Sunday 12 December 2010

It's Panto Time!

Playing Nurse Nelly in "Sleeping Beauty" in Basingstoke with
Wendy Craig, Andrew Agnew and Abi Titmuss
until 2nd January.
Here's link for my panto blog -
...Meanwhile...
Lynette has just filmed sit-com pilot for the BBC, written by and starring James Corden, which will hopefully go to series next year.

Saturday 6 November 2010

2 into 1 - Review (6)

Theatrenet review by Clare Brotherwood
For the perfect antidote to the recession and the cuts to come, you can do no better than see The Mill at Sonning’s latest production.
First performed in 1981, Two Into One has been brought bang up to date by master of mirth Ray Cooney who places a Tory MP in a London hotel, where he is attempting a romantic tryst with one of David Cameron’s secretaries while his wife is in the room next door trying to bed his personal private secretary.
With a dumb waiter, played completely deadpan by Brian Godfrey, an ineffectual manager (Harry Gostelow) and the MP’s effervescent wife (Elizabeth Elvin), it is left to the bumbling PPS to try and sort things out, and Nick Wilton deserves a special mention for playing his part with such gay abandonment - achieved only with tremendous skill, and tight directing by Ron Aldridge.
Lynette McMorrough also adds to the fun as the Spanish maid, but the biggest surprise of all is the Mill’s artistic director Sally Hughes’ performance as an Ann Widdicombe-esque Labour MP. In grey wig, flat shoes and northern accent she is completely unrecognisable and makes an impact every time she strides onto the stage.
The opening night’s audience’s roars of uninhibited laughter bodes well for this production with its topical jibes at politicians. Even Douglas Heap’s set won a round of applause as various parts of The Westminster Hotel unfolded as in a pop-up book.

Saturday 30 October 2010

2 into 1 - Review (5)

Henley Standard Review by  Nicky Clarke
SONNING has always held a special place in my heart, I love the quaint village, the beautiful hotels and of course the river. Positioned in the heart of the village is the Mill, and having passed it too many times to mention, I have never had the opportunity to visit until recently. In 20 years of driving past and wondering it was a real treat to sample the whole “dinner theatre experience”. It is rare that somewhere exceeds your expectations, but the Mill at Sonning certainly exceeded mine.
The ambience and warmth of the building is instantly apparent as you step into this historic mill; the therapeutic noise of the water wheel was the perfect background to enjoy a pre-dinner drink. Watching the wheel rotate under careful lighting was entertainment in itself, but the smell of the food drew us from the bar to the dining room.
Intimate seating amongst the beams was just perfect for my husband to enjoy his pork with crackling while I tucked into chicken supreme with fresh vegetables and all the trimmings. The food was as fine as the setting. After coffee we made our way to the theatre, smaller than I had anticipated — I felt that we were almost part of the set!
The set looked simple, but was later to get applause of its own. Set in the reception area of the Westminster Hotel, the colouring and décor was perfect. My knowledge of the play Two Into One, a comedy by Ray Cooney, was limited so I had no idea of what to expect.
It was fast and furious from the outset, the energy and enthusiasm of the actors took little time to infect the audience as we laughed from one scene to the next. Nick Wilton playing George was amazing, his body posture, expressions and whole stage presence deserve a special mention, and this small stout little fellow became more hilarious and attractive as the play progressed.
With clever use of language and how simple it is to misunderstand and misinterpret situations, Cooney creates a comical situation with just a handful of characters, quick costume changes and superb one-liners. The audience laughed from beginning to end.
The play was set in current political times and was very much up-to-date, with references to Clegg and Cameron.
It also mimics the hotel industry, with the stiff-upper-lipped manager, the foreign housekeeper and the tip-grabbing waiter. The Westminster staff are every bit as funny as the guests.
Applause came when the set was transformed from a reception area into two adjacent bedrooms where much of the action took place. Set designer Douglas Heap created two hotel suites, perfect in every detail down to the bedside lamp. They also played host to a number of doors which were to be slammed on many an occasion.
What a pleasure it was to have an evening just full of laughter!

Saturday 23 October 2010

"Stenders" & "Scoop"

Back in EastEnders on Monday 25th at 8.00pm on BBC1
and in the second series of Scoop on Wednesday 27th at 5.15pm on CBBC

Friday 22 October 2010

2 into 1 - review (4)

The Reading Chronicle
by Barrie Theobald

Despite recent promises made by the leaders of all the main political parties we regularly hear tales of MPs trying to conceal unsavoury parts of their private lives from the general public.
Certainly Richard Willey, played by Jeremy Gittins, needed to keep his affair with Jennifer, the Prime Minister’s secretary, played by Rebecca Reaney, under wraps and who better to assist him in that task than his bumbling yet trusty PPS George – a superb performance by Nick Wilton.
Things started to go wrong when the hotel could only accommodate the MP and his not-so-chaste wife, played by Elizabeth Elvin, in a room adjacent to the one reserved for his illicit carryings-on.
Gales of laughter swept the theatre as those involved in this fast-moving comedy try to prevent a hotel manager (Brian Godfrey), a knowing waiter (Harry Gostelow), and a puritanical Labour MP (Sally Hughes) from discovering what was really going on.
This must rank as one of the best comedies at The Mill at Sonning in recent years, with excellent sets and a laugh-a-minute dialogue.
If you haven’t booked tickets yet, do so before this superb production ends on Saturday, November 27.

2 into 1 - Review (3)

Oxford Times review
by Christopher Gray
Veteran farceur Ray Cooney has assisted The Mill in the thorough updating of Two into One, his 1981 rib-tickler on political life, to take account of the election — sorry, non-election — of the Cameron-Clegg coalition and even the arrival of a new Labour leader. “Nothing can go wrong,” says one character, with the misplaced confidence that is so much a feature of farce. Another replies: “That’s what Ed Miliband told his brother.” The play remains a recognisably accurate portrait of the Parliamentary scene, though Cooney stretches credibility beyond breaking point, I fear, with the absurd notion — a central conceit in the plot — that a Tory politician could possibly be sharing his hotel bedroom with a man in his twenties.
The steady build-up of humour in this production is brilliantly achieved by the cast, under director Ron Aldridge. Just when you think the situation cannot get any dafter, another delicious improbability occurs to keep the laughter coming.
At the centre of the fun is a bungling parliamentary private secretary George Pigden (the admirable Nick Wilton) who is recruited by his boss Richard Willey (Jeremy Gittins) to assist in arranging a tryst with a tasty married secretary, Jennifer Bristow (Rebecca Reaney).
Urged to book a hotel suite under the assumed name of Sir Charles Easter, he instead manages to register as Dr Noel Christmas, under which unlikely name he goes on to become involved in all sorts of madcap capers. An extra dimension to the plot is introduced when he becomes the object of amorous attentions by his boss’s wife, Pamela (Elizabeth Elvin).
For reasons that I cannot begin to explain, it also appears that the versatile Pigden is having a gay affair with a tea boy, Ted, from the Foreign Office. On cue comes the arrival of Mrs Bristow’s husband — the conveniently named Edward (Neil Andrew) — ready (stripped to his underpants) to be mistaken for this mythical young man.
As I indicated, the acting is all of the highest standard. Adding to the comic confusions are a frosty hotel manager (Harry Gostelow), a grasping waiter from the excellent Brian Godfrey, and a Spanish chambermaid (Lynette McMorrough) whose efforts to change the beds are regularly thwarted by their near-continuous use.
Finally, there’s a fine comic turn from the theatre’s artistic director Sally Hughes as a tough-cookie anti-porn parliamentary campaigner. If the play has one slight fault, though (and I hope that the hugely experienced Mr Cooney will forgive my telling him his business) it is that Lily Chatterton is not given quite enough to do.

Monday 18 October 2010

2 into 1 - Review (2)

Another nice one...
http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/leisure/article-18237-two-into-one-the-mill-at-sonning/

One would think that Ray Cooney’s political farce would not sound at all appetising, but add sex and this becomes a theatrical rollercoaster of laughs, writes Martyn Jex.
Two into One is purely based around Richard Willey MP (Jeremy Gittins) attempt to arrange a rendezvous with the secretary of the P.M in a Westminster Hotel, while staying with his wife, but engaging his ever so brilliant bumbling aide into covering for him. Add into the mix, a hotel Manager, his staff and it becomes a classic comedy romp of double identities, double entendre, mayhem and confusion, which had this Thursday evening’s audience howling throughout. George Pidgen (Nick Wilton) the MP’s aide was a delight to watch, with pace, energy and the linchpin, was a superior master of comedy, and along with a superb cast it is definitely not a show to miss. With a brilliantly thought out set design and the intimacy of this great theatre, along with a superb atmosphere, I would truly recommend it as a great night out, Running until 27th November 2010.

Sunday 17 October 2010

2 into 1 - Review

Nice review in The Stage...
http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/29957/two-into-one


STAGE Review by Sheila Tracy for "Two Into One"
Published Friday 15 October 2010

Ray Cooney, one of the most entertaining playwrights of our era, wrote this in 1981, long before the recent parliamentary scandals surfaced - but has brought it bang up to date with references to Cameron, Clegg and the coalition. The undoubted stars of this hugely entertaining production are Nick Wilton and the set, designed by Douglas Heap, which changes from the facade of a Westminster hotel to the reception area to the adjoining bedroom suites, complete with double beds and ample opportunity for the opening and shutting of doors as refuge is taken. Wilton is custom-made for the role of a willing parliamentary assistant, assigned by his boss, Conservative MP Dick Willey (trust Cooney), assiduously played by Jeremy Gittins, to book a room for an extra-marital fling with Rebecca Reaney as the PM’s secretary. Elizabeth Elvin gives a delightful performance as the MP’s giggly, gorgeous wife, whose charms prove to be almost the undoing of Wilton.The appearance of the morally correct Lilly Chatterton, trying to launch her anti-vice bill and determined to stamp out pornography in all its forms, gives Sally Hughes a splendid opportunity to pad up, wear a grey wig and remind us of a retired MP who has recently taken to the dance floor. Brian Godfrey is the hotel waiter, willing to oblige for a hefty tip, with Harry Gostelow as the puzzled hotel manager. Director Ron Aldridge gives free rein to Wilton to draw gales of laughter from a delighted audience.

Sunday 10 October 2010

Two Into One

Ooooh... only four days to go -
"Two Into One" opens at The Mill at Sonning
this Thursday, 14th October.



Doctor Who : Deimos


The fifth of my recordings for Big Finish is available at the end of October, with the second installment following in November.

Sunday 19 September 2010

EastEnders, Scoop & Sonning

Looking forward to starting rehearsals for
"Two into One" at The Mill at Sonning tomorrow;
we open on 14th October...

Also in October, back in EastEnders on 25th, and in the second series of Scoop on 27th at 5.15pm on CBBC

while searching for link I found my episode
from the last series on YouTube 



Monday 16 August 2010

Enders and beyond

Filming wednesday and friday for October 25th episode, then last couple of weeks scooping, followed by a quick holiday before 9 weeks in Sonning with "Two into One", then straight into "Sleeping Beauty" in Basingstoke - and that's another year gone!

http://fone-a-cone.blogspot.com/

http://www.millatsonning.com/Two_Into_One.html

http://www.anvilarts.org.uk/whats-on/10/dec/sleeping-beauty

Saturday 17 July 2010

Doctors

Many thanks for the emails and texts following my appearance on "Doctors" thursday lunchtime (from "resting" colleagues mainly)
...meanwhile, in my other life...

http://fone-a-cone.blogspot.com/

Tuesday 15 June 2010

Coming up

"Out of This World", the episode of "Scoop", the children's comedy series starring Shaun Williamson, in which I play Paulo, the Pizzaman, is being repeated on CBBC Tuesday 22nd June at 9.25am; and I also make an "interesting" appearance in "Doctors" on BBC 1 at 1.45pm on 15th July (Episode title: "Nappy Rash")

Monday 10 May 2010

Walford Tuesday, Basingstoke Christmas

Back in Stenders on Tuesday 11th for a couple of scenes;
Basingstoke at Christmas in "Sleeping Beauty" with Wendy Craig, Abi Titmuss and Andrew Agnew for UK Productions.

Tuesday 27 April 2010

'Stenders tonight, Ice cream Sunday

Back for a bit of brief scowling in tonight's episode.
I've got a bit more to do in the episode showing in two week's time (11th May) - AND I make it into the Vic!
Meanwhile... in my other life - the ice cream season has started and I'm out and about on my bike at week-ends. Great fun.
http://www.fone-a-cone.blogspot.com/

Scoop

Filmed another episode of Shaun Williamson's CBBC show, "Scoop" last week (second series). It was a lot of fun and it was great to meet Paul Hawkyard, who was also guesting; he was in one of my favourite series of all time, "Residents".

Saturday 20 March 2010

'Stenders and Doctors

Good week coming up - filming episodes of EastEnders and Doctors; some nice scenes in both.

Saturday 13 March 2010

New website

I am in the process of  re-designing my website.
If you would like to see the new one being put together it's at http://www.nickwilton.com/
It could take some time...

Friday 5 March 2010

Booked for panto

Hooray! Booked today for panto this Christmas -
my 11th consecutive year as Dame.
More details soon on my panto blog:
http://nickwiltonpanto.blogspot.com/

Thursday 4 February 2010

EastEnders tonight

A couple of nice scenes tonight following my brief appearance in the foreground in tuesday's ep. when I was described
(can't imagine why)
as a "Balloon faced little twerp"," That hobbit with a clipboard" and Mr Eyebrows".
One more scene tomorrow (Friday)

Monday 1 February 2010

EastEnders Tues/Thurs/Fri

I'm back on EastEnders this week giving my Mr Lister in three more episodes - a quick glimpse of him (and some fun descriptions by Stacey) on tuesday; a couple of scenes on thursday and another on friday.
BUT... Don't blink.

Sunday 31 January 2010

BBC7 11.00pm 1st Feb

The last of seven "In One Ear" repeats is on BBC7 at 11.00pm on Monday 1st February, and available on BBCiplayer for the next 7 days (last week's ep is available until this new one replaces it).
"In One Ear", with Helen Lederer, Clive Mantle, Nick Wilton & Steve Brown went out live on BBC Radio 4 on Saturday nights at 11.00pm from 1984-6. It was produced by Jamie Rix and won a Sony Award for best radio comedy.

Monday 25 January 2010

All Right on the Night

I'm standing in for Simon Williams at The Mill at Sonning tomorrow night (Tuesday 26th) in his theatrical anecdote show, "It's Never All Right on the Night". Luckily I can do most of it standing at a lectern, but I'm now re-typing/re-formatting the script so that I can read it! (oh, for young eyes)
I'm looking forward to working with my old friend, Phillip Pope and the wonderful Izzy Van Randwick.

Tuesday 19 January 2010

Scoop. CBBC 24 Jan

"Out of This World", the episode of "Scoop", the children's comedy series starring Shaun Williamson, in which I play Paulo, the Pizzaman, is being repeated on CBBC Tuesday 26th Jan at 4.30pm