Three One-Act Plays

Reviews and Cuttings

SOUTH BRENT’S FESTIVAL WEEK
One-act Plays in Church Hall
BABY SHOW AWARDS

The Festival Week organised by the South Brent Youth Club concludes this Saturday with a Carnival procession which assembles at hillside at 6:30 pm, followed by a fancy dress dance in the Church Hall. Children's sports have been arranged for the afternoon. Mr K Maundrell is the Hon. Secretary of the organising committee.

The crowning of the Carnival Queen (Miss F Bishop) was performed on Monday evening by Mrs Vesey. On the Tuesday the South Brent Amateur Dramatic Society produced three one-act plays at the Church Hall. The Carnival Queen attended together with a larger audience. Each play quickly produced its own atmosphere, the cast obviously enjoying their parts, and the audience responding to the lightness of touch which characterised the whole performance.

The evening opened with a production of “Behind the Lace Curtains,” by Esther McCracken. In this play interest was sustained throughout, despite the lack of action. The two sisters, played by Daisy Rowe and Gladys Salter, gave a sympathetic performance and were ably supported by Carmen Manning and George Preston.

This was followed by a farce, “Wife Required," by Falkland Cary and Philip King. As Henry Aspinall, the character round whom the action revolves, Trevor Jones set the lighthearted pace of the peace. The several applicants for his hand – Joan Ayres, the secretary with matrimonial ambitions, Winnifred Windatt, a domineering explorer, Joan Deedes, a minx who made the most of her situation, and Evelyn Hard as Pippin, who delighted with her solemn burlesque – all combined to give 15 minutes of fun. Alma Preston, as the real wife, gave an unlooked for twist to the final curtain.

The evening concluded with a performance of “Far, far away" by Philip Johnson, a contrast in tempo and atmosphere to the previous plays. Katie Holloway was most droll and pleasing, set off by Rosalie Smeeth as the sour and venomous parlour maid. Elizabeth Knapman had great appeal as the misunderstood Penny and the scene between her and Nancy (played convincingly by Joan Ayres) nearly brought the audience to tears. Joan Deedes as Mrs Considine and Carmen Manning as Miss Grimwade, her spiritualist sister, always kept well in character.

The plays, which were ably produced by Joy Carnochan, had a balance and polish which augurs well for the future of the company. The producer and players have achieved a harmony of purpose not always attained by an amateur group.