Report by Jo Fisher:
The Headley Theatre Club presented a trilogy of one-act plays at the village hall last week when the accent was on humour.
"Come Back Tomorrow" by David Campton had an entirely female cast
and made fun of amateur dramatic societies. Miss Erica Platt (a drama critic
feared for her outspoken criticism) visits an amateur dramatic group to review
its current production but, unfortunately, attends the dress rehearsal by mistake,
and the result is chaos.
Production was by Joan Sharp and the cast did well with a difficult play. In
David Campton style the humour was subtle and for those in the audience who
did not speak French, the clumsy attempts at a French accent by the fictitious
players was completely lost. With frequent prompting, it was difficult to tell
whether it was for the benefit of the Theatre Club players, or the characters
in the play.
The cast was: Phyllis Smith, Rie Gerstel, Lorna Campbell, Doreen Leighton, Joan
Parkinson, Doreen Keen, and sound effects, etc, Marie Bryan.
The second production "Saxon Wives of Ellendune" by L du Garde Peach,
was set in the year 825 A.D. The Danes had landed and were travelling through
England burning and plundering the villages. The men in the village had taken
fright and run to the nearby monastery, leaving their women to the mercy of
the Danes. The wives have divided beliefs, one train of thought thinks the way
to a man's heart is through his stomach and Winfrith (Lucy Marks) intends to
present the Danes with a stew she has been brewing for some considerable time.
However, Judith (Hilary Binns) intends to use her female charms, and promises
that once she has them under her spell she will endeavour to save the other
women.
Production was by Michael Marks and all the cast performed well. Other members
of the cast were Rie Gerstel, Phyllis Brewster, Eileen Callaghan, and Joan Parkinson.
The third play, "The Fish" by Yves Cabrol, was produced by Marie
Bryan and was excellent. The scene, a river bank somewhere in France on a summer
evening, was very authentic.
Described as a light comedy, "The Fish" told the lighthearted tale
of how a miserable greengrocer and an extremely cheerful undertaker exchange
businesses. Their wives are completely opposite, the greengrocer's being gay
and lighthearted and the other nagging and humourless.
Yves Cabrol, the greengrocer, has a son, Louis, who has been making advances
to Yvette and Celestine Plum, daughter of the undertaker, Pierre Plum.
The cast consisted mainly of the Young Section of the Theatre Club – Nick
Webb, Liz Dhillon, Vicki Cook, Phil Longhurst, Ray Pascoe, Lesley Wightman,
Doreen Leighton, and Joe Lucas. Pru Harrold was stage manager. The whole play
was well polished, with attention having been given to every detail of costume,
set, lighting and music.
During the play, Marie Bryan introduced several mime sequences, which complemented
by French music were very effective.
General stage manager for three plays was David Bryan, assisted by Don Brewster and George Fisher.