Written by J.B. Priestley, by arrangement with Samuel French Ltd.
Directed by Valerie Hobbs
Alton and the surrounding area is blessed with many quality amateur dramatic societies. Most of them perform to a good standard, but recently the Medstead Players hit an all-time high.
Their presentation of When we are Married, directed by Valerie Hobbs, must be considered as, probably, the best production they have ever staged.
J B Priestley wrote the play nearly 100 years ago but it is a script that has stood the test of time well and continues to present many allusions to the 21st century.
Three stalwart families in the local, in this case Yorkshire, community celebrate their silver wedding anniversaries. Yes, they were all married by the same priest on the same day all those years ago.
They all exhibit that self satisfied smugness so typical of Priestley's work. Alderman Joseph Helliwell (Geoff Rushton), Councillor Albert Parker (David Rae) and Mr Herbert Soppitt (Mike Overy) have all done very well for themselves in business, the town and in the taking charge of the affairs of the chapel.
Their wives Maria (Ann Bassil), Annie (Lesley Rae), and Clara (Anita Prior) also feel content that they have trained their men and arrived at that station in life where respectability weeps out of every pore. So when the men, as leaders of the chapel, find they have to censure the young organist Gerald Forbes (Dominic Clifford) they are shocked when he hands them evidence that the parson conducting their marriages was not, actually, licensed.
It all comes right in the end, of course, but not before some trauma is experienced by those who thought they were married and the humourous effect on those supposed to look up to them.
The casting of a play such as When we are Married is essential and the Medstead Players are indeed fortunate in having three couples, all of the right age, to give credibility to the appearance of being couples. And they did that well. The six had the responsibility of holding the play together, keeping the pace as well as their Yorkshire accents. This they succeeded in doing admirably.
A unique character part was handled to perfection by a rapidly increasingly drunken Stan Whitcher as press photographer Henry Ormonroyd.
Members of staff Ruby Birtle (Andrea Robson) and Mrs Northrop (Pam Kercher) were both believable and their enjoyment of the parts shone through.
Nancy Holmes (Sue Millett) as Forbes' girl friend and the cause of his trouble with the chapel was also believable as were other supporting parts by Jamie Legg as reporter Fred Dyson, Lottie Grady (Gwen Clifford) as the good time loving barmaid and the Rev Clement Mercer (Peter Hobbs), who you felt would be up early on Sunday to conduct services.
Under Valerie Hobbs' direction the play worked and the characters gelled. A great feather in her cap and that of the performers. In the capable hands of Dick Smith, Matthew and Lesley Rae, Graham Bennell, Marion Rogers, Anthea Dore and other members of the company the set, lighting and costumes were as outstanding as the play itself. The producer was Janice Hopwood and front of House under the direction of Jenny Overy.
The Medstead Players have now reached an enviable standard that will take a lot of hard work and dedication to maintain.
[Peter Cansfield]
Three couples confront the truth about their relationships when an alcoholic photographer, a young musician and a mysterious 'other woman' storm into their lives. Both touching and hilariously funny, this comedy of misunderstandings and mayhem will make you think twice before getting married! This farcical Yorkshire Comedy was written in the 1930's and is set in 1908. We join the Helliwells, Parkers and Soppitts on the occasion of their joint Silver Wedding celebrations, each couple having been married on the same day, by the same parson. The new chapel organist, who recently met up with the parson in question, has some startling news for the three couples. It has been discovered that the cleric had not submitted all the paperwork to become properly authorized to perform the marriages. Pandemonium breaks out when these pillars of society are faced with the prospect that they have been 'living in sin' for over two decades! Although it all resolves favourably in the end, the path through this farcical comedy is hilarious.
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Ruby Birtle - Andrea Robson
Gerald Forbes - Dominic Clifford
Mrs Northrop - Pam Kercher
Nancy Holmes - Sue Millett
Fred Dyson - Jamie Legg
Henry Ormonrord - Stan Whitcher
Alderman Joseph Helliwell - Geoff Rushton
Maria Helliwell - Ann Bassil
Councillor Albert Parker - David Rae
Herbert Soppitt - Mike Overy
Clara Soppitt - Anita Prior
Annie Parker - Lesley Rae
Lotie Grady - Gwen Clifford
Rev. Clement Mercer - Peter Hobbs