1962 Productions

by Terence Rattigan

April 12, 13, 14 1962

Directed by

George Porter

G.P. wrote "One of the characters in this play says rather priggishly, that he is 'awfully interested' in the problem of Heather Collyer and Freddie Page because 'it throws a sort of light on human nature, really.'

I am interested in the play because Terrence Rattigan has given us, in Hester and Freddie, two beautifully drawn characters in a situation which recurs right down through history. It is the raw stuff of life, where an irrational love strips away all props of morality and ethics and becomes the sole reason for living .. almost.

I hope in this presentation you will find something of real value, a moment or two of theatrical experience which will linger with you afterwards. That is what the cast and I aim towards. If we succeed in some measure, then we are helping to make the Amateur Theatre worthwhile and that is our constant endeavour.

Cast

Helen Suter - Mrs. Elton

Raymond Hopper - Philip Welch

Elizabeth Courtney-King - Ann Welch

Jean Porter - Hester Collyer

Ian Barnett - Mr. Miller

John Perrett - Sir William Collyer

Ralph Dawes - Jackie Jackson

Production Crew

Stage Manager - Clodagh O'Farrell

ASM - Mary Chinchen

Lighting - Frank Hurrell

Sound effects - Graham Snow

Wardrobe & Decor - Bess Blagden

Properties - Joan Corney, Margaret Perrett

Stage staff - Michael Davy, Maureen Hammonds, Frances Thorne

Set design & construction -
John Perrett, Harry Chinchen, Michael Davy and the Company

Front of House Manager - George Penney

A review of the time

reviewer unknown

"Tiny Flaws in Fine Production"

The high reputation won over the years by Young Wick Players has been achieved by a simple formula: work, work and more work with perfection as the target.

Last Thursday, Friday and Saturday with its production of Terence Rattigan's The Deep Blue Sea the company almost reached that target. Only one or two tine flaws marred an otherwise faultless presentation. The cast was given an excellent start by the set, designed with skill and imagination by John Perrett, and the inimitable stamp of George Porter, the producer, was evident from beginning to end. The play, concerning the estranged wife of a respectable judge, who lives with her selfish boy friend until the last thread of self-respect snaps and she attempts suicide, gave Jean Porter and Barrie Bowen excellent opportunities to draw upon their vast funds of talent. Jean Porter threw every ounce of her stage training into the part of Hester until the atmosphere was thick with pathos. From the opening moments until the final curtain she lived, moved, thought and breathed as Hester Collyer. Not once, when I saw the production on Thursday, did the character lose its realism. So brilliant was her performance that Barrie Bowen might have played throughout in the penumbra of mediocrity had he not appreciated, and taken full advantage of, the author's masterly contrast of personalities. Apart from a blank moment at the beginning, when his lines eluded him, his portrayal of Freddie, the ex-RAF pilot still living in his world of a decade ago, was sympathetically done.

Helen Suter as a charitable landlady, with her cheerful kindness, convinced the audience of her sincerity. Raymond Hopper did not detract from the atmosphere of the play, but he did not seem smugly secure enough to be the priggish character the author intended. Ian Barnett as Mr. Miller, a former German doctor, who lost his profession in doubtful circumstances, was cleverly saturnine but spoilt his first-night performance by spasmodically forgetting his accent. Hester Collyer's husband, the judge, was nicely acted by John Perrett who exuded the lofty dignity of his position. Supporting rôles were efficiently played by Elizabeth Courtney-King [wife of the priggish young man from upstairs] and Ralph Dawes [Freddie's bosom friend].

The obvious effort put into the production was rewarded by an excellent evening's theatre.

Finally! The emergence of THE WICK THEATRE COMPANY
This is the first production under their new style..

Watch It, Sailor by Philip King & Falkland Cary October 31 November 1, 2, 3, 1962 Directed by Frances Moulton	F.M. wrote "It is with much pleasure that we are at last able to present for your entertainment this comedy - the sequel to our very successful production of Sailor Beware! We are lucky to have, with one exception, our original cast, and all of the members of the Wick Theatre company for many years."
Cast
Elizabeth Courtney-King - Shirley Hornett
Barrie Bowen - Albert Tufnell A.B.
Clodagh O'Farrell - Daphne Pink
Raymond Hopper - Carnoustie Bligh A.B.
Ralph Dawes - Henry Hornet
Betty Elliott - Edie Hornett
Betty Dawes - Emma Hornett
Mary Gedge - Mrs. Lack
Ross Workman - Lt. Commander Hardcastle R.N.

Production Crew
Stage Manager - Brian Moulton
ASM - Trevor Burchell
Lighting - Frank Hurrell
Effects - Ian Elliott
Properties - Roger Nichols, Maureen Payne
Set design & construction - Barrie Bowen, Harry Chinchen, and members of the Company
Front of House Manager - George Penney
Foyer decor - Elizabeth Penney

Pre-show publicity	C.S.P
"Beware - and Watch It, Sailor"
Three years ago Wick theatre Company - then Young Wick Players - presented that riotous comedy of pre-wedding jitters, Sailor Beware! at Barn Theatre, Southwick. Now comes an opportunity to the luckless sailor bridegroom who jilted his bride at the last moment because of his bossy prospective mother-in-law, for the company to stage Watch It, Sailor! which carries on from where the other play left off. There will be performances of this first-rate spot of nonsense by Philip King and Falkland L. Cary on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday with the same cast which staged Sailor Beware!. Without spoiling anyone's fun, I hope, I can reveal that this time it is Shirley Hornet, the bride, who fails to walk up the aisle on time! The company should be in fine form, for tomorrow (Saturday) the play will have a preliminary run through, prior to presentation at Southwick, for the amusement of patients at Hellingly Hospital. They also so watched Sailor Beware! three years ago.
Review of the time	THESPIS
"Doors that really slammed"
Perhaps Watch It, Sailor! is not quite the riot of fun that Sailor Beware! was, but the Wick theatre Company gave us a hilarious evening at Barn Theatre, Southwick, last week. All of the original characters are there. Betty Dawes repeated Emma Hornett and if she was not quite as noisy as the part demands, she more than made up for it by sheer forcefulness of character. Her unhappy husband Henry, still addicted to ferrets, and still capable of feebly asserting him-self, was delightfully characterised by Ralph Dawes. His 'dippy' sister, Edie, was played by Betty Elliott with a wealth of invention and drollery. Elizabeth Courtney-King as daughter Shirley was, also, perfectly in character. Barrie Bowen as Albert Tufnell, the sailor striving manfully to marry Shirley despite his own fears, Emma Hornet's machinations, and the strangely revealed events of his own past, also did extremely well. Raymond Hopper, the moralising Carnoustie Bligh, and Clodagh O'Farrell as Daphne Pink who has designs on him, maintained the high standard of timing, pointing of lines, and getting the laughs that hall-marked this entire production. The noisy neighbour Mrs. Lack was Mary Gedge and Lt-Cdr. Hardcastle, Ross Workman. Frances Moulton did an efficient job of production and Barrie Bowen and Harry Chinchen contrived a suitable and workmanlike set with doors that really slammed and a window that really opened. Marking, as it does, the first venture of the former Young Wick Players under their new style this production augurs well. This type of farcical comedy is extremely difficult to handle, especially on a small stage, and if Wick Theater Company can bring this same crisp efficiency to their future productions, they will not look back.
Review of the time	J.W.C
"Stormy Passage for the Navy"
Rarely can the stalwarts of the Royal Navy have had such a stormy passage as do the two able seamen heroes who appear in the Wick Theatre Company's production of Watch It, Sailor! which opened in the Barn Theatre, Southwick, on Wednesday. The company was formerly known as Young Wick Players. Though the progress of our two AB's is certainly not as smooth as the Royal Navy might hope for, the producer Frances Moulton, has turned out a polished and quick-moving play. The action takes place in the living-room of Henry and Emma Hornett's house. Their daughter, Shirley [Elizabeth C. King] has been left standing at the altar in the local church by Able Seaman Albert Tufnell [Barrie Bowen], who later arrives back in the house as bold as brass, accompanied by his best man, Able seaman Carnoustie Bligh [Raymond Hopper], an upright Scot. Shirley, the dejected bride, is big-hearted enough to forgive her wayward groom and agrees, under pressure by her bridesmaid, Daphne Pink [Clodagh O'Farrell] to walk down the aisle once more. Everyone is happy, including Henry Hornett [Ralph Dawes] who appears rather more concerned about feeding his beloved ferrets than giving away his daughter. However, the fly-in-the-ointment is Mrs. Emma Hornett [Betty Dawes], a sergeant-major type mother who towers above her henpecked husband and rules the home with an iron hand. Only very reluctantly does she agree to allow her weeping daughter to go once more to the church. When all is ready and the bride is prepared to face the crowd of people outside, waiting to see her second attempt at marriage, a bombshell of a telegram arrives, saying that for legal reasons the wedding must not take place. Mrs. Hornett explodes. The greater part of her wrath falls on her simple, meek and mild sister, Edie [Betty Elliott], who gives a really hilarious performance. Matters are not helped any by Mrs. Hornett's gossip-collecting friend, Mrs. Lack, and it is not until the arrival of Lieut.-Commander Hardcastle, R.N. [Ross Workman], that things begin to sort themselves out. In the nick of time, the fiery Mrs. Hornett relents and the bells chime as the wedding takes place. Fine performances are given by everyone, but particularly impressive are Betty Elliott, Betty Dawes and Barrie Bowen. The play, which ends tomorrow [Saturday], will be repeated on November 10 in St. Mary's Hall, Shoreham, in aid of St. Nicholas's Parent-Teacher Association School and Re-building Fund.