The programme for Hotel Paradiso continued Wick's new drive to reach out to its audience  with Barrie Bowen writing:

 " Well, we've made 21 years thanks to all of you and like any other life it has been full of 'downs and ups', in that order, because spirits are always down at dress rehearsal times and up after a successful first night when we hope the audience has been entertained.  Things are no different this week, and even perhaps multiplied with this our 21st.  Nevertheless we hope you enjoy this evening's presentation and find it worthy of the occasion/  It is in the expert hands of Nikki Le Roy who, you will recall, has directed The Little Hut by André Poussin and A School for Scandal by Sheriden. 

This month sees a triple 21st in the Wick.  Our founder member Elizabeth Penney is still our president and apart from one season's absence has been so, since our beginning.  We are naturally indebted to her for the leadership, support and patience afforded to us all this time.  Anthony Deasey playing Maxime tonight has chalked up 21 years but as a young man and is giving valuable support to us in the age group.

Spring time is very busy for us.  We have four plays in production and are frantically devising next season's programme.  It is almost finalised, but more of that when you have seen all this season.   the local press has reported our moves to secure a theatre workshop.  Together with the help of the Community Association and the Urban District Council this exercise is progressing very satisfactorily.  If successful, this exciting development will permit a rapid broadening of the spectrum of plays presented by us.  

All in all, the events surrounding Wick are occurring at a most appropriate time.  The consolidation of them should justify your continued interest in us and we thank you for all your past support that ha brought us this far.  We look forward to seeing you all again soon.  Come to that, why not make a reservation TONIGHT for Say Who You Are in June. 

Hotel Paradiso
by  
Georges Feydeau

May 12 - 16 1970

Directed by
Nikki Le Roy

Programme note: "The farces of Feydeau are as implacable and forthright in intention as a child with a peashooter.  They concern the comic horrors that beset ordinary men and women in their determined pursuit of their follies and foibles.  The comic horrors of this farce shook London in  a storm of hilarious laughter, and when 'the curtain came down for the last time, the whole, huge, crowded house broke in a frenzied excitement.  There were cheers, there were shouts, there was jubilation and triumph.'  So Harold Hobson in the Sunday Times described the scene.
In The Times, the Dramatic Critic, revealing some of the details of the plot gave a strong indication of the kind of comic horrors that beset the characters in Hotel Paradiso.  'The central situation is a disreputable Paris hotel where all but one of the first act's characters meet.  The down-trodden husband is offering consolation to the dissatisfied wife of his best friend.  His friend has been sent by the sanitary authorities to investigate ghostly noises in the haunted room suggestive of a defective water tank.  A country innocent, an acquaintance of both families, is trying to find cheap accommodation for a large family of daughters.  A studious youth whose subject is Spinoza on Passion, arrives with the parlour maid, who shares his interest in the subject.  The number of rooms an doors are barely equal to the strain of the complications that follow'

Altogether it is an hilarious farce, fun to read and funnier to act."

Cast

A review of the time

Walter Hix

"Great Stuff by Wick"

If you want a thoroughly exuberant evening, go along to the Barn Theatre, Southwick, tonight or tomorrow to see the Wick Theatre Company's production of Hotel Paradiso by Georges Feydeau.  All the parts in this uproarious farce are most ably played, and Nikki LeRoy's direction brings speed, vitality and panache to the whole;  it is a pity that he did not resist the temptation to attempt to steal the scene in his tiny part of The Duke.

Quite outstanding is Jean Porter as Marcelle, the nearly erring wife of Monsieur Cot.  She brings great style to the part, her playing is sheer joy.  Her rather dry stick of a husband is played by Douglas Tucker.  Ralph Dawes is equally successful as Benedict Boniface who attempts and affaire with Marcelle;  his very severe and unbending wife is Valerie Bingham.  Not all the misbehaviour is above stairs.  The saucy maid Victoire, played by Betty Dawes, also tries to educate the young Maxime [Anthony Deasey] in the facts of life.  In the true farce tradition' David Creedon makes the hotel manager Aniello a delightful figure with his glib patter and automatic assumption that all his guests are very temporary ones.  This a hard-working and thoroughly effective performance.

Brian Moulton is Martin, the proud father of four galumphing daughters, Violette, Marguerite, Paquerette, and Pervenche, played by Barbara Moulton, Rosalind Tripp, Angela Mehr and Julie Morgan.  Neil Shepherd is an entertaining hotel porter, who successfully adds to the complications of Hotel Paradiso;  Michael Padley is an Indian gentlemen with an outstanding bill.  Completing the cast are Tom Atkinson as Police Inspector Bouchard, Michael Radcliffe and Norman Hutchins as policemen, Tom O'Donovan and Steven Moulton as porters and Bess Blagden as a lady.

The fact that an injury and other circumstances made recasting necessary no more than two weeks ago makes the greta success of this enterprise the more creditable to the company. 

Another review of the time

Frank Selby

"Wick's Hotel Paradiso a Hilarious Success"

Continuing their triumphant 21st season, Wick Theatre Company have scored yet another success with the current production Hotel Paradiso, by George Feydeau, at the Barn Theatre, Southwick.  Final performance is tomorrow [Saturday].

The strong cast is headed by Ralph Dawes, in a superb portrayal of Boniface, with Valerie Bingham giving him good support as his wife, Angelique.  Quite outstanding is Jean Porter, as Marcelle, who has an intriguing affair with Boniface in the Hotel Paradiso.  Brian Moulton brings a brilliant touch of comedy to the part of Martin, a man who stutters when it rains and who has four daughters, charmingly played by Barbara Moulton, Rosalind Tripp, Angela Mehr and Julie Morgan.

The farces of Feydeau are as implacable and forthright in intention as a child with a peashooter and the entire cast of this play bring out the best in both lines and action, hilarious to a degree that is quite impressive and refreshing.

Action

The central situation is a Paris hotel where anything can happen - and does.  More lighthearted action is brought about by the love affair between Victoire, excellently played by Betty Dawes, and Maxine, a young student, studying Spinoza on Passion, portrayed well by Anthony Deasey.  David Creedon, in the part of Aniello, the manager, is remarkably good and Neil Shepherd makes a good subordinate.  Another first class performance is given by Douglas Tucker, in the part of Cot, best friend to Boniface.  

Making all too brief an appearance was Bess Blagden.  She was partnered by Nikki Le Roy, also responsible for this brilliant production.  They play a duke and lady.  Michael Padley, in the part of an Indian, Tabu, also was good.  Effective support is given by Tom Atkinson, in the part of a police inspector, Michael Radcliffe and Norman Hutchins, as policeman, and Tom Donovan and Steve Moulton, as porters.

One special point about this play was the excellence of the sound effects and Terry Mase, who has been associated with Wick for the past eight years, working behind the scenes as production manager and setting up and running the season's plays.  He is ably supported by Frances Moulton, as production Secretary.  Other credits are due to stage manager, Barrie Bowen, assisted by Stephen Moulton and Sue Brown: wardrobe, Carol Brand: properties, Margaret David [sic] and Barbara Moulton:  lighting Frank Murrell [sic]: designers, Teddy Morison and Ralph Dawes: front of house, George Porter.  

Say Who You Are
 by 
Keith Waterhouse
&
Willis Hall

June 16 - 20 1970

Directed by
Audrey Laye

Programme note: "Say Who You Are is listed as a comedy.  It is from the pen of those two practised artificers, Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall.  Two earlier plays from this successful team are Billy Liar and All Things Bright and Beautiful which have been termed 'housing estate' comedies.  Say Who You Are represents a complete change of style.  In it we see a direct descendant of the 'comedy of manners' - a contemporary  drawing-room comedy.  Whereas in the past, in this type of play, the life of the day has been glossed over, here people are found in real situations and reacting to them and each other in a natural way.

This play has been termed a bright and brittle near-farce, a recipe for undiluted joy and whilst you might be left in the air as to the outcome at the final curtain, the authors never abandon the realms of comedy.
Kensington is chosen as the venue for this play and as it is necessary to have three distinct acting areas, a challenge has been handed out to the technical staff for the creation of a composite set and the lighting of it.  The challenge has been met with great enthusiasm resulting in the transformation of the Barn Theatre into 'somewhere in South Kensington' which you see before you.

Say Who You Are - so called because an important member of the cast is a telephone box - became. overnight, one of London's biggest comedy successes and it is the hope of the Company that it will prove to be a fitting conclusion to this very special season, for us - our 21st." 

Cast

A review of the time

Walter Hix

"A Challenge is overcome"

The plot is not unduly complicated, there are no who-dun-it surprises but the skilful way in which the story evolves is all part of the fun and it would be a disservice to tonight and to-morrow's audiences to give too much away. 

David and Sarah Lord are played with great skill by Barrie Bowen and Pat Moss.  They have a slickness and style which puts one in mind of the really well-known light comedy teams; their misunderstandings, quarrels and reconciliations have a degree of professionalism about them which lifts the production above good amateur status.  Margaret Ockenden is Valerie Pitman, a young woman of what we used to call 'advanced' ideas, and Jack Bingham is Stuart Wheeler, an unhappy husband.  These two sustain the play admirably although with rather less panache than their friends the Lords.

Technically, the whole production is first-class both in the playing and in the staging.  A play requiring three acting areas is a challenge indeed when one has only the small stage of the Barn Theatre, but George Laye, the stage manager, succeeds admirably and the set design by Worthing School of Design students is almost worth seeing on its own.  The telephone box which figures so largely in the story is so authentic in appearance that when the Worthing students were moving it a public spirited lady reported to the police that someone was stealing a telephone-box!

A feature of this stage set is that it is completely demountable and later in the month it will be taken in two small vans to Henley, former home of producer Audrey Laye, where a performance is to be given by the Wick Theatre Company in aid of the local society's rebuilding fund.

Do go to the last production of the Wick Theatre Company's 21st season and see how completely they have grown up.

Another review of the time

F.S

"Bright, Brittle fun in Say Who You Are"

Wick Theatre Company have chosen a fitting climax to their special 21st season by presenting the comedy Say Who You Are by Willis Hall and Keith Waterhouse at the Barn Theatre, Southwick, this week.  The play opened on Tuesday and the last performance is on Saturday.

In this bright brittle near-farce the authors and those taking part never abandon the realms of comedy.  Kensington is the venue for action and it is necessary to have three distinct acting areas.  The challenge to the technical staff for the creation of a composite set and its lighting has met with a remarkable degree of success, resulting in the transformation of the Barn Theatre.

Quartet

Say Who You Are [so called because an important feature of the play is the telephone box] has only four characters.  Heading a strong, well balanced quartet is Barrie Bowen, who gives a fine  performance as David Lord, a successful businessman, who is married to Sarah, beautifully portrayed by Pat Moss.  The underlying situation in most farces is a mix-up of characters, Margaret Ockenden gives and excellent portrayal of Valerie Pitman, who pretends to be married to David, unbeknown to him and with full complicity of Sarah, who lends the flat to Valerie, so that she can entertain her lover, Stuart Wheeler, a married man, who thinks she is married.

The lift in the set is effectively staged and the timing of the characters is perfect.  Jack Bingham, as Stuart, gives a forceful performance.  The fast moving production is by Audrey Laye and other credits go to Stage Manager, George Laye, assisted by Aubrey Wooton, production secretary, Sheila Deasey, lighting Frank Hurrell, sound effects by Terry Mase and properties by Margaret David, who has been in charge of this side of the production of nearly every Wick Theatre play for the past 12 years.  In charge of front of house arrangements are Brian and Frances Moulton.

Oh! What a Lovely War 
 by 
Joan Littlewood's
Theatre Workshop

September 22 - 26 1969

Directed by
George Porter

GP wrote: "I'm anti-war!  Who isn't and in their right mind?  I am not anti-Haig or any other leader.  I am pro the common soldier and this makes me slightly anti- the establishment.

In the Great War the nightmare of life in the trenches with armies locked in frontal struggle, numbed the bodies of the foot soldier but, far worse, numbed the minds of the leaders, who could see no way out of the dilemma except by the weight of men, the expendable commodity!  For the glory of their countries [so they thought] men endured hell, because to give in was unthinkable: they sang and they joked, some parodied and some survived.

Out of it all, even today, we feel the poignancy of the situation, the self sacrifice, the nobility - and the waste.

When I was a child the entire school formed up in the playground each November 11th and on the silence at two minutes past eleven would fall the words "they shall grow not old as we that are left to grow old ..."
I never saw the blood red poppies in the Norfolk barley fields of those days without thinking of 'the fallen'.  On the heathland near my home the rifle butts were a fascination.  Whenever the red flags were flying I used to watch the local territorials firing over the bracken and heather at the timber-clad earth banks two or three hundred yards away.  [We used to hunt for cartridges and spent bullets.]  These were the brave men who survived; the defenders of our world.
I have a sort of nostalgic involvement in the 1st World War even though I carried arms in the second.  No generation has ever had to face up to the horrors of human slaughter as in 1914-1918 and yet they made tolerable the intolerable by laughing at it.  They had the ability to burst out singing.  Even the parodied hymns have a religion of their own - they show the indomitable spirit of man.

I hope you will leave this show with the old songs on your lips and a feeling deep down that the experience has been worthwhile.  What you have seen is a team effort, a true theatre workshop; but I would like to acknowledge the valuable help given to the company on the musical side by Peggy King and Pat Johnson." 

Cast

A review of the time

Walter Hix

"Oh, What a Lovely Production"

All do well

It would tend to unfairness to pinpoint any individual performances as, although, in the nature of things some artists have greater responsibilities than others, all to so well in their respective characterisations.  The music is supplied by Peggy King on the piano with properly subdued and expert assistance from Mick Urry on the drums.  Stage management in this play is intricate and so a special word o congratulations to Ralph Dawes and to Sally Bacon who assisted him.  Terry Gibbs has provided some telling sound effects.

To sum up, this is a fine example of the best kind of team work.            

Another review of the time

Frank Selby

"Oh! What a success for 'Lovely War' "

Despite gremlins, when nothing seemed to go right, Wick Theatre have this week scored their greatest triumph yet, in a spectacular, colourful and scintillating production of Oh! What a Lovely War by Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop.  George Porter is responsible for this production which has its final performance tomorrow night [Saturday].  It is a difficult and complex play for a small company of players to put on, but such is the talent and skill of the Wick Theatre Company that every difficulty is overcome and the result is a staggeringly fast moving picture of satire and humour of the dreadful situations in the first world war, with its parody on the leaders of the day.  

The stature of Brian Moulton as a player is heightened in this production by his tackling a number of pats with relish - particularly that of Sir John French and Kaiser Bill.  His wife Frances, another leading Wick player, has a number of parts to play.  Their son Steven is also growing up into quite a useful player.  Daughter Barbara stepped into the play at the last moment to fill the place of a member who had to withdraw.  She deports herself with credit.  It is particularly noteworthy that throughout the play, one or other member of this talented Shoreham family appears in every scene.

The play opens with a pierrot scene, with all the company dressed in pierrot costume singing old wartime songs, under the direction of Jack Bingham, who is completely at ease as compère and who plays other parts with equal aplomb.  Pretty Sheila Deasey, a a member of the company for many years, and treasurer, makes her first appearance on stage.  Another newcomer to the company is Hilary Wiltshire, who performs a ballet dance and who is joined by talented Michael Padley in a dance sequence to good effect.  Making a guest appearance is Tom Atkinson, of Southwick Operatic Society, who sings Roses of Picardy and another [? cutting torn].  Other parts well played [? cutting torn] Barrie Bowen as Haig, David Creedon as a chaplain, with songs delightfully sung y Jean Porter and Valerie Bingham.

Cameo-style sketches in typical theatre workshop fashion were hilariously funny and with the players all playing so many varied parts, it created an impression of having seen scores of people and many spontaneous bursts of applause came from an appreciative audience.  Strong support also came from Mike Donkin, Tom O'Donovan, Neil Shephard, Sue Brown, Joy Talmadge  and Sue Welton.  Special mention should be given to Peggy King, pianist, and Mike Urry, on the drums.  Other credits should go to Pat Johnson, Ralph Dawes, Sally Bacon, Margaret Davy, Frances Thorne, Terry Gibbs, Richard Porter, Miranda Bowen, Frank Hurrell, Pat Moss and Carol Brand, all of whom worked so hard back stage and  front of house to make the a show such a resounding success.  

 Pride and Prejudice
by  
Jane Austin
dramatised by
Helen Jerome

December 8 - 12  1970

Directed by
Frances Moulton 

FM wrote: "I am sure that Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice is too well known to need any introduction from me and I hope you will agree that Helen Jerome's dramatisation brings to life the elegance and manners of the period. 

Although in the past I have directed several plays for the Wick, this is the first time I have tried my hand at anything other than romantic comedy.  I was particularly delighted therefore when I was asked to direct this play for two reasons.  Firstly, I have long been an admirer of all Jane Austen's work and secondly, I have made a particular study of the costumes and manners of the period of the play.

I hope you will feel I have put my knowledge to good use and that you will be able to enjoy this evening's entertainment."

Cast

A review of the time

M.R.

"Magnificent, first class Wick "

Seldom does one forget that amateur productions are amateur.  But Pride and Prejudice, by the Wick Theatre Company on Tuesday night was truly professional in acting, direction and, above all, poise.  Nikki Le Roy and Jean Porter as Mr. and Mrs. Bennet were magnificent: he gently humorous and ironical, she whimsical and fluffy.  I don't think I've seen better on any stage.

The production was enhance by some delightful costumes, definitely in period, by Pat Moss.  The whole play, superb comedy that it is, is not so simple to perform.  The mother and pretty daughters could have been far too sugary, but they were perfection.  Sue Brown, Sue Welton and Coral Guildford played the girls.  The two main men - Neil Shephard as Darcy and Michael Padley as Mr. Bingley - were suitably stiff upper-lippish.

An all-round first-class production running until Saturday.  Produced by Frances Moulton.     

Another review of the time

Frank Selby

"Great eye for detail in costume drama"

Fresh from Oh! What a Lovely War, an ambition achieved, Wick Theatre is achieving another on in the excellent presentation by Helen Jerome of Jane Austen's famous novel Pride and Prejudice at the Barn Theatre, Southwick.  Final performances are tonight [Friday] and tomorrow.

Playing to near capacity houses, this long three-act play alternates between the drawing room at Longbourn in Hertfordshire, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and their three beautiful daughters: Aunt Gardiner's home in Cheapside, London, and the drawing-room at Lady Catherine de Bourgh's home in Hunsford, in Kent.  The scenic effects and eye for etail in this costume period comedy type of drama are finely executed/

Well handled

Frances Moulton handles the production of this difficult play to produce with skill drawn from a long experience of the  theatre and love of Jane Austen's work.  The play opens in the house of the Bennet family, Nikki Le Roy in the rôle of Mr. Bennet is truly professional only to be found in a master craftsman of his ability to act an sustain the right meter of acting.  Brilliant in the part of Mrs. Bennet is Jean Porter, who has long delighted audiences with a series of rôles. each one seemingly to be better than the previous one.  

Daughters

The Bennet daughters, Elizabeth, Jane and Lydia, are well sustained by Susan Brown, Susan Welton and Coral Guildford respectively, with Susan Brown, as Elizabeth, having by far the best chance to show what a great young actress she is.  Neil Shephard portrays Mr. D'Arcy most effectively, with good support from Michael Padley as Mr. Bingley and Ralph Dawes as Mr. Collins.  Casting in these parts was excellent.  Effective portrayals are given by Sheila Deasey as Charlotte Lucas; Audrew [sic] Laye as Lady Lucas; and Richard Porter as Mr. Wickham.  Portraying Miss Bingley, Margaret Ockenden acts superbly.  Equally good is Valerie Bingham as Lady Catherine de Bourgh and it is a pleasure to see Betty Dawes in the part of Mrs. Gardiner.  Ronald Bolt, a member of the Crescent Operatic and Dramatic Society, making a guest appearance, creates the right impression in the part of Colonel the Hon. Guy Fitzwilliam.

Effective support is also given by Joy Talmage, Hilary Wiltshire, Mary Paine, Hilary Goldsmith, Julia Matthews, Anthony Deasey, and Rickard Coussins.  Other credits are due to Barrie Bowen, Audrey Wooton, Pat Moss, Carol Brand, Terry Gibb, Frank Hurrell, Margaret Davy, Frances Horne, Brian Moulton and Steven Moulton for helping to stage this production, George Laye is front of house manger.     

Another review of the time

unknown

For a really elegant and joyous production, you should see the Wick Theatre Company production of Pride and Prejudice [the Helen Jerome dramatisation] of which final performances are tonight and tomorrow at 7.45 at the barn Theatre Southwick.  

The production, by Frances Moulton, is specially notable for a superb performance by Jean Porter as the loquacious, marriage-orientated Mrs. Bennet.  Her garrulity, her limitless capacity for 'putting her foot in it', is all so admirably rounded out in this really delightful characterisation.  Her husband is played by Nikki Le Roy.  Their three girls Elizabeth, Jane and Lydia are Susan Brown, Susan Weldon and Coral Guilford.  These three maintained the family relationship whist being very distinctive characters in their own right.  I think I have a slight preference for Susan Brown's Elizabeth but all three are quite enchanting.

Of the gentlemen, Neil Shephard makes a creditable character of the improbable Mr. Darcy whose arrogance and snobbishness fade before his love for Elizabeth,  Michael Padley is an attractive Mr. Bingley and Ralph Dawes is the very soul of the obsequiousness as Rev. Mr. Collins.  Richard Porter is the weak and scheming Mr. Wickham.

Margaret Ockenden is politely acid as Miss Bingley, Valerie Bingham as aristocratic as they come as Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Charlotte Lucas [who has the misfortune to win Mr. Collins] is nicely played by Sheila Deasey with Audrey Laye as her give-as-good-as-she-gets mother.  Lady Lucas, Betty Dawes is the Bennet  girls' aunt, Mrs. Gardiner, and Ronald Bolt, the Ho. Guy Fitzwilliam.  The servants are Joy Talmage as the Bennet's maid, Hill, Hilary Wiltshire as the nurse, and Mary Paine as the Gardiners' maid Maggie.  Other taking part are Hilary Goldsmith, Julia Matthews, Anthony Deasey and Richard Coussins.  Stage settings by the company are excellent and the same is true of Pat Moss's costumes.

The Pride and Prejudice programme contained the following.

"Fresh from Oh! What a Lovely War - an ambition achieved - we return to traditional theatre.  To find a member uninvolved is currently most difficult.  Whilst we like to see all members occupied it can have its problems.  Often we have to forgo many embellishments that more time or members would otherwise allow us to develop for the good of the play and your enjoyment.  Having said that let us point out that we are not making any excuses but rather an advertisement.

We have have welcomed several new faces this season and, with a few more similar skills, an extension of ideas would soon be seen in the theatre.  Those of you or your friends who are remotely interested are promised a full social life and, most of all, theatrical recreation.  We're not difficult to get to know so why not come along and prove it.  We like the life and we are sure you would too.

We met most Mondays at the Community Centre adjoining this theatre or you can contact us through the Secretary, Jean Porter, 26 Norman Crescent, Shoreham.  Telephone 3641.   

Next Season 1971