Evening Telegraph, May 1964

Musical play at Rushden has a 'dash of blarney'

A Musical Play "with a dash of blarney"—that was Rushden Court Estate Players' production "Katie Darlin'," staged for the first time at Rushden last night at the Rushden Park Road Methodist Hall.

Patjo Kelly (Jim Vaughan) gives a friendly word of advice to sweethearts Dermot O'Leary (Peter Whelan) and Katie Connolly (Joan Vaughan) in this scene from the Court Estate Players' production "Katie Darlin'."

Giving vitality and charm to the title role was Joan Vaughan, who was applauded for her presentation of a number of solos and duets with the leading man, Peter Whelan.

The play not only tells the story of this particular romance, but several others between immigrants and lumberjacks.

Bonita Osborne, as Katie's young French companion, determines to find herself a husband in the small lumberjack community—and settles for the shy storekeeper, Aloysious, Christopher Taylor.

COMEDY

Also adding to the comedy flavour of the play is Jim Vaughan, who plays Patjo Kelly—an Irishman with a liking for a "drop of the hard stuff."

All is not romance and laughter, for Norbert Van Dyke (Peter Laughton), the scheming mill and land owner refuses to sell his land to the young people for houses, and an accident at the Timber Mills adds a touch of tragedy.

Other leading parts in the play were taken by Vera Hodgkins, Connie Holt, Peter Hodgkins, Peter Vaughan, Donald Sanders, Lilly Hartop, Ernest Stock, Marion Bradshaw, Julie Woolston and Jennifer Leopold.

The accompanist was Mrs. Joan Hart, the scenery was designed and painted by Peter Hodgkins, costumes designed by Peter Whelan and made by Mrs. E. Carpenter and members of the Court Estate Players, lighting by David Osborne, stage manager Tony Lake assisted by John Firkins, who also acted as prompter.

The play is to be repeated in the Methodist Hall tonight and tomorrow night.