The Director of this production is James Lawson
James has been a Masker for 15 years; it’s hard to think that 2007 was 15 years ago!! He has portrayed a variety of roles including TomJon in Terry Pratchett’s Wyrd Sisters (2018), a Mississippi lawyer in Crimes of The Heart (2013), a soldier in Accrington Pals (2007), a swash-buckling pirate in Treasure Island (2011) and Inspector Fix in Around The World In 80 Days (2017). This is James’ second outing as a director for the Maskers. His first was in 2015 when he directed Ben Elton's Silly Cow to sold-out audiences.
Sandy is played by Jo Barnard
Jo has been in three shows with Maskers – Great Expectations, Wyrd Sisters and Quartet – and says she is drawn to shows that are clever or funny but preferably both. She is therefore delighted to be playing the hopelessly (sarcastic) romantic, Sandy, in this highly entertaining play. Jo’s cousin ‘disappeared to Vegas, came back married’ many years ago. He announced his wedding by posting a photo of himself and his beautiful bride smiling in front of The Little Church of the West wedding chapel in Paradise, Nevada, and it was the most romantic thing she had ever seen. Viva Las Vegas!
Bev is played by Hazel Slawson
This is Hazel’s fourth performance for Maskers having appeared as multiple characters in Around the World in 80 Days, using a myriad of accents in Wyrd Sisters and making a lot of noise on guitar in Twelfth Night. Having performed at a great distance from the audience in the past, Hazel’s first studio show is a little daunting as the audience will be close enough to aim those tomatoes just right.
Stan is played by Neil Forster
This is Neil's first show with Maskers, and he's very excited to be involved. Neil moved to Southampton in 2020 after living in London for 10 years. Whilst in London he performed in a variety of shows including A Clockwork Orange, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Oh What a Lovely War, Harvey, and Cabaret. He grew up in South Shields and studied at York University, where he appeared in various other productions including Grease, Julius Caesar, Cider with Rosie, Arcadia and Journey’s End.
John is played by Joe Hand
Joe has been performing in Southampton for nearly 10 years, with highlights including stints as the Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance and Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof with University of Southampton's Light Opera Society, playing Andre Thibault in Southampton Musical Society’s production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and co-writing and starring in Gauntlet Theatre's My Life Closed Twice, which won the Gothenburg Fringe Festival Hot Potato Award in 2018. By day, Joe works for the university, and by evening is most often found exploring and defeating Dungeons and Dragons respectively. This is Joe's first outing with Maskers.
Lou is played by Phil De Grouchy
A member of the Society since the early 1970's, Philip has played a large variety of parts in every kind of show and has been a very active actor this season, playing Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing, Mark in Yards Apart and being part of the company for A Box of Delights. Previous productions include Quartet, An Italian Straw Hat, Ten Times Table, The Flint Street Nativity and many Christmas shows, some of which he directed.
Vanessa is played by Suze Avery
Suze returns to Maskers after 18 months off for good behaviour. She is delighted to be playing the role of Vanessa; her last role for the company was Viola in Twelfth Night, and Suze now feels she is eminently qualified to play characters whose names begin with a ‘V’. She is looking forward to branching out to the rest of the alphabet in due course and is excited to be meeting Elvis.
Bryce is played by Jonathan Shepherd
Jonathan is excited to be back on stage with the Maskers. His most recent appearance was in January 2021 performing, from the comfort of his own living room, a short video monologue entitled I Got Me A Dog in Lockdown for the Maskers’ Between the Lines project. Prior to that Jonathan could be seen festively romping in the Maskers’ Christmas Miscellany Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow (2017), in which he was as a carol singer, an evil aristocrat and The Grinch who Stole Christmas! In Four Weddings Jonathan plays narcissistic ‘has been’ American actor Bryce Cannon, a role that requires an intensive pre-show beauty regime: Fake tan – check! Teeth whitener – check! Hair product – check! He is ready for his close up now.
Marvin is played by Robert Osborne
Robert has been with Maskers for 10 years and has been an actor, stage manager, production manager, lighting designer and director in that time. He is now Maskers’ productions director, tasked with choosing our programme of plays over the next seasons. Four Weddings and An Elvis will be his 10th acting role with Maskers, the last being Let It Snow in 2017 involving a puppet sheep. He is currently the only member to have won both the company’s David Bartlett Award for best supporting actor (Metamorphosis) and the Lockett award for backstage work for stage managing Pygmalion in the open air.
Fiona is played by Rachel Di Nucci
Rachel is a new addition to Maskers, having joined in 2020. Previously, she has taken part in theatre and drama groups throughout school. More recently, she was a part of the Solent Drama and Performance Society where she was in Titus Andronicus, The Crucible, and The Addams Family Musical. During her time at Maskers, she has helped out as part of the Front of House team for shows. Four Wedding and an Elvis is her first acting role with Maskers and she looks forward to more productions in the future.
Fist is played by Sam Hussey
Sam joined Maskers in 2019, debuting as Andrew Aguecheek in the outdoor production of Twelfth Night. Other roles for Maskers include the Guide in 100, and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing. He’s also active in a number of other local societies, most recently appearing as Clive Morris in Seasons’ Greetings at the Romsey Plaza.
Sam has enjoyed getting to play a very different sort of character than his usual casting but wishes his wife wouldn’t laugh so much when she hears the other characters mentioning his muscular physique!
Ken is played by Andy Hussey
This is Andy's first show with Maskers and, indeed, his first show since playing Harold Wilson in Southampton Musical Society's production of Made in Dagenham 5 years ago. Andy is retired and is usually birdwatching or on holiday. He is excited to be a part of Four Weddings and an Elvis along with his son, Sam, and hopes you enjoy the show.
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