AS I LIKE IT, A memory by AMANDA ELIASCH AND LYALL WATSON

by Julia Laverne

The play has three characters

THE WOMAN
JUSTINE GLENTON

THE DEVOTEE
CHARLES ELIASCH

THE OPERA SINGER
SUSAN PARKES


I was fully involved in every aspect of the play.

The play was written by me originally about ten years ago because my Father, the journalist and writer Anthony Cave Brown, demanded that I write 5000 words “by the end of the week end”. He felt with my DNA, (My grandfather was the screen writer Sidney Gilliat, my mother was an opera singer, my Aunt a writer) that  I should be a good writer, too ,and he wanted to see.  I thought ,as I had met him for the first time when I was 22, that I would shock him. With inspiration heightened by my love of Tracey Emin, I wrote my own biography. It is a true portrayal of my life as I saw it then. Sometimes, when I read it now, I either feel nothing, or I start crying.  It was an experiment, it was better than any shrink.  I wanted to do a monologue for an attractive woman of uncertain age. My Father loved it, but told me to hide it away until he was dead.  He died about three years ago.
His ashes sit in my drawing room.
Last year I felt like working on the play again and so nagged Lyall Watson who had taught me at R.A.D.A to help me.  We changed it into about three plays, the first one was too shocking, the last totally different. It was fun to work with someone that I have known for twenty years. He worked in one bedroom and I, in another.
We would email each other instead of talking.

I decided to produce the play as I found Justine Glenton.  Justine was teaching me Yoga but she is an actress and when she read the script she loved it, I said okay we will do it. Carefully she analysed the script and  together with Lyall she helped sharpen the tone, removing unnecessary moments, and encouraging us to make the character of The Woman as sparkly as possible.
I decided to show the play at The Chelsea Theatre as I like the space and luckily they agreed.  I live nearby and it is convenient.  Nicky Haslam the decorator and one of my best friends is doing the set, which is a reflection of how I live in his fantasy.
Pandora Delevigne is helping with the costumes of the women.  
I am a control freak so am unlikely to give full control to anyone.

The play is in rehearsal during June and the first dress rehearsal on the 1st-3rd July, 4th July for press and 5th July Opening night, 14th July last night.
Tickets can be bought on line. at The Chelsea Theatre.

I am also doing the show at Leadapron of Neon Signs in Melrose, Los Angeles
on my seven deadly sins called Peccadilloes, on the 16th June.