Stars of new play - Jeannette DuPont and John Brooks - talk about bringing Taking a Chance on Love to Scarborough stage

Here, the stars of the two-hander – Jeanette Dupont and John Brooks – talk about the show written by The Scarborough News entertainment writer Sue Wilkinson and directed by Tim Tubbs.

Jeannette DuPont-Law plays Edie Smith

​I’m 65 and have been a professional psychic clairvoyant for more than 45 years. I moved to Scarborough in 1995 and began writing the Astro-Tarot column for the then Scarborough Trader and, when it closed, the Scarborough Evening News. I presented predications on Yorkshire Coast Radio and was ‘Mrs FixIt’ on the Great Yorkshire Radio.

​Happily married to Julian for the past 17 years, I have three grown up sons, two grandchildren and 10 step-grandchildren.

What shows have you been in?

​A small comical part playing Betty Blast on roller skates in Scarborough and District Light Operatic Society’s Footloose led to an invitation from director Tim Tubbs to join his UKFD production of Cabaret playing housekeeper Fraulein Schneider, a role I loved due to its gritty nature and for which I got a mention in the National Operatic and Dramatic Association’s review.

​I went on to play Baroness Elsa Schraeder in the operatic society’s The Sound of Music, the brothel keeper Marcus Licus in A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum for Scarbororough Music Theatre Company; Yente the Matchmaker in its Fiddler on the Roof and The Big House prison matron in Hairspray.

My last performance was Grandma Addams in Scarborough Musical Theatre’s Addams Family Musical at the Scarborough Spa.

​I have enjoyed every single role. It is a pleasure to have been a part of exciting and wonderful shows and to have met and learnt from all the great casts, directors, choreographers and musical directors.

​Tell me about your character in Taking a Chance on Love

I am playing Edie Smith, a lady of a certain age with an uncertain future She has been the star of the Scarborough summer shows for many years, she is the consummate entertainer, having worked with many of the old-time greats. She has given her life to the theatre and to Chet her long- time married lover … but life is now changing.

What have been the challenges/enjoyable moments of putting on the play?

​It’s been enjoyable working with a small, close-knit team. Getting to know leading man John Brooks, putting the pieces of Edie and Les’s backstory together and working on the characters under the experienced eye of director Tim Tubbs has given me the confidence needed to play Edie convincingly.

​Why should people come to see the show?

​It’s a small intimate production, reflecting the changing times we live in and it gently touches on a situations people find themselves having to deal with – getting older, death, loneliness, lost loves and it’s a show that confidently states: “While there’s life, there’s hope.”

John Brooks plays Les Manning

I’m 56 and live by the railway in an old railway cottage in the Ryedale Valley. I love walking with my dog, gardening and theatre. What shows have you been in before? I've played the pantomime villain at Pickering’s Kirk Theatre for the past five years and have been in several of their musicals: ensemble in My Fair Lady and Rudolph the head waiter in Hello, Dolly.

My favourite role was Judd Fry in Oklahoma! A meaty character, damaged, hurt and dangerous. Tell me about your character in Taking a Chance on Love. I play Les Manning, a retired, widowed bank manager from Leeds, who’s come to Scarborough to be near his daughter and grand-kids. He's not in the best of health but still has a lot of living to do. It’s my first crack at playing a fully sympathetic man, instead of another villain or controller. What have been the challenges/enjoyable moments of putting on the play? The project arrived in a different form before Christmas. Due to casting difficulties, it ended up with two actors instead of five. We’re doing a different two-hander play. That’s exciting but also unnerving. I’ve never had such a share of responsibility to make it a success. Why should people come to see the show? It will be a personal, interactive experience which I hope will make people smile and feel good about life, themselves and each other.

Taking A Chance on Love is on at the Shakespeare Gallery on Friday April 10 at 7pm; Saturday Apil 12 at 3pm and 7pm and Sunday at 3pm.

Tickets: Scarborough Community Box Office at www.scbo.co.uk