Evening Telegraph 1964
‘Chiltern Hundreds’ get off to a good start
Topical right down to the last dot and comma. That is Rushden Dramatic Society’s current production of “The Chiltern Hundreds” which began last night. The first night got off to a good start.
Election fever caught up the stately home of Lister Castle, and bowled them all along at such a rapid rate that the local constituency became the sole talking point.
Except for Lord Lister, that is. Most of the punch lines in this comedy came his eccentric, absent-minded way, and the off-handed way in which Robert King delivered them, added to the general uproar.
At the end of the last war England was in the throes of the General Election; an election which meant the temporary doom on the Conservatives, Lord Pym, the young son of Lord Lister, was determined to carry on the 200 years old tradition of a Lister MP for the constituency.
He was opposed by a gangling “self-made” Labour man, but Lord Pym’s defeat was short lived when the new MP’s rise to the House of Lords presented an opportunity for a by-election.
A straightforward theme, but the variations on it provided some enjoyable entertainment.
It moved at the sedate pace of the gentry, and at that of an elderly earl whose sole interests appeared to be a rabbit and a fox in his garden.
While his family were discussing politics, he contrived somehow to always turn the conversation round to topics ranging from the recalcitrant animals to the sex life of salmon and the length of the human intestines.
Bob King in the role was a triumph for make-up artists Angela Laughton and Kaye Goulsbra. Being twenty years of age, the transformation was not easy. Yet they did it, and his obvious talent did the rest.
In a predominantly young cast, the experience was provided by the butler, Bill Clarke, and his wife, Phyllis Clarke, as Lady Caroline, the earl’s daughter. Veterans of a number of amateur productions, both had a great deal to add to the production.
His portly figure and just the right amount of hair made Bill Clarke an ideal choice for the part.
The “baby” of the cast of eight is Judith Childs, as June Farrell, the rather brash American fiancée of Lord Pym.
The American accent is not the easiest to maintain over long periods, but she achieved some degree of credibility.
The “cloth cap” image of the Labour Party was maintained by John Booth in the role of Cleghorn, the Labour candidate. His uncultured, booming voice went around Lister Castle while he looked very ill at ease in evening dress which was obviously unfamiliar to a “self-made man”.
Lord Pym was ably portrayed by Tony Hirons. Although his political convictions changed with the wind, his talent remained constant and with time he should be capable of bigger things.
The steadying influence on the huntin’, shootin’ and fishin’ earl is his wife. Marion Knott contrived gamefully to keep his wanderings in check, and the mantle of a lady fitted her well.
Keeping everything in apple-pie order is the maid. Mavis Steele provided a little gem in the relatively brief role she had, and caught the mood very well.
The play is produced by Allen Goulsbra, and runs for three nights at the Rushden Secondary Boys’ School.
The cast is: Lord Lister, Robert King; Lady Lister, Marion Knott; June Farrell, Judith Childs; Bessie, Mavis Steele; Beecham, Bill Clarke; Lord Pym, Tony Hirons; Lady Caroline, Phyllis Clarke; Cleghorn, John Booth.
PJ
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