Yellow Sands

Reviews and Cuttings

From the Totnes Times, January 29, 1944

YELLOW SANDS
PHILLPOTTS’ COMEDY PRODUCED AT SOUTH BRENT
HIGH STANDARD MAINTAINED

In the Church Hall South Brent on Wednesday and Thursday this week, Mrs Hawke presented the three-act comedy ‘Yellow Sands’ ‘By Adelaide and Eden Phillpotts. On both nights the hall was packed to capacity and from the enthusiastic way in which the audience entered into the spirit and of story of the play it can be regarded that the producer and players put this comedy across the footlights in a manner worthy of the highest praise.

Mrs L Hawke is to be congratulated on maintaining the very high standard gained in previous productions, as are also the cast which was as follows: Mr G Salter, Miss V Manning, Mr Windatt, Mr Tothill, Mr S Jefford, Mrs Chappell, Mr Edgecombe, Mrs Rowe, Mrs J Hard, Mrs Windatt and Mrs Wakeham.

The first act took place in front of the Major’s cottage on the beach. The setting of this act was very realistic, being complete with boat and oars, crab pots and seats for the visitors, with the cottage in the background. The Varwell family has considerable arguments about the worth of money, Joe Varwell (Mr Tothill), being a ‘Bolshie’, expressing his views in no uncertain manner. They all try to make up their minds as to how their elderly relation Jennifer Varwell (Mrs J Hard) would or should make her will, Thomas Major (Mr Edgecombe) trying to persuade her to make it as soon as possible. The scene ends with Joe Varwell telling Lydia Blake (Mrs Chappell) that he thinks he might be in love with a girl, which is very much against his principles.

The second and third scenes take place in the parlour of Miss Jennifer’s residence. The second scene is a party in honour of her birthday, bringing with it many and varied presents including a live parrot which possesses the name of Ko-Ko, much to the distaste of Richard Varwell (Mr Salter) who detests any drink in the nature of ‘cocoa’.

During this scene a first-class scrap takes place between Joe and Arthur Varwell (Mr Windatt) because Arthur has intended to kiss Lydia. The scene ends with Miss Jennifer making her will with her old and trusted friend and lawyer Mr Baslow (Mr Jefford).

The third act shows the deep respect in which Miss Jennifer, who has since died, was held. The will, which was read by Mr Baslow, contained many surprises, the greatest of these being that the majority of her money had been left to Joe, the ‘Bolshie’. This creates a great problem for him, but helped by Richard and Lydia a solution to the problem was found; Joe’s matrimonial question was settled with Lydia, and he made a very fine Conservative according to the ‘twins’ (Mrs Windatt and Mrs Wakeham), as a man with £4000 should be!

Emma Major (Miss Manning) and Arthur also find that they are suited to each other, together with the parrot Ko– Ko, which had been left to Emma in the will.

The scenery was the work of Mr Tothill, who had spent many hours scene-painting, and his work was commented on by all who saw it as being a masterpiece.

The proceeds of the two shows were in aid of the Local Forces Fund and the A. T. S. Welfare Fund. Mrs Armstrong, the A. T. S. Welfare Officer, thanked the producer and company for the excellent way in which they had put the play over, and also those who had patronised it so well. Mrs Vickery, the chairman of the Local Forces Committee, also thanked everyone on behalf of the men and women serving in the forces from South Brent, whom she was sure would appreciate this effort very much.

The producer and company are very grateful to Mrs Vickery for the efficient manner in which the booking and seating arrangements were carried out.