About This Production
At one point in this play, steam from the offstage ghost train was required to billow onto the set, which showed the station waiting-room. The trouble was that no one could find a way of producing sufficient steam - until, that is, George Salter had a brainwave and went off home to fetch his goose. This was heated up on a Primus stove placed behind a flat, and just as the sound effects reached their highest pitch, suggesting that the ghost train was rushing through the station, the red-hot goose was drenched with cold water - and up rose steam in abundance. No, it didn't mean being cruel to an animal. George had a tailoring business in the village and his 'goose' was an extra large and heavy iron with which he pressed the newly-made garments.
Cast
- Teddy
- Francis Manning
- Richard
- Owen Winzer
- Station Master
- George Salter
- Charlie
- John French
- Peggy
- Vera Pinhey
- Elsie
- Eileen Piper
- Dr Sterling
- Reg Edgecumbe
- Herbert Price
- Trevor Jones
- Julia
- Jane Lee
- Jackson
- George Preston
Production Team
- Stage Manager
- Charles Tothill
- Lighting
- John Hawke
- Scenery
- Charles Tothill
Reviews and Cuttings
From the Totnes Times of December 16, 1944
'The Ghost Train'
Fine Production by South Brent Amateurs
Charities benefitOn Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of last week the three-act play ‘The Ghost Train’ was presented in the Church Hall South Brent by the South Brent Repertory Players. The producer Mrs M Hawke is again to be congratulated on the excellent manner in which this play was put over, for this was another great success which must be added to the list of her many excellent productions for which she is well-known in the district. During the year Mrs Hawke’s productions have raised no less than £300 for various charities, an accomplishment of which she has every right to be proud.
Another member of the players whose work is always outstanding is Mr Charles Tothill who not only acted as stage manager but was also responsible for the production of the scenery, in this instance the waiting room of Fal Vale Railway Station. The waiting room, complete with excursion posters which reminded one of the happy times of pre-war days, the ‘pigeonhole’ for the issue of the tickets with it ‘In’ and ‘Out’ signs, and the smoke and steam as the ghost train rushed through the station are just a few of the properties which made a perfect setting for this production.
It would have been impossible to put this play over in such an excellent manner without the assistance of Mr John Hawke who was responsible for the lighting and sound effects. The Players are fortunate in having the services of one who knows all the tricks of lighting and sound effects. The booking and seating accommodation is in the capable hands of Mrs A Vickery who is ever ready to assist in this way.
The Players themselves must take equal honours. It was generally agreed that the acting, although at times showing a lack of experience, was of a very high standard and the play was presented in such a manner which caused no difficulty whatsoever in the audience appreciating the full text of the story. The whole cast are indeed to be proud of their efforts and it is hoped that they will continue to be members of the South Brent Repertory’s Players and appear again at some future date to draw large audiences as they did in this production.
The cast was as follows: Francis Manning, Teddy; Owen Winzer, Richard; George Salter, Saul Hodkiss the Station Master; John French, Charlie, Vera Pinhey, Peggy; Eileen Piper, Elsie; Reginald Edgecumbe, Dr Sterling; Trevor Jones, Herbert Price; Jane Lee, Julia; and George Preston, Jackson.