosco Mc Eneaney
Text and Music: Conor Mitchell
Musical Director: Chris Huntly
Choreographer: Rachel Birch-Lawson
Set Designer: Stephen Bamford
Lighting Designer: Kevin Smyth
Costume Designer and Maker: Elle Kent
THESE NOTES WILL BE READ 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE PERFORMANCE BEGINS FOR ANYONE WEARING A HEADSET AND SEATED IN THE AUDITORIUM.
This Cahoots NI and Mac Co-Production is the magical Christmas story of the circus family, Hoffmann. They are a troupe of performers living in the golden age of magic.
Their desire is to inspire wonder in us all: their ambition is to offer young eyes feats of impossibilities they’ll never forget. The music, songs, illusions and effects, provide a very special show.
The Narrator, ALEXANDER, is played by Hugh Brown. Middle aged, he has balding white hair, and a tiny white beard. He wears a grey top hat, which has a band of red and black feathers to one side. His tight black jacket is trimmed with red around the cuffs, waist, and tails. Two rows of shiny buttons, grey epaulettes, a pocket watch on a chain, and a large diamond brooch decorate the jacket. His black trousers are piped with a narrow band of red. To complete this outfit, he has a floral scarf knotted over his white shirt, red and white striped socks and shabby pointed black and white shoes. Illuminated by three small lights on stands, he sits below left of the stage, playing a variety of percussion instruments, including drums, cymbals, and a saw played with a bow. He is surrounded by battered suitcases, and a tea chest on which circus posters are displayed.
HAROLD, the young man who runs away to join the circus, is played by Greg Fossard .He is very young; slim and lithe, with an oval face, dark spiky hair, and dark eyebrows and eyes. He first appears wearing a brown flat cap, brown waistcoat over a white shirt, long scarf, brown trousers, and boots. Later, he has a high necked white tunic, with two rows of shiny buttons, worn with black trousers tucked into shiny knee length black boots. Arriving in Paris, he wears a short black overcoat, flat cap and red scarf.
WILLARD Hoffmann, is played by Philip Judge, a sturdy man in his forties, who has a broad face, with short dark hair, thick eyebrows and neatly trimmed moustache and beard. He first appears wearing a brown robe, tied round the waist, and has bare legs. As an Egyptian Pharaoh he wears a striped blue and white head cloth, a white short sleeve shirt, over which is an wide gold and blue collarette, a wrap- over white and gold striped skirt, with blue and white striped cloth belt with two long ends hanging over his tummy, an attached money bag, bare legs and sandals..
Later, he has a high necked white tunic, with double rows of shiny buttons, and black trousers tucked into high brown boots. In Paris, he wears a wide skirted top coat with fur collar, and on his head, a top hat. Next, he is dressed in a knee length white robe covered with strips of white material.
MARIE Hoffmann, his daughter, played by Flo Fields, is young, tall and slim, with a pale oval face, and long blond hair. She arrives on stage dressed as an Egyptian princess, hair rolled back into a bun, and wearing a long white sleeveless dress, decorated with diamante at the waist, a gold chain necklace, sandals, and round her head a striped coiled snake head band. Long gold wings are attached to her arms for one scene. She also wears a long blue satin robe decorated with pink flowers. Another outfit is a fish tail white dress, and short black cape. In Paris she has a long red dress, and red hat.
Her sister, BESS, played by Kirsty Marie Ayers is smaller, with long brown wavy hair, dark eyes and heart shaped face. She runs in to the circus wearing a puff sleeved cream blouse over a long black skirt. A short white dress is worn later. When in Paris, she has a blue fitted jacket and matching beret to wear the same skirt.
The Beadle, MARGARET, who runs the workhouse from which Harold has escaped, is played by Abigail Mc Gibbon. Dressed all in black, she wears a shawl over a high necked blouse, long fingerless gloves, long wide skirt, and buttoned boots. Her hair is a thick matted blond on which is perched a small felt hat. Her round face has plump cheeks, a small mouth, and blue eyes.
Egyptian Dancers: Four young girls, with long dark hair, fringed over their foreheads, with small net caps. They are dressed in sleeveless white tops, red or blue at the back, with a wide band of pleats round the neckline, and brief white skirts, caught up at the front, and striped belts. Their legs are bare, and they have sandals.
A male dancer wears a striped head dress, white tunic striped belt, and short black trousers
As Circus hands, the girls have long black or red skirts, the men, black waistcoats worn over white shirts and black trousers.
In Paris, the girls have wide checked skirts and wide brimmed hats; the men have black suits.
Men who help with the magic illusions are dressed like Egyptian mummies, clad in all-in one white hooded suits, with dark red dashes, and strips of white bandage.
Four musicians sit to the right, just below the stage. Three men wearing red jackets and dark trousers, play a double bass, clarinet and key board. A lady in long dark dress plays a violin.
THE SET
The stage is round, and revolves when the scene changes.
We first see red velvet curtains, looped to each side, below an arch which says HOFFMAN
To each side are two tall columns, covered by red and white canvas, on which is written FAMILY HOFFMAN.
There are open door ways to each side of the stage between the columns.
A long wooden chest sits centre, with its back towards the audience; to the rear is a small trunk.
When in Egypt, two carved stone columns are to each side, between which are dark red walls with curved open doorways.
The round circus tent has wooden poles, and curved red and white striped roof
Margaret’s office consists of wooden chair behind a table covered with papers, a quill pen in an ink well, empty wine bottle and glass. A coat stand on which hang a coat and hat are to the right of the table
THE COMPANY
Story by Paul Bosco Mc Eneaney and Conor Mitchell
Directed by Paul Bosco Mc Eneaney
Text and Music: Conor Mitchell
Musical Director: Chris Huntly
Choreographer: Rachel Birch-Lawson
Set Designer: Stephen Bamford
Lighting Designer: Kevin Smyth
Costume Designer and Maker: Elle Kent
THESE NOTES WILL BE READ 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE PERFORMANCE BEGINS FOR ANYONE WEARING A HEADSET AND SEATED IN THE AUDITORIUM.
