Weston-super-Mare
Dramatic Society
Our Town by Thornton Wilder
Performed at The Playhouse Theatre, Weston-super-Mare : May 28th - June 2nd 1962
CAST
Stage Manager BRIAN S. MORTON-HICKS
Doc. Gibbs STANLEY YOUNG
Mrs. Gibbs JOY WILKINSON
Rebecca Gibbs JOSIE LEVER
Mr. Webb EDWARD STONE
Mrs. Webb NINA REES
Wallace "Wally" Webb MARTIN FINDLAY
Antiquarian N. LEIGHTON NORMAN
GREGORY THACKER
MARY MEE
MARTIN SHEPPARD
STUART UNDERWOOD
JENNY BRIGGS
ERIC WILKINSON
ANNE CARTER
HAROLD DAKIN
NANCY WELLMAN
BRIAN PIKE
RICHARD JACOBS
DAVID HEMMING
CHRISTINE HARRISON
ADRIENNE BERG
ANN PIKE
MARGARET ROWLANDS
JILL REDMAN
MARILYN BALL
PRODUCTION
Producer NEVILLE H. REDMAN
Assistant Stage Managers ANDREW DOBBINS and JOHN RYE
A young cast member, Joy Wilkinson
The Cast
REVIEW - Weston Mercury and Somersetshire Herald Friday June 1st 1962 - A PLAY THAT HAS ACQUIRED PERIOD ATMOSPHERE
BUT 'OUR TOWN' IS BROUGHT VIVIDLY TO LIFE BY DRAMATIC SOCIETY
The impression of a tranquil New England township that Thornton Wilder gives us in his play, "Our Town," has nothing to do with the grim realities of "Peyton Place" as Grace Metahous presents them. No, the play has acquired something of a nostalgic period atmosphere with its turn-of-the-century characters and choir practices, but it still comes vividly to life, as Weston Dramatic Society proves at the Playhouse this week.
The play, produced by Neville Redman, takes us through three stages. We meet the townsfolk, see them in their daily routine and learn something of their hopes and problems. The next act is concerned with love and marriage - how George and Emily discover they need each other, and the great day when they become husband and wife. The last act is in darker mood, set on the windy site of the local burial ground. Years have passed, and Emily looks back on her childhood. Life in Grovers Corners goes on.
It is an odd play now. You never know whether you are part of it pr whether it really is just a play, because, although there is direct contact with the audience - members ask questions - and the stage manager directs the players, yet the whole thing really belongs to the past.
Breaking of Illusion
Parts of it are superbly theatrical - just a step ladder and a spotlight - and capable of summoning up all the imagery that theatrical convention implants in our imagination. The deliberate breaking of the theatrical illusion at some moments is very much of the present day and the trend set by Brecht . . . yes, it is an odd play and a very difficult one, too.
With so much left to words, it is vital that they should be spoken with considerable skill and colour. Brian Morton-Hicks as the stage-manager, attacks his pages like a radio news-reader or the guide who has heard it all before, instead of a host showing his treasures to guests, taking us into his confidence.
When I visited the theatre, I must say he had to cope with the worst type of audience. There was such a buzz of chatter and commentary from some sections that it was very difficult for the more attentive of us to hear anything of the play.
Imaginative Lighting
The families and other personalities are delightfully presented, and imaginative use of lighting helps greatly in the flow of scenes. Only the use of the orchestra pit for the choir scene seemed awkward, with so much shuffling and creaking as we were listening to something else.
The two young people are very well played by Gregory Thacker and Mary Mee. Stanley Young plays Doc. Gibbs; Joy Wilkinson, Mrs. Gibbs; and Josie Lever, Rebecca. Mr. Webb, the editor is played by Edward Stone with Nina Rees as his wife and Martin Findlay as Wally.
There is an interesting learned account of Grovers Corners by the local antiquarian (Leighton Norman), and other parts are played by Martin Sheppard, Stuart Underwood, Jeannine Briggs, Eric Wilkinson, Anne Carter, Harold Dakin, Nancy Wellman, Brian Pike, Richard Jacobs and David Hemming, with Andrew Dobbins and John Rye as assistant stage managers. Other people of the town are Christine Harrison, Adrienne Berg, Ann Pike, Margaret Rowlands, Jill Redman and Marilyn Bell.
This fascinating play, is presented again tonight and tomorrow. R.M.D.
R.M.D.
Love in a Mist by Kenneth Horne
Performed at The Playhouse Theatre, Weston-super-Mare : October 29th - November 3rd 1962
CAST
Mrs. Evans JOY WILKINSON
Nigel BRIAN S. MORTON-HICKS
Pat MARY MEE
Mr. Evans N. LEIGHTON NORMAN
Howard BRIAN PIKE
Rose ADRIANNE BERG
PRODUCTION
Producer NEVILLE H. REDMAN
Stage Manager PAUL KING
Assistant Stage Manager CHRISTOPHER FREER
Effects NAN HESS
Wardrobe Mistress JILL REDMAN
Property Mistress JENNY BRIGGS
Publicity ERIC WILKINSON and BRIAN PIKE
Scenery JAMES FREDRICKS
Furniture W.T. MEAKIN LTD.
Oil Lamps MR. DAVIS, COTTAGE ANTIQUES.
THE ARCADE, WESTON-SUPER-MARE
REVIEW - Western Daily Press Wednesday October 31st 1962 - NO LAUGHS LOST - THANKS TO CAST
LOVE IN A MIST, Weston-s-Mare Dramatic Society.
Mrs. Evans ...... Joy Wilkinson Mr. Evans ...... Leighton Norman
Nigel ........ Brian Morton-Hicks Howard ..................... Brian Pike
Pat ........................ Mary Mee Rose ................... Adrienne Berg
Thanks to the players more than the play, a good deal of laughter comes
out of this frivolous triviality.
Some of last night's first-night laughs were triggered off by a sticking door.
But even with that slight hitch remedied, Brian Morton-Hicks and Mary Mee
as the newly-weds can be counted upon to provide both sincere comedy
and quite appealing romance for the rest of this week.
Brian Pike and Adrienne Berg are hang-doggedly convincing as the pseudo
Mr. and Mrs., and Joy Wilkinson as the garrulous Mrs. Evans is word and
gesture perfect.
Leighton Norman in his wordless role of Mr. Evans makes a lot out of little
opportunity.
Light fare frothily whipped by producer Neville Redman, Love in a Mist is
not the most substantial piece the society has presented.
But it should go a long way towards dispersing winter vapours.
ERIC HOPKINSON
REVIEW - Weston Mercury and Somersetshire Herald Friday November 2nd 1962 - COMEDY OF TWO COUPLES STRANDED ON EXMOOR
CONVINCING PRESENTATION OF 'LOVE IN A MIST' BY WESTON DRAMATIC SOCIETY
The prospect of the open road and a country inn in
North Devon can become transformed to the far from
from pleasant reality of dense fog and black Exmoor,
as two couples find to their cost in the late Kenneth
Horne's comedy, "Love in a Mist," presented by
Weston Dramatic Society at the Playhouse this week.
This well-known comedy is really based upon the
predicament of the shipwrecked quartet who are
forced together for protection but cannot really enjoy
each other's company. The is continual argument
over the sleeping arrangements and the possibilities
of escape, and tempers become short.
On Their Honeymoon
In this case, Pat and Nigel are about to start their
honeymoon, and Rose and Howard are on an
experimental week-end together. Both lose their way
in the September fog and find themselves isolated on
Exmoor. The sole habitation appears to be this remote
bungalow - the duck farm of Mr. and Mrs. Evans.
For Pat and Nigel it is a case of any port in a storm.
They have their holidays ahead and the prospect of one night - their honeymoon night - in this quaint cottage has the charm of the unexpected and exciting.
All would be well if at the last minute another couple had not decided to arrive - and these two not even married!
First Quarrel
The two girls share the only spare bed and the men spend an uncomfortable night in the sitting room. Such is chivalry. When the fog persists a second night, and Rose starts worrying about her reputation, chivalry becomes sorely strained, Pat and Nigel have their first quarrel and again the men spend an uncomfortable night in the siting room.
The quirks of human nature, stubbornness, cunning and downright nitwittedness all have their moments of reality in this very human situation, and it amounts to an amusing evening's entertainment. All ends happily as the mist lifts.
Mary Mee and Brian Morton-Hicks are very convincing as the honeymooners, giving sympathetic performances, well timed and interpreted. Adrienne Berg and Brian Pike play the other young couple, contrasting and again convincing in their roles.
Says Nothing
The duck farmer and his wife are played by Leighton Norman and Joy Wilkinson. Mr. Norman has not a word to say but knows his cues and presents the character very creditably and amusingly. Mrs. Wilkinson has a good deal more to say and does it well.
Neville Redman's production has a fluency which points to a well-rehearsed cast, and there is a good sense of pace and climax. It is only a pity the lighting is not related to the frequent use of oil lamp and candles, and suggests sunlight rather than gloom.
Stage manager is Paul King, assisted by Christopher Freer. Effects are by Nan Hess, wardrobe mistress is Jill Redman, property mistress Jenny Briggs, and Eric Wilkinson and Brian Pike are in charge of publicity. R.M.D.
