Six of the Best

Venue : Woodrush High School

Date : February 1968

Genre : Farce

Director

Ted Pedvin
Director

Cast

Val Archer

Val Archer
Katie Lawrence

Gerry Solomon
Jack Lawrence

no profile image

Ray Archer
Mr Best

Brenda Castle
Annie Featherstone

Sybil Parr
Louise Monk

Gerry Smith
Aubrey Phelps

Ted Pedvin
Sam Handwich

Stanley Girling
Henry Lush

Jack Parramore
The Reverend Rodney Honeychurch

Dorothy Girling
Dr Gertrude Bludgeon

Jack Parramore
Cecil Honeychurch

Crew

Ivan Castle
Stage Manager

Ken Gibbons
Assistant Stage Manager

Barbara Clulee
Properties

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Jennifer Deeks
Properties

Jean Winter
Costumes

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George Cope
Lighting

Frank Winter
Special Effects

Crew

Ivan Castle
Stage Manager

Ken Gibbons
Assistant Stage Manager

Barbara Clulee
Properties

Jennifer Deeks
Properties

Jean Winter
Costumes

George Cope
Lighting

Frank Winter
Special Effects

Production Gallery

Production Reviews

A Greyhound Scene-Stealer


Wythall Dramatic Society’s first play in its tenth anniversary season includes an amazingly well trained greyhound which makes frequent appearances.

But the dog, ‘Nice Boy’, is not the only scene stealer in Ted Pedvin’s fast moving production of ‘Six of the Best,’ at Woodrush County Secondary School.

The play sparkles from the start, mainly due to a vigorous performance from Gerry Soloman, who brings out the humour well.

Valerie Archer gives able support and Jack Parramore does a very nice bit of double characterisation as the Honeychurch brothers.

The six ‘Villains,’ particularly Henry, are very lovable.

P.L., Local Paper


'Six of the Best' was one of their best!

When six old folk find themselves faced with the possibility of having to leave their idyllic surroundings, things begin to happen. And when it is discovered that the old folk are really hardened criminals who try many devious ways of keeping themselves in their present surroundings, the scene, is set for a multitude of laughs up Wythall way.

For this was the theme of John and Jackie Waterhouse's contemporary farce 'Six of the Best," given a three-night's run at Woodrush County Secondary School by the Wythall Dramatic Society. And what start this Society gave themselves to their tenth anniversary. On Thursday's opening night, I nearly split my sides.

Farce is the most difficult of production for an amateur society to present, but Wythall people won over their sizeable audience in less time that it takes to tell. Producer Ted Pedvin, who also took the part of Sam Handwich, one of the old lags, should be well satisfied with the results.

Backed by an excellent set - result of hard work by members of the society and stage manager Ivan Castle - the Society was well work its three curtain calls. As far as the eye could see, there were no hitches - except before the curtain rose when it was realised that fire precaution regulations were not being upheld, and front-of-house members had to rush round through the audience clipping the chairs together.

Brenda Castle, Estelle Shutkever, Sybil Parr, Gerry Smith, Ted Pedvin and Stanley Girling as the criminals stole the show. There could be no doubt about that.

Estelle Shutkever, however, seemed to bely Ada Heep's years in both voice and action. I felt she was too sprightly for an old lady with a limp.

I have to make special mention of Stanley Girling's Henry Lush, the safe-blower of the sextet. Without having a lot to say, he constantly caught my eye by sheer acting ability. He was easily the best of the group.

As the couple who look after the aged crooks at the manor, Valerie Archer and Gerry Solomon portrayed a somewhat happy-go-lucky couple with a slight bent towards crooked play. But Gerry seemed a little over-enthusiastic in places and put unnecessary emphasis on his stage laughter.

Jack Parramore, in his two roles as the Rev. Rodney Honeychurch and his brother Cecil Honeychurch - both as blind as a bat without their spectacles - was grand to watch. I wondered how many hours he had spent perfecting his quick-change act and personality. And his tipsy scene as the vicar was one of the best I have seen.

Completing this magnificent cast were Dorothy Girling as Dr. Gertrude Bludgeon, the M.O.H and Ray Archer as Mr Best, solicitor. Oh, no, there is still one member of the cast not mentioned.

Making his stage debut with the air of a professional was Roy - a seven-year-old greyhound owned by Mr R Haddocks, of Batemans Green Kennels. Roy did not put a paw wrong.

Six of the Best must surely go into Wythall Dramatic Society's annals as on of their big successes.

Unknown, Local Newspaper