Past Productions -
1951-1955
As for 'Bitter
Sweet', Noel Coward's musical play, which was performed in
February, 1951, the Press referred to it as 'A brilliant
spectacle and feast of good music.' Now thoughts were turned
to the productions which would commemorate the Golden
Jubilee of the Society. To mark the occasion, it was decided
to produce two contrasting shows, one to be a Gilbert &
Sullivan opera, the other, a new musical comedy. The choice
of 'The Yeomen of the Guard', with its essentially English
qualities, was thought to be especially fitting for
production in Festival of Britain year. This was performed
in October, 1951 - the fifth time that the Thespians had
produced the opera.
The critic of
the 'Hertfordshire Pictorial' was in no doubt about the
aptness of the opera or the quality of its production. 'No
better choice could have been made by Hitchin Thespians in
their jubilee year than Gilbert & Sullivan's 'Yeomen of the
Guard', for it was on the work of the famous collaborators
that the Thespians made their reputation and 'The Yeomen',
the most typically English of all their light operas, was
just the thing for this Festival year. The celebration of
any jubilee is excuse enough to be nostalgic ... this was a
show to be really nostalgic about. There have been many 'Do
you remember?' queries among this week's audiences. But
apart from the memories it revives this jubilee presentation
stands on its own merits as a first-class one'.
'Viktoria and
Her Hussar', the second show of the Jubilee season, was
produced in the following February. This had been put into
rehearsal in 1948, but had had to be cancelled because of a
number of difficulties, including petrol rationing. A good
deal of drama attended the production, for after the Sunday
dress rehearsal, the Musical Director, Mr R. H. O. Wright,
was taken suddenly and seriously ill, undergoing an
operation two days later at the Lister Hospital. On Monday
and Tuesday evenings, the show was conducted by Mr Herbert
J. Dykes, a well-known London operatic conductor. Until
ninety minutes before-the opening performance, Mr Dykes had
not seen the musical score for eighteen years. From
Wednesday onwards, Mr Percy Wells, the Society's Deputy
Director, took over. Bookings for the show had been affected
by the King's death twelve days before the opening date, but
reports of its excellence produced good demand for seats as
the week went on- Certainly the Press liked it, and spoke of
'the splendour of its scenic presentation, the lively rhythm
of its many dances, and the polished performance of its
principals.'
After the
final curtain on Saturday evening came a surprise item - the
appearance of Miss Pepper, only surviving member of the
original committee and Mr Tom Palmer, a lifemember of the
Society, introduced to the audience by the President, Mr W.
G. Willmott. 'Of Miss Pepper, whom he presented with a
posy,' reported the 'Herts Pictorial,' 'Mr Willmott said it
was she who went to the south coast, and after seeing a
performance there came back and told Mrs Waiter Carling that
Hitchin must have an operatic society. Mrs Carling agreed
and the Thespians resulted.' In September, 1952, Mr Willmott
announced that he was retiring from the position of
President through illness, and Mr R. H. O. Wright was
elected to the office in his place. As a result of this
change, Mr Wright relinquished the post of Musical Director,
which he had held since 1924, and was succeeded by Percy
Wells, organist at St. Mary's Church, Hitchin. From its very
early days, the Society had been affiliated to the National
Operatic and Dramatic Association, and, having now been in
existence for fifty years, was given permission to surround
the N.O.D.A. emblem with a laurel wreath, which design has
been used ever since.
In 1953 then,
came the first show to be performed under the baton of Percy
Wells - 'The New Moon'. It certainly had attraction for the
public, for on the Monday night, more money was taken at the
box-office than on any first night since the war. 'There is
every indication', wrote the Press, 'that the Society's bold
step in entrusting the fortunes of 'New Moon' to young local
talent (something of a revolution in itself) will be
rewarded by success - both artistic and financial.'
Financial success there was, for at the end of the week's
run, Mr Wright was able to tell the audience that not less
than £250 - all the proceeds of the production - would be
given to the National Flood and Tempest Distress Fund, which
had been opened to help the victims of the disastrous East
coast floods earlier in the year. Artistic success there
was, too. This was the first appearance for the Thespians of
Peter Guthrie, who has since established a unique record in
the Society by appearing in a principal role in every show
from 'The New Moon' onwards.
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In
1953, too, came a new departure, which is still
followed, when it was decided to invite outside
adjudicators to assist at principal auditions. 'Wild
Violets' followed in 1954 and, once again, the
critics were delighted. The 'Hertfordshire
Pictorial' wrote: 'With this present production . .
. far and away outstanding, there open up new
avenues of speculation as to future Thespian
productions. The sky seems to be the limit, now!' |
After 'Wild
Violets' came 'Magyar Melody' and, for the first time, the
Thespians had an American in the cast, in the person of a
tenor from California, Charles 'Chuck' Runnels, a dental
clinic Staff-Sergeant then stationed at Chicksands U.S.A.A.F.
base, Shefford.
In his speech
to the audience after the Saturday evening performance, Mr
R. H. O. Wright, the President, announced that the Society
had given its last show at the Hermitage Cinema. 'The
Thespians have to make way for the march of progress', he
said. 'in this case it is cinemascope, which is to be
installed in this cinema in two or three months.
This is the
last occasion on which the feet of the Thespians will tread
the floor of the Hermitage ... It will be a great sadness
that we have to give up after twenty-four years.
Then, as the
'Hertfordshire Express' reported, at Mr Wright's request the
cast and audience joined hands and sang 'Auld Lang Syne.'
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