SEASON 11(1939-40)
Revue
She Stoops to Conquer
Arms and the Man
The Magic Carpet
The "unhappy event" foreseen at the end of last season, erupted in September 1939 and all theatrical activities at The Questors were suspended and many of the group's key personnel were called up or evacuated, the audience membership dropped by about half and it seemed inevitable that the financial loss would be considerable.
But as Alfred Emmet put it, "We had three assets, our theatre, a tremendous keenness to do something and a strong conviction of the importance of continuing cultural work under war conditions."
November 1939
THE QUESTORS' REVUE
by Alfred Emmet, William Dann and Lionel Locke
Music by Laurie Rivers
To hold the company spirit together, Alfred Emmet launched a monthly news bulletin to keep members up to date on what was happening in Mattock Lane and to keep in touch with members who had been "called away".
The first of these bulletins announced the decision to put on a Revue for one day (afternoon and evening performances). "A somewhat startling departure perhaps, but much of the material already available, having been written for Surprise Night, and it will enable us to test the ground without great expense. We can then more easily gauge the possibility of doing something more."
I am filled with admiration that The Questors, whose six months programme was "torpedoed" the day Hitler went finally mad, should have buckled on their armour in such vein as to give us something of considerable entertainment value. I only wish that the majority of local amateur societies would have saved something of themselves from the wreckage of war, and not have allowed themselves to be submerged, apparently "for the duration. Peter Quince, West Middlesex Gazette
January 1940
SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER
by Oliver Goldsmith
Directed by Alfred Emmet
Designed by Gunter Heilbut
Alfred Emmet wrote in the Members' Bulletin:
It was agreed that we should put into rehearsal as soon as possible a full-length play for production in early January.
The show was, I think, up to standard, for the cast and stage staff all worked extremely hard. The settings were particularly successful; moreover they only cost a few shillings, largely due to our being able to use and re-use materials from stock. Fred Robinson has quite a genius for building up from mere scraps.
A special performance was given for the Y.W.C.A., who gave the players the most enthusiastic and responsive audience they had.
We also took the play to the Ambulance Depot at the Good Shepherd Hall (to which Mildred is attached), where the primitive conditions compared with our own theatre provided a test and invaluable experience to the company.
On the principle that if audiences won't come to us, we must go to them, we are trying to arrange further such visits. Nearby factories seem the most fruitful ground, and thanks to Betty Harbud's good offices we are shortly to take the show to Hoovers on Western Avenue.
Such visits bring us in a moderate profit, which is extremely valuable at the present time.
April 1940
ARMS AND THE MAN
by Bernard Shaw
Directed by Alfred Emmet
Designed by Gunter Heilbut
Alfred Emmet:
Much solid work went into the show. Gunter Heilbut's settings were again a most delightful feature, and Mildred [Emmet] did wonders, with Peggy Cooper's help, in adapting costumes to dress the show for a few shillings.
Costs were again cut to the bone, so that we did the show for about £7.
We took the play to Hoovers on the 19th - another successful performance - and hope to arrange further performances too.
Like every other society [The Questors] have been hit by the war, and Ealing owes them thanks for keeping the lamp of the amateur stage bravely burning in these unhappy days. Peter Quince, West Middlesex Gazette
July 1940
THE MAGIC CARPET
A Group of Three Charming Plays
The Happy Journey to Trenton and Camden (Wilder)
Riders to the Sea (Synge)
The Faraway Princess (Sudermann)
Directed by Alfred Emmet, Mildred Emmet, Muriel curtis and Philip Allen
To refresh the spirit in a war-stricken world, The Questors ended the season with a set of three 2 "charming" one-act plays.
Each of the three one-act plays presented under the comprehensive title of "Magic Carpet," by the Questors in their theatre in Mattock-lane, Ealing, last Friday and Saturday evenings belonged to a completely different dramatic category, and were representative of American comedy, stark tragedy and romantic fantasy. It was a programme good to have seen and the hope expressed by the company that the audience would enjoy the "summer excursion" and go back to work in the great national effort refreshed in spirit was assuredly fulfilled. [Middlesex County Times]
Afterwards Alfred Emmet wrote:
"Magic Carpet" went off quite well. The Box Office improved somewhat at the last minute, so that, though not full, we had quite fair houses, and cleared a useful profit, largely due to Fred Robinson's achievement in accomplishing two excellent and elaborate settings for about 10 shillings!