Learn about Alice Applewood's show which you can see this month.
For 2 days only we are holding three mini-Chichester Fringe Events before we start preparing for Chichester Fringe 2024 (which you'll find out more about at the end of this week!). We are bringing back some of the talented performers from Chichester Fringe 2023 to help us.
First up ‘A Day to Remember’ created and performed by Alice Applewood. Written by Emily Doye.
Alice has always loved entertaining people, leading her to study a BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre, and then found Applewood Entertainment in 2016. As well as performing professionally, Alice has worked as various roles in nursing homes and has consequently used her knowledge to create shows that she has performed in venues around the country.
‘A Day to Remember – The Life and Times of Doris Day’ tells the story of Doris Day, the face of romantic comedies throughout the 1950's and 1960's. To many she is remembered as the ideal woman of her time, an icon with the perfect smile. Alice invites you to see behind the smile into the life and times of Hollywood's original 'Girl Next Door'.
We spoke to Alice who gave us some more information about her show:
What inspired you to write this show (and what about Doris Day specifically)?
Doris Day is a really under celebrated Hollywood star. I adore her as do many others all around the world and I just noticed one day that there was no modern day recognition for that. No tributes, no tv documentary, no movie (even though she was the star of Warner Brothers for a good proportion of her career). I would like to give her the recognition she deserves.
Can you describe your show in 3 words?
Musical. Heartwarming. Enlightening.
Is there a particular song that you would choose as a favourite? Why?
This is a tough one, but if I had to pick, it would be ‘Deadwood Stage’. It’s the opening song from Calamity Jane, one of Doris’ most famous films, and it’s just so much fun. I get to wear the whole cowboy get up and just be outrageously Doris for a while, it’s great. A lot of people don’t think of Doris Day necessarily as a comedienne but she really was one of the best of her time and it was often commented on in her interviews way back when but we seem to forget that now.
What has been the hardest part about creating this show? And what has been the best?
The hardest part has been picking out which bits of Doris’ life to incorporate. She really had a fascinating life with many ups and downs right from childhood until the day she died. This has also applied to picking out songs. Doris recorded over 600 songs in her lifetime and they were all wonderful but there’s a limit to how much can fit into one show. The best part has been learning about this most wonderful, courageous, talented woman. It gives me goosebumps to think of all that she went through, and yet still came out smiling. We could all learn a lot from Doris Day. She really was the epitome of the phrase ‘Whatever will be, will be…'
Why should people come and see your show?
To learn more about Doris Day, and why you should never judge a book by it’s shiny, seemingly untarnished cover, and also to hear some wonderful music that will transport you back to the 1940s, 50s and 60s.
A Day to Remember: The Life and Times of Doris Day will be showing on Thursday 16th November at The Riverside Theatre, Chichester College. The bar will open at the Riverside Theatre at 14:00 with the show starting at 14:30.