Bedtime Stories

Venue : Woodrush High School

Date : October 1980

Genre : One Act Play(s)

Director

Sybil Parr
Director

Cast

Willa Hislop
Denise Blundell

no profile image

Mike Finch
Peter Trilby

Jack Parramore
Roy Blundell

Estelle Shutkever
Mrs Stevenson

Beryl Linforth
1st Operator

Ken Gibbons
1st Man

Jack Parramore
2nd Man

Irene Price
Chief Operator

Barbara Clulee
2nd Operator

Gerry Solomon
Sergeant Duffy

Mike Beamish
Attendant

Chris Avery
3rd Operator

Bob Aldridge
Western Union

Chris Avery
4th Operator

Val Archer

Val Archer
Information

Angela Smith
Hospital Receptionist

Rebecca Parr
5th Operator

Val Archer

Val Archer
Laura

Ken Gibbons
McNee

Angela Smith
Miss Parker

Crew

no profile image

Paul Jenkins
Stage Manager

Mike Beamish
Assisted by

Gerry Smith
Lighting and Sound

Beryl Linforth
Properties

Chris Avery
Properties

no profile image

Walter Price
House Manager

Ken Gibbons
Set design

Crew

Paul Jenkins
Stage Manager

Mike Beamish
Assisted by

Gerry Smith
Lighting and Sound

Beryl Linforth
Properties

Chris Avery
Properties

Walter Price
House Manager

Ken Gibbons
Set design

Production Gallery

Production Reviews

Versatility in Bedtime Stories

In 1958 Wythall Dramatic Society began its long and distinguished career by presenting three one-act plays and last weel this pattern was repeated with a show entitled "Bedtime Stories" which was staged at Woodrush High School.

Directed by Sybil Parr, the programme included a thriller prefaced and followed by two of John Mortimer's comedies and although on felt that the players did not quite reache the heights attained in some of their longer productions, the certainly displayed much versatility and were, as always, word perfect.

The first comedy entitled "Mill Hill" seemed a little slow to get off the ground but the pace increased as the performers got into their stride and the antics of the lover who was turned on by dressing up as Sir Francis Drake for his illicit affairs produced some amusing situations even though they somehow just fell short of the hilarious.

Even so, the players Willa Hislop, Mike Finch and Jack Parramore worked well and made the most of a fairly slender plot.

The thriller "Sorry, wrong number" was difficult production to stage since much of the action was contained in phone calls overheard by a bed-ridden invalid and great credit must be given to the Society for the way in which the various callers were housed in semi-darkness before partly drawn curtain each sided of the stage, thus creating just the right atmosphere of mystery.

The main role - that of the incapacitated Mrs Stevenson - was played by Estelle Shutkever. To bring life to a character while remaining almost completely immobile is no easy task but Mrs Shutkever brought initial bewilderment, growing alarm and finally blind panic into her vocal expression, carrying the play through mounting tension to its terrifying conclusion.

This was an ambitious play particularly for an amateur company without the benefit of unlimited scenery and props but Wythall Dramatic Society, undoubtedly proved itself capable of coping very adequately.

The final offering, "Marble Arch" was the funnier of the evenings two comedies and gave ample scope for Val Archer who can handle humour as ably as she can drama.

Like the first play, this concerned an under-cover love affair but this time the other woman (played by Mrs Archer) thought that her man was dead in the bathroom, and laughs came thick and fast as she made desperate attempts to have his body removed by the janitor.

When it turned out that he was not dead at all, the audience had the chance of seeing Gerry Solomon's expertise as a comedy actor. What a range of facial expressions Mr Solomon can command and whatever type of role he takes, he is so completely natural and at ease that one feels he is really living the part.

Thanks to these two outstanding performers, competently supported by Angela Smith, Ken Gibbons, the play romped along to complete a programme of entertainment which was obviously enjoyed.

P.K.S., Local Newspaper 1980


Triple Success for Wythall Group

Three one-act plays are never easy, even for an experienced group like Wythall Dramatic Society.

With such a vast stage, it was difficult to create the intimate atmosphere needed for the first play, John Mortimer’s bedroom farce, “Mill Hill”.

But the evening soon livened up with "Sorry, Wrong Number," with Estelle Shutkever giving a convincing performance as a neurotic and bed-ridden woman, who falls prey to New York's telephone system.

Gerry Solomon provided laughs as the tough New York cop who rates apple pie higher than Kojak’s lollipops.

And there was more fun in the last bedtime story, where a peer gets stuck in his lady's loo!

Fiona Pitcher, Local Newspaper 1980