THESE FOOLISH THINGS
Year: 2006
UK: Swipe Productions
Cast: Lauren Bacall, Anjelica Huston, Terence Stamp, Joss Ackland, Andrew Lincoln, Zoe Tapper, David Leon, Julia McKenzie, Mark Umbers, Jamie Glover, Roy Dotrice, Maureen Bennett, Leo Bill, Joan Blackham, Deborah Bouchard, John Broad, Richard Curnow, Joanna David, Tatina De Marinis, Michael Gabriel, Rosin Goodall, Nickolas Grace, Haydn Gwynne, Gillian Hawser, Georgie Johnson, Nicky Ladanowski, Neil Linpow, Charlotte Lucas, Ben Macleod, Sarah McCardie, Jordan Metcalf, Eve Myles, Roger Payne, Anna-Louise Plowman, Craig Rooke, Paul Sarony, Graham Seed, Peter Silverleaf, Nicolas Wall, Andrew Westcott, Jerry Wilson
Director: Julia Taylor-Stanley
Country: UK
UK: 106 mins
UK Certificate: 12A contains moderate sex references
UK Release Date: 10 March 2006
Synopsis
THESE FOOLISH THINGS, set against the background of the approaching Second World War, follows a group of three ambitious young thespians as they stumble though the pitfalls of London's theatrical establishment on a rags to riches quest.
The story opens in the dressing room of Lily Evans (Charlotte Lucas), star of the stage, where Diana, as a small child watches her mother prepare for her performance. Lily's early death and Diana's memories of her mother inspire the young girl and against the wishes of her uncle she enrols at Lady Benson's Academy.
Once in London actress Diana Shaw (Zoe Tapper) encounters Robin Gardner (David Leon) - the writer and Christopher Lovell (Andre Lincoln) - the director. They meet by chance and become embroiled in an emotional love triangle. Diana also meets a host of eccentric, outlandish characters: Baker (Terrence Stamp), the effusive piano playing butler is blessed with wit and a wisdom that keeps everyone in check. He is the oracle to whom all the characters relate in times of frustration and heartache. Lottie Osgood (Anjelica Huston), ebullient American heiress with money to burn backs the play, much to the chagrin of the villains of the piece: Douglas Middleton (Mark Umbers) - languid, impossibly handsome bi-sexual matinee idol, Garstin Bannock (Leo Bill) - Diana's cousin, a scabby, bitter runt of a man out to cause trouble, Everard Carter (Jamie Glover) - camp son of Lord Carter, long limbed, carefully rouged, daring to the last
A strong ensemble cast portray the dramatic struggles to get Robin's play produced with Diana in the lead. With tears before bedtime and tangled webs woven the piece has large helpings of love, loss and sharp wit.