By Philip King, directed by Paul Marshall
This play is fast, fun and furious, using stock elements of farce – a bishop, a repressed spinster and loss of trousers.
It is set in 1943 in the local Vicarage. The lead character is Penelope Toop, the former actress wife of the local vicar, the Rev. Lionel Toop. They employ Ida, a Cockney maid. Miss Skillon, a churchgoer arrives on bicycle to gossip with the vicar and to complain about the latest ‘outrages’ that Penelope has caused.
The vicar then leaves for the night, and Lance-Corporal Clive Winton, stops by on a quick visit. Penelope and Clive re-enact one of their scenes from Private Lives and manage to knock Miss Skillon unconscious. Miss Skillon gets drunk on a bottle of cooking sherry and Ida hides her in the broom cupboard.
Then Toop is taken prisoner by an escaping German prisoner-of-war from a nearby camp, who takes his clothes as a disguise. The real Humphrey and the Bishop of Lax, unexpectedly show up early. Chaos ensues, culminating in a cycle of running figures, most of them dressed as clergy…
Cast
Ida, a Maid Verity Hall
Miss Skillon Sue Appleyard
Rev. Lionel Toop Stuart Scott
Penelope Toop Rachel Cormican
Lance-Corporal Clive Winton James Neary
German prisoner Howard James
The Bishop of Lax Bernard Harriss
Rev. Arthur Humphrey Ray Harris
Sergeant Towers Tony Skeggs
Backstage
Lighting Designer: Andrew Herbert
Sound Designer: Jon Lewis
Set Designer: Adrian Pope
Stage Director: John Heather
Set Construction: John Heather, Andrew Heather, T62 members
Set Decor: Adrian Pope
Stage Manager: Sally Guttridge
Asst Stage Manager: Claire Morris
Technical Support: David Hart, Ian James
Props: Sally Guttridge, assisted by Barbara Gadsden
Wardrobe: Valerie Polyydorou assisted by Margaret Uzzell
Make-up & Hair: Jean Golder, Christine Lever, Penny Vetterlein
Prompt: Rosemary Harris
House Manager: John Heather
Refreshments: Nina James
Raffle: Dennis & Nikki Packham
Box Office: Margaret Uzzell
Poster/Programme Design: Graham Copeland
Programme Editor: John Guttridge
