SEASON 24 (1952-53)
Right You Are (If You Think So)
The Merchant of Venice
Juno and the Paycock
Thieves' Carnival
Crime Passionnel
Tartuffe
September 1952
RIGHT YOU ARE (IF YOU THINK SO)
by Luigi Pirandello
Directed by Abraham Asseo
Designed by Beryl Anthony
Another feather in our cap! This production attracted interest because Pirandello's plays were rarely performed in this country at this time, despite their influence on the development of modern drama.
As one reviewer remarked:
"The warm reception given to this play by a crowded house suggests that the commercial theatre would not be taking too grave a risk if they presented Pirandello to a West-End audience."
November 1952
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Eric Voce
Designed by Ernest Ives
As there is not much to say about this production - no reviews or gossip - I thought I would take time to draw attention to Alfred's remarks in the concurrent issue of Forestage about the Student production in July - mainly because it involved a bright young ingénue by the name of Josephine Arundel. Although there had been some disappointment in the student one-act plays in February, Alfred remarked that "the really excellent standard shown in the performance of Corinth House, seemed a considerable advance in their work. The authoress Pamela Hansford Johnson and her husband C P Snow, present on the first night, were most congratulatory."
Well done Josephine. I wonder when she'll show up next!
I would also like to mention one member of the Merchant of Venice cast who played an important role in my life, John Springall. He was only a member of Questors for a very short period, during which he was involved in running classes for the young peoples groups.
He was a teacher in Harrow Weald and a few years after this production he formed the Harrow Youth Theatre. He was a great motivator, rather like Alfred, and when I joined the HYT in the early 60s he introduced me to the extraordinary adventure of theatre, and those of us still around remember him with great affection and gratitude.
January 1953
JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK
by Sean O'Casey
Directed by Alfred Emmet
Designed by Juliette Howard
Our first full length O'Casey production, but nothing to report I'm afraid, except to say that it's another"star" cast with lots of names and faces familiar to our older members.
However, an angry letter in the February issue of Forestage reminds us of the very cramped conditions the Questors were working in at the time.
Dear Sir,
I was unfortunate enough to attend the Building Fund performance of "Juno and the Paycock" last evening. I write in the heat of the moment, to say that I was amazed at what seemed to be a complete disregard of the audience, every member of which, incidentally, had paid for his seat. It might have been a Dress Rehearsal. A constant stream of people in and out of the office caused intermittent and disturbing shafts of light across the auditorium. Tea preparations were clearly audible; and people entering the theatre from the back caused distracting noises throughout the evening. This sort of thing, inexcusable in the local Parish Hall , is quite intolerable in a theatre such as ours.
