Evening Telegraph, 1968

‘Laugh a minute’ in Rushden society’s latest production

It was without doubt a case of “laugh a minute” last night when Rushden Amateur Dramatic Society opened their highly entertaining interpretation of Philip King’s comedy “Pools Paradise”.

About 150 people attended the first night at Rushden Secondary School for Boys. If audience reaction is anything to go by the society have a hit on their hands.

Although “Pools Paradise” marks Cyril Smith’s debut as a producer, his presentation was that of a veteran. He and his enthusiastic cast seemed to have squeezed every ounce of comedy out of this tale of how an impending pools win affects life in a country vicarage.

John Denton, as the Rev. Lionel Toop, carries off extremely well the part of the well-meaning vicar who although against gambling would welcome funds in any shape to repair his church bells.

His glamorous ex-actress wife Penelope, who having secretly joined a household pools syndicate is then afraid to tell her husband that he has won, is played with dexterity by Angela Laughton.

OUTSTANDING

Two of the most outstanding performances, however, are those of Teresa Higgins as Ida the maid and Marion Knott as the prickly Miss Skillon.

Teresa Higgins fits perfectly into the character of the scatter-brained but kindly Ida and Marion Knott as the ardent church-going spinster who is convinced that the vicar married below his station could not be bettered.

Sterling supporting performances were given by Roger Parker as Willie Briggs, Richards Woods as the Rev. Arthur Humphrey and John Booth as the Bishop of Lax.

The choir boys were played by Gerald Knott, Nicholas Laughton and Richard Laughton.

The action takes place in the long hall of a vicarage in the small village of Merton-cum-Middlewick.

Full marks to scenic designed Virginia Pope and her band of painters for a realistic and detailed setting.

The play continues this evening and tomorrow night.

GL

RUSHDEN DRAMA GROUP’S ‘POOLS’ JACKPOT

Imagine life in a rather impoverished country vicarage. Money is short and life runs on a “shoe-string”. Suddenly some members of the household who have secretly been doing the pools find they have won a fortune.

Well, the hilarious antics which follow provide the setting for Philip King’s farce “Pools Paradise” which Rushden Amateur Dramatic Society produced with great success last week.

This production marked the third King comedy the society have produced and their polished presentation showed they know their author well.

Producer Cyril Smith – for whom Pools Paradise is a first – exploited fully the comic aspect of this h ighly entertaining tale and his ability to get the best out of his cast was evident.

The Rev. Lionel Toop, a young and puritanical vicar who is anti any form of gambling but changes his mind when he finds that a pools win could mean his cracked church bells could be repaired was well played by John Denton.

Angela Laughton carried off successfully the part of his glamorous ex-actress wife, who having secretly joined a pools syndicate in the vicarage is subsequently afraid to tell her husband that she has won.

Undoubtedly, however, two of the best performances were those of Teresa Higgins as Ida the maid and Marion Knott as Miss Skillon, the ardent church worker.

Teresa Higgins fitted like a good glove into the character of the scatterbrained but kindly Ida and Marion Knott with her splendid aristocratic articulation really gave life to the character of the vicar-dominating spinster who felt that the vicar had married beneath himself.

Good supporting performances were given by Roger Parker as Willie Briggs, Richard Woods as the Rev. Arthur Humphrey and John Booth as the Bishop of Lax.

Choirboys were played by Gerald Knott, Nicholas Laughton and Richard Laughton.

Full credit must go to Virginia Pope, the scenic designer and her helpers who produced a first class and realistic setting.

The play ran for three nights at Rushden Secondary School for Boys.

Northamptonshire Advertiser, 1968

Author sends society his good wishes

Rushden Amateur Dramatic Society who are busily rehearsing their spring production of the farce “Pools Paradise” have received a “good luck” message from the play’s author, Mr. Philip King.

Writing to committee member, Mrs Constance Hodson, from his home at 3 Woodland Way, Withdean, Brighton Mr. King said he was delighted to hear that the society ws producing yet another one of his plays.

“I hope you will find ‘Pools Paradise’ fun to rehearse and that it will be a financial success – I dare not add ‘artistic’ success as for some reason the word ‘art’ is never used in connection with farce, although I always maintain that the art of putting over a farce is equally, if not more, difficult than that of a drama. It is certainly more strenuous.

Commenting on the fact that Rushden Amateur Dramatic Society is a “comparatively young society” Mr. King declared: “In these days when so many people are content to press a button or turn a switch for their entertainment, it is indeed pleasant to hear of a group of people with enough initiative to create their own entertainment and encourage others to realise there is ‘social life’ going on around them if only they can drag themselves away from the magic box”.

No message

In regard to “Pools Paradise” itself the playwright said: “You will by now have realised that it is pure escapism, but I feel that we can do with a lot of that these days”.

He added that his play “has no message” – obscure or otherwise. “I’m afraid it also has a beginning and an end both of which are almost frowned upon these days”.

Concluding his letter, Mr. King wished the society luck in their forthcoming production and hopes “they would consider that all the work they had put into it had been worthwhile”.

Mr. King himself will be producing the world premiere of his new play “So far – No Further” at The Barn Theatre, Stanwick on March 12.

The Rushden production will go on stage at Rushden Secondary School for Boys on April 4, 5 and 6.