Written By
Arnold Ridley
Where and When
30th October – 1st November 1975 @ The Allendale Community Centre, Wimborne
The Plot
A group of passengers are left stranded at a remote railway station, facing the prospect of a night in the waiting room. But when the old stationmaster warns them about the phantom train that haunts the tracks after dark, the evening starts to take one chilling turn after another.
A ghostly driver, sudden deaths and a travelling parrot make this 1920s thriller an unnervingly hilarious exploration of our capacity for belief in the supernatural.
Cast
- Saul Hodgkin – John Anthony
- Richard Winthrop – Michael Waring
- Elsie Winthrop – Elizabeth Knight
- Charles Murdoch – Christopher Hope-King
- Peggy Murdoch – Janine Brockes
- Miss Bourne – Elizabeth Anthony
- Teddie Deakin – Russ Guillaume
- Julia Price – Jennifer Waring
- Herbert Price – Graham Brown
- John Sterling – Arthur Brooks
- Jackson – Edmund Henbest
Creative Team
- Director – Thelma Dryden
- Stage Manager – Muriel Brooks
- ASM – Andy Drummond
- Properties – Jacqueline Anthony
- Lighting and Effects – Monty Clements
- Prompt – Jean Lewis
Gallery
Reviews
Ghost train still thrills
First produced in 1925 Arnold Ridleys Ghost Train can still produce its quota of laughs and thrills; and these were given full scope in Wimborne Drama Club’s presentation of the popular play, staged at Allendale Community Centre last week-end.
Effective setting and lighting with the acting areas superbly but unobtrisively lit, created excatly the right atmosphere; and this was heightened by the well timed and realistic storm and train effects – the later also forming a distinct smell of smoke in the auditorium.
Russ Guillaume had a part much to his liking as the ‘silly ass’ Secret Service man. John Anthony brought a genuine Cornish characterisation to his part as the station master and Jennifer Waring had strangely contrasting sequences as the gangster’s moll, capably supported by Graham Brown as her brother.
Elizabeth Anthony made the most of her role as the timid spinster, and slept throughout the two later acts. Michael Waring and Elizabeth Knight, and Christopehr Hope-King and Janine Brockes, were well teamed respectively as the two passenger couples. Arthur Brooks was sound as the crooked doctor and Edmund Henbest gave a good account of himself as the detective.
Thelma Dryden was responsible for the carefully planned production; and Murile Brooks – assisted by Andy Drummond were the stage management team.
Programme
