Breath of Spring
A comedy by Peter Coke
Wednesday 12 October 1960 - Saturday 15 October 1960
The Little Theatre, Old Royal Marines Camp, Butts Close, Faringdon
Directed by Evelyn Stoodley
Tickets were available from White Bros (hairdressers), 7 Cornmarket, Faringdon.
When Dame Beatrice is given a mink stole by her maid, she is reminded of the maid’s shady past and immediately suspects that it was stolen from the the next flat. A former army officer and other lodgers endeavour to return the stole. The plan is devised with care and all of them take such delight in the secretive scheme that they wonder why they don’t do this more often. They form a syndicate for stealing and returning furs. Everything goes well until a loss is reported and the police come charging in. The maid is horrified to discover what has been going on behind her back, but agrees to employ her talents to bail the amateurs out of trouble if they agree to never touch another fur. She succeeds, the police leave, and life returns to its humdrum ways until someone remembers that it was only furs they had promised not to touch!
A comedy in three acts. The action of the play passes in the living-room of Dame Beatrice’s flat overlooking the Albert Memorial.
Five members of the society played the gang of fur thieves – George Young, Kitty Burtwell, Nancy Reeves, Kathleen Daish and Deirdre Van Tinteren. The part of the housemaid was played at short notice by Kathleen Hill, instead of Edith Stevens. Other parts were played by Bill Scott and Duncan Mclntosh.
Cast (in order of appearance):
Miss Nanette Parry ('Nan') - Kathleen Daish
Brigadier Albert Rayne C.B. C.M.G. M.V.O. - George Young
Lily Thompson (the maid) - Kathleen Hill; Edith Stevens
Alice (Lady Miller) - Kitty Burtwell
Dame Beatrice Appleby D.B.E. ('Bee') - Nancy Reeves
Miss Elizabeth Hatfield ('Hattie') - Deirdre van Tinteren
Pape - Duncan McIntosh
Kemp - Bill Scott
See programme for further details.
Production No.32 (4 shows were performed over 4 days).