Sell out Fringe show at Carnegie Hall

Salem. 1692. Death and paranoia loom over the town, and all that live there. Whisperings of the casting of spells and the greatest of evils worm their way through the community. But what is the real evil lurking in the town? The Devil himself? Or the lies of those that want revenge? And so the scene was set for a stunning adaptation of American playwright Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, first performed in the 1950s. Based on actual events that led to the infamous Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts in 1692, the play centred round a series of hearings before local magistrates that led to over 150 people being accused of witchcraft. For the third consecutive year, the Lauder Studio Theatre Company, as part of the Carnegie College Stage School Showcase for 2009, once again notched up sell-out performances at the Edinburgh Fringe. For one night only, if you didn’t get round to seeing it in Edinburgh or on it’s pre-summer run in Fife, you had the chance to catch it at the Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline on Wednesday evening, 26 August. Directed by talented ex Carnegie student Neil Thomas from Limekilns, who started his acting career in Youth Theatre at the age of 5, this was 24 year old Neil’s directorial debut. Reviews by Fringe audiences describe the performances as ‘terrific’, ‘superb’ and ‘stunning’, with some admitting to being brought to tears by the end. An original score by Ryan J Smith added to the atmospheric performance. Ryan, from Glenrothes, is an up and coming musician who has worked as a session musician and in recording studios. He plays in the same band as one of the actors in the play and through him was introduced to Neil, who formally commissioned him to write the score for the production back in September. Curriculum Leader for Theatre and Peforming Arts at Carnegie College, Sarah Halliwell, said, “The team here is proud of Neil’s success, and delighted to learn that he has successfully auditioned for the Royal Lyceum’s Christmas Show, Peter Pan, which runs from 27 November to 3 January. Neil will take on the role of Wendy’s brother John in the show, which is adapted from the Victorian script of JM Barrie’s ‘Peter and Wendy’. Last year Neil played the part of Edmond in the Lyceum’s sell-out Christmas show, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” Always on the lookout for talent, Sarah added, “We are currently auditioning actors for our next showcase, and interviewing new directors to spearhead our next production. Anyone who thinks they might be the next Neil Thomas should give me a call at Carnegie College.” re-Published: 31 August 2009