1937; End of Term Plays

On Monday, the 21st of December, six groups of players presented six much rehearsed plays (it is whispered that a certain group were feverishly rehearsing in a form-room during the first part of the programme) to the usual mixed audience of boys, prefects, and staff. The lights went out reluctantly, it seemed, at the flash of the red light as Mr. Tysall, the producer of the first play, announced Find Beverley-Brown.
It was a pity that this effort was so long and the plot so unsuited to the audience, who became restive. The resulting prefectorial commands seemed somewhat lacking in the Christmas spirit. The players acted well, but tended at times to become very inaudible.
Mr. Durrant's group, presenting The Man in the Bowler Hat, were somewhat uncertain of their parts, a fault which spoilt the otherwise enjoyable play.
Five at the "George", presented by Mr. West's' group, presented great difficulties because of the lack of action throughout. In spite of this, the play was well put over by a cast who showed commendable ignorance of the art of cigarette smoking. This particularly poisonous appearance of the "absinthe" is also worthy of mention.
Queer Street, acted by Dr. Whitt's group, was, the most humerous play of the morning. The players were sure of their wrds and actions, and consequently acted with assurance. Outstanding in the cast were Taylor, as a burglar, and Lempriere, as his prospective son-in-law (also a burglar).
In Mr. Hyde's presentation of The Purple Bedroom, Wildman played the important role of Basset, the imperturbable valet, very efficiently, and, his encounter with three disturbingly solid ghosts, D.Pettegree, Ingram, and Brockman, provided us with a pleasant half-hour.
When the curtain fell at the end of the play by Mr. Hammer's group, The Dentist's Chair, we were left wondering what happened to the murderer, played by Humphries, after his neighbour in which the dentist and his assistants, Knappett and Fitt largely figured. In spite of this we enjoyed the play immensely.
We were very pleased to notice that, in the main, the actors were much more audible than in previous years. The last three plays mentioned were outstanding in this respect. We would like to congratulate and thank all those who contributed to our morning's very enjoyable entertainment.
P.A.C.McD.