Loves A Luxury

“Love’s A Luxury went down well at Wythall”

Sooner or later it seems that majority of amateur dramatic societies, in this district anyway, get around to doing “Love’s A Luxury.”

This is not surprising, for when a society feels an urge to do farce, as most rightly do at some time in their existence, this amusing piece from the pens of Guy Paxton and Edward Hoile has almost everything to commend it.

Once the situation has been established and the main characters introduced in the rather overlong first act the fun is almost continuous to the final curtain. It was certainly much to the liking of the audience at Woodrush County Secondary School last Friday evening when Whytall Dramatic Society opened in the first of two performances.

This lively society caters for audiences of a wider age range than most in our observation. At the shows we have seen at Wythall the front seats always seem to be occupied in the main by the younger set and thie close attention and ready apprecieation match that of the more mature element.

A good augury, surely, for the future of drama in Wythall, of an early appreciation of theatre is seldom lost in later years. In a effective and pleasing settin of Cranberry Cottage, created by Sid and Rene Wilkes, John E. Clarke’s production moved at an merry pace and scored most of the possible points. The essential speed was largely due to Mr. Clarke’s own performances as the irrepressible “Bobby Bently.”

This gentleman, it will be recalled, is called upon for a female impersonation lasting fully half of the running time of the play and Mr Clarke survived, and surmounted the task with commendable fortitude and success. His mobile face and general appearance really made us believe that he might have been the West End comedian he represented.

After a somewhat shaky start, Edward Pedwin settled down to give a good account of the much harassed “Charles Pentwick” and his “detective” scene with the eccentric “Mr. Mole,” as whom newcomer Jack Parramore showed considerable promise, was well played. “Molly,” chorus girl turned maid, provided a lively part which was well realised by Celia Grant and Kathleen Peers (another newcomer) endowed “Fritzy Villiers” with all the allure expected of a musical comedy artiste.

Margaret Foster was nicely petulant as the long-suffering “Mrs. Pentwick” and Gerry Smith confirmed previous good impression as “Dick.”

Zeta Grant made a brief but effective appearance as “Mrs. Harris” to complete a east which, as the newsletter which accompanied the programme had it, had derived untold amusement during the weeks of preparation and rehearsal – enjoyment which they successfully projected to the other side of the footlights.

In common with most amateur dramatic societies Wythall suffers from the lack of suitable premises for rehearsals and activities generally. Those which are available are costly and not slways too convenient. How nice it would be if the community spirit which has recently scored such a notavle victory could be organised to provide a suitable home for such activities. What about Wythall?

E.J.M, Local Paper