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Friday night vedder mysteries 

C.P.G. Radio Play Series: ‘Friday Night Vedder Mysteries’ launches on chillTV this Friday, June 18 at 8 pm. A new episode will stream online/air each Friday evening for the following 7 weeks.

These radio plays were written by C.P.G. member Ed Stone’s dad, Austin Stone, in England in the 1930s to 1950s, and are all based on True Crimes. All but one was originally produced by the BBC Radio. The last one, The Gallows Does Well was not, so this filming is essentially, a World Premiere of this play!

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic the guild was able to perform two of the radio plays, live in the Rotary Hall at Chilliwack Cultural Centre. After the start of the pandemic and when the theatres were ordered to close their doors, Astrid Beugeling, who directed the two staged plays, was approached by chillTV president Berris Karden to create a Mystery Series using the Radio Plays and have them aired on YouTube.

Astrid began re-working the four scripts to suit the filming format but also had to work around the changing Covid restrictions. After considerable amount of time delays due to the changing Covid rules, the last play has just completed filming.

Watch your C.P.G. friends bring to life Austin Stone’s masterpieces!

 

The airing schedules is:

An Affair of Honour – Episode 1 – Friday, June 18 – 8 pm

An Affair of Honour – Episode 2 – Friday, June 25 – 8 pmv

A Pearl in the Hand – Episode 1 – Friday, July 2 – 8 pm

A Pearl in the Hand – Episode 2 – Friday, July 9 – 8 pm

Mystery in Pimlico – Episode 1 – Friday, July 16 – 8 pm

Mystery in Pimlico – Episode 2 – Friday, July 23– 8 pm

The Gallows Does Well - Episode 1 – Friday, July 30 – 8 pm

The Gallows Does Well – Episode 2 – Friday, Aug 6– 8 pm

 

Play Synopsis

An Affair of Honour

Based on a true story about Lola Montez a well-known Irish actress and dancer, who in 1844, while living in Paris, France, had an ‘affair’ with composer Franz Liszt and a ‘dalliance’ with Three Musketeer’s author, Alexandre Dumas. While in Paris she formed a romance with newspaper owner Charles Dujarier, who while drunk during a party, was challenged to a dual by Rosemond de Beauvallon. As a result, Dujarier was shot and killed.

A Pearl in the Hand

The story is based around the great “Hatton Garden Pearl Robbery” of 1913. This was one of the most daring and sensational jewel robberies of all time, certainly the most valuable ‘haul’ of pearls in the history of Hatton Garden.

Mystery in Pimlico

This ‘true crime’ play was based on the famous Pimlico Poisoning death in 1886 of Thomas Edwin Bartlett, possibly at the hands of his wife Adelaide!

The Gallows Does Well

This play is based on the true crime of infamous Victorian criminal Charles Peace (1832-1879).

Also catch, Ed & Astrid on chillTV’s ‘News of the Week’ with Don Lehn on June 17. They will give some insight into the C.P.G. & Austin Stone and how this all came about.

You should be able to just type in ‘chill TV’ online and get access to the program through Facebook, YouTube or chillTV.ca.

Canada Day special includes a CPG Original Script & Music

The City of Chilliwack presents...

The 2021 Envision Financial & Rotary Canada Day Show!

Premiering on Facebook, YouTube and chillTV.ca at 2 pm Canada Day, July 1st!

Music, comedy, drama and history from Chilliwack performers and contributors!

It will be a fabulous family friendly time from the comfort of your TV, phone, laptop, or iPad/tablet...you choose!

And…Chilliwack Players Guild are part of the festivities!

Tune into chillTV on Canada Day at 2 pm to watch our very own C.P.G. members, Nora and Dennis Rackliff. They will be portraying Sue and Joe Whack in “To Quartz or Not to Quartz”. This piece was written by Maggie Saunders and Margaret Reveley. With original music by Judy Hill and directed by Astrid Beugeling!

You should be able to just type in ‘chill TV’ online and get access to the program through Facebook, YouTube or chillTV.ca.

So you see, even though we had a Pandemic, it didn’t keep the C.P.G. members from keeping busy!!

 

Our season will consist of the following:

Mystery in Pimlico - Radio Play Series

This BBC Radio Play, by Austin Stone, was originally broadcast live on Thursday May 8th 1952 at the BBC Midland Home Service. This ‘true crime’ play was based on the famous Pimlico Poisoning death in 1886 of Thomas Edwin Bartlett, possibly at the hands of his wife Adelaide!

Adelaide Blanche de la Tremoille (played by famous English actress Mary Wimbush) was born in 1855 France. She was encouraged by her husband Edwin to openly engage in romantic acts with Wesleyan Reverend George Dyson, who was also charged with Adelaide in the poisoning death of Edwin. He provided the larger quantities of liquid chloroform, than had been proscribed by Dr.Leach for an on-going illness!

At trial, Adelaide was defended by Sir Edward Clarke (originally played by well known English actor Geoffrey Lewis), who suggested that Edwin Bartlett had committed suicide, which led to an acquittal. The play gives background to the ‘mystery‘ and proceeds to the trial itself.  This is the third presentation in the Chilliwack Players Guild's Radio Play series. The CPG would like to thank Ed Stone, Austin Stone's son, for allowing us to present his father's work.

 

Calendar Girls

Based on the true story of the Yorkshire women who pose for a calendar to raise money for Cancer research, Calendar Girls has become the fastest
selling play in British theatre history.

After the previous year’s fundraising calendar, featuring local bridges, raises a paltry sum, the members of the Knapely Women’s Institute persuade one another to produce a charity calendar with a difference. They decide to pose nude for an "alternative" calendar.

Puzzling their husbands, mortifying their children and riding the wrath of the outraged WI, the calendar becomes a huge success sparking a global phenomenon.

A very English story with a very English heart, Calendar Girls is quirky, poignant and hilarious.