About This Production
Proceeds to the Local Forces Fund.
During the run of this play Marjorie Skinner, who played Rose Rainrider, married Lieut. Jack Vaira of the United States Army. Lieut. Vaira had been given some leave and was naturally anxious to be gone with his new bride as soon as possible. However, Miss Skinner - or rather Mrs Vaira - succeeded in getting her priorities right and in true theatrical tradition postponed her honeymoon until the end of the run.
Cast
- Badham
- George Salter
- Mrs Scaife
- May Chappell
- Connie Fately
- Violet Manning
- Mrs Cashelton
- Marjorie Taylor
- Col. Cashelton
- Walter Vickery
- Inspector Colclough
- Francis Manning
- Mrs Colclough
- Winifred Windatt
- Mrs Fullergrave-Rees
- Nicey Wakeham
- Rev. Rainrider
- Trevor Jones
- Phrynne Rainrider
- Gwen Hearle
- Hurrin
- Reg Edgecumbe
- Griffin
- Owen Winzer
- Housekeeper
- Olive Hard
- Malcombe McCledd
- Stanley Jefford
- Rose Rainrider
- Marjorie Skinner
Production Team
- Scenery
- Charles Tothill
- Lighting
- John Hawke
Reviews and Cuttings
From the Totnes Times of May 26, 1945
Stage show at South Brent
Successful Production of ‘Poison Pen’
For Local Forces FundThe finest performance yet presented by the South Brent Repertory Company was staged at the Church Hall South Brent on Wednesday and Thursday of last week. It was generally agreed that this production of the three-act play ‘Poison Pen’ by Richard Llewellyn was a very polished performance and reflected of the highest praise on the producer Mrs L Hawke and the cast.
There were large and appreciative audience is at both performances, many paying a second visit. It is almost impossible to single out one of the cast giving a more outstanding portrait than the others as all did well.
This is by no means an easy play to produce, one reason being the large cast of 16 players, but Mrs Hawke has again proved herself a real producer.
The scenery was the work of Mr C Tothill and undoubtably added in no small measure to the success of this production. Lighting and sound effects were in the capable hands of Mr John Hawke, who is known over a wide area for his expert work in this very necessary branch of all successful stage shows. Mrs A Vickery was responsible for the booking and seating arrangements and, as on numerous previous occasions, carried out to this duty in a very able manner.
Bouquets were presented to the producer at the conclusion of both performance and on Thursday evening Mrs A Vickery thanked Mrs Hawk and the cast on behalf of the Local Forces Fund for which the sum of £61.6s.0d was raised.
Back-stage on Thursday evening there was a very pleasing presentation to Miss Marjorie Skinner on the occasion of her wedding which took place at that afternoon. Mrs Hawke handed her a silver trinket box on behalf of the cast, Miss Skinner playing the part of Rose Rainrider the Vicar’s daughter. Mrs Hawke wish her the very best of luck and hoped that when she was far away in her future home this small gift would remind her of the Brent Repertory Company and of the part she played in ‘The Poison Pen’.
Miss Skinner suitably replied. A very sporting gesture on her part was that in order that the play could run the second night she postponed her honeymoon by several hours.