Written by Philip King and Falkland Cary, by arrangement with Samuel French Ltd.
Directed by Pam Kercher
Medstead Players presented a traditional comedy, applauded by packed houses, and reinforcing the growing popularity of true in-house community entertainment.
Directed by Pam Kercher, Sailor Beware proved a good choice for the Medstead group, whose players did more than fit the bill. The work of Philip King and Falkland L. Carey, Sailor Beware was a West End stage hit in the 1950s and was subsequently made into a film starring Peggy Mount, Gordon Jenkinson and Shirley Eaton.
At Medstead village hall, the play met with equal success, as local resident Anita Simpson writes in an up-beat review which applauds not only the standard of the production and of the all-important timing, but the casting of young people to play young roles. There is praise, too, for the work of the back-stage crew, and in particular Richard Smith, Marion Rogers and Kath Whitcher.
Mrs Simpson writes: Wow! is the only expletive that came to mind at the end of the latest offering from the Medstead Players. What a memorable performance. Firstly the set. Well done to those back-stage crew who produced a great 50s atmosphere. The costumes were out-standing and hair, an important role in this production, was very authentic. It was so good to see the talents of Ann Penn again. Such superb timing, and her off-stage cries heralding her arrival on stage were accompanied by gleeful sighs from the audience.
Good to see young people playing young people, too. David Cartwright did well to keep up his very thick brogue and young Ben Cartwright stayed sweetly naive throughout.
With Sue Ovell's performance I could see Peggy Mount saying "You know what sailors are". She kept up the non-smiling matriarch role extremely well, holding the whole play together, and we all forgave her for the odd lapse in memory, when those evasive lines were forgotten.
David Rae looked and sounded saintly, Rachel Smith scared the audience, as well as the cast, with her outbursts at being left in the lurch, and Sue Millet was scheming to the end. Mike Overy was so well suited to the role of the under-dog and brought a tear to the eye with the tender eulogy of his domineering yet caring wife.
It has to be said that the star of the show was Anita Prior. She has shown her talent before but never as strongly as this. Her performance was stunning and worthy of professional status. Her great sorrow and the burnt sideboard added to her portrayal of a kind but dippy bod. Her hair and make-up were brilliant, and where did that fabulous 40s suit come from?
All I can say to the cast and to Pam Kercher for directing Sailor Beware is fantastic, chaps. Keep it up, but it will be a very hard act to follow.
Cast:
Eddie Hornett - Anita Prior
Emma Hornett - Sue Ovell
Mrs Lack - Ann Penn
Henry Hornett - Mike Overy
Albert Tufnell, A.B. - Ben Cartwright
Carnoustie Bligh, A.B. - David Cartwright
Daphne Pink - Sue Millett
Shirley Hornett - Rachel Smith
The Reverend Oliver Purefoy - David Rae
