SEASON 10 (1938-39)
Macbeth
Days Without End
Noah
Questors Trivia: In 1938 the Boy Scouts pulled out of their share of the premises for financial reasons - and took all their chairs with them! The Questors, ever hopeful, signed the sole lease for 12 Mattock Lane and appealed for £200 to re-seat and re-equip the auditorium with the catchy slogan "Cough up or stand up!" The gamble paid off and the money was forthcoming. A set of tip-up seats was acquired second-hand from an old cinema at 7/6d each.
November 1938
MACBETH
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Alfred Emmet
Designed by Gunter Heilbut
This was the first production of many to be designed by Gunter Heilbut (alias Graham Heywood). Gunter, a refugee from Nazi Germany, was an indispensable and much loved member of The Questors whose remarkable talent and dedication is celebrated in Alfred Emmet's memory of him, which you can read here.
Though Peter Quince (West Middlesex Gazette) continued to extoll The Questors, whose "production and acting scaled the heights of magnificent endeavour," he, like many others, criticised the decision to cut most of the witches scenes as well as the murder of Lady Macduff, and to play most of the concluding battle scenes off stage!
It seems the intention was to present the play "as a quiet - almost dispassionate - examination of the personal tragedy of Macbeth, and to exclude the tumultuous element of melodrama which plays so large a part in the play's structure." And in addition to these "liberties with the text" one critic was upset by the additional "paraphrasing of immortal lines" which "was enough to send any lover of the play weeping into Mattock-lane."
On the other hand one audience member wouldn't "hear a word against the witches. They were charming. I could have sat for hours watching them hissing and swishing about the stage."
AN ACTOR TO WATCH.
"Mr Lionel Locke [who plays Macbeth] is a player who improves rapidly...his performance does raise high hopes for this player's future. He is an actor to watch." [Middlesex County Times]
Indeed. As Harry Locke, he became a familiar face to movie goers as a regular character actor in British films during the 1950s and 60s and 70s.
Read his Questors obituary here, and his IMDB entry here
March 1939
DAYS WITHOUT END
by Eugene O'Neill
Directed by Rosalie van der Gucht
Designed by Dudley Clark
Unfortunately, the only photos we have in our archives for this production are of the set, designed by Dudley Clark.
The Questors were congratulated for staging this unusual and challenging play, which it was believed had never been previously seen in London. It's theme of psychological conflict played out in a life and death struggle with a masked alter ego, called for sensitive handling which the the director, Rosalie van der Gucht, and the nine members of the cast, were praised for having achieved.
This was one of three productions directed by Rosalie Van Der Gucht who was one of our most talented members during these formative years.
Shortly after playing in our first War-time Revue, "Van" emigrated to Cape Town to take up a position at Cape Town University, where she ultimately became Head of a very active Drama Department. She was a leading and well-known figure in theatrical circles in South Africa and after retiring from the University was greatly in demand as a director, working with coloured, black and mixed casts in Cape Town and elsewhere.
She continued to take the keenest interest in The Questors' doings, as an Associate Member and occasional visitor when on one of her trips to this country. She was one of those talented few who, attracted to The Questors at that time, contributed largely to the artistic development of a young organisation not yet in its teens.
May 1939
NOAH
Andre Obey
translated by Arthur Wilmurt
Directed by Alfred Emmet
Designed by Philip Allen and Lionel Locke
Andre Obey's Noah, was considered to be the peak of The Questors' pre-war artistic efforts.
"Mr Alfred Emmet's production was graced by the touch of the skill we know he possesses in abundance."
"Mr. T. S. Saunders as Noah strode the play with the giant stride and intellect of a Colossus."
"His Noah, played with reverence and great strength, was something of which he may be proud."
"There was much fire in Mr. Cyril Thomas' performance of the restless, scoffing Ham, a part to which he gave as capable an understanding and realism as he has done to any of his previous roles."
This first season as sole tenants of the building had proved The Questors' most successful to date, both artistically and in terms of audience. Production runs were increased from two to three performances per show and by July 1939 all seemed set fair for the future...
Then, at a meeting of the Committee of Management in August, it was resolved that, in the unhappy event of war breaking out, all current activities at the club would be immediately suspended until the position had been clarified!