Gingerbread Lady - all the right qualities

Rosey Purchase, who lives near Chichester, was last seen at The Priory Playhouse, Arundel in The Faith Healer.

For her next production with the Arundel Players, Rosey returns to her other love: directing.

“I always like to choose a play that has depth, as well as humour. The previous plays I have directed for Arundel were A Glass Menagerie, On Golden Pond and The Memory Of Water.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It took me some time to find another play that I really wanted to do. As soon as I read The Gingerbread Lady, I realised that it had all the qualities I was looking for.

“It is written by Neil Simon and is quite a departure from some of his light-hearted romps, but nevertheless has all his characteristic wit and humour, which are at their brilliant best. His serious story of lost misfits is genuinely and deeply touching.

“It centres on Evy Meara (played by Tracy Clayton), a cabaret singer whose career, marriage and health all have been destroyed by alcohol. It is set in her flat in New York.

“Having just completed a ten-week stint in a rehab facility to overcome her addiction, she returns home to the welcome of two friends with their own problems (played by Mark Roberts and Lucinda Dearlove), her devoted but anxious teenage daughter (played by Daniella Keane), a worthless ex-lover (played by Matthew Hughes-Short) and a delivery man (played by Roger Booth).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“All the characters are strongly drawn, and I am extremely fortunate to have a very talented cast who make my life really easy! Rehearsals are well underway, and we look forward to another sell-out production.”

Performances from Monday, March 19 to Saturday, March 24. Tickets on 07523 417926. Tickets £10.