Written By
Terence Rattigan
Where and When
25th – 27th February 1982 @ The Allendale Centre, Wimborne
The Plot
Harlequinade is the story of two ageing actors desperately trying to cling to the ever-diminishing limelight while rehearsing for a production of Romeo and Juliet. There is the traditional long-suffering producer, dim stagehand and overzealous extras all caught together in this very English farce.
Cast
- Arthur Gosport – Joe Brooks
- Edna Selby – Raymonde Grenville
- Johnny – Nick Hollingworth
- Dame Maud Gosport – Muriel Brooks
- Jack Wakefield – Spencer Hare
- George Chudleigh – Nigel Woodward
- 1st Halberdier – Carl Dewane
- 2nd Halberdier – Paula Dewis
- Miss Fishlock – Thelma Dryden
- Fred Ingram – Martyn Valentine-Bignold
- Muriel Palmer – Lynne McInnery
- Tom Palmer – Peter Brooks
- Mr Burton – David Sherwill
- Joyce Landland – Carolyn Woodward
- Policeman – Spencer Madan-Mayers
Creative Team
- Director – Jane Sherwill
- Stage Manager – Gordon Eidmans
- Prompt – Wendy Bruin
- Lighting – Roger Grenville
- Sound – Nick Hollingsworth
- Front of House – Daphne Young
- Publicity – Carolyn Woodward
- Photographs – David Sherwill
Gallery
Reviews
Contrasting double bill at Wimborne
Two Terence Rattigan plays of different styles, The Browning Version and Harlequinde, make up this week’s double bill presented by Wimborne Drama Club at the Allendale Centre.
Many people will recall the cinema version of The Browning Version starring Michael Redgrave as a teacher in a minor school. In the Wimborne production, which opened on Thursday and ends tonight, this pathetic yet noble figure is played by Clive Farley. Though no Redgrave, Mr Farley nevertheless gives a good performance. His sensitive and moving portrait of Crocker-Harris makes the other performances seem tame by comparison – a comparison one reluctantly makes, bearing in mind the praiseworthy contribution of John Anthony as the headmaster and the convincing portrait of Mrs Crocker-Harris by Jan Stevenson. Other members of the cast are Clive Emerson, Roy Walker, Mavis Hazleden and Spencer Madan-Mayers.
And so from sombre to the ridiculous.
Harlequinade is entertainment on a very different level, but no less acceptable for that. With a cast of 15 it certainly gives oppurtinities to many players to spread their wings. Joe Brooks as the ageing Shakespearean actor, confronted with babe-in-pram evidence of a past misdemenaour, is most impressive. Most of the other 14 players also gave good accounts of themselves, with Raymonde Grenville, Muriel Brooks and Thelma Dryden well to for.
Each of the plays is a one-acter. The Browning Version is directed by Joyce Eidmans and Harlequinade by Jane Sherwill.
Programme
