We welcome all comment and contribution to the record. The show continues...
Click any image to enlarge
FILKINS THEATRE... Founded 1986
'FT PRODUCTIONS'
1986
'Pre-FT PRODUCTIONS'
'HMS Pinafore'
February 1935
Ronald Fletcher organised this production of 'HMS Pinafore', staged in Filkins Village Hall in 1935.
First a review from The Faringdon Advertiser & Vale of the White Horse Gazette of 1st March 1935
(There is a transcript below the clipping)
Here is a transcription of the article...
VILLAGERS TRIUMPH IN "H.M.S PINAFORE"
Gilbert and Sullivan Staged In Tiny Filkins Hall
REMARKABLY CLEVER PRODUCTION BY BROUGHTON RECTOR
Talented Burford Artiste's Great "Hit"
Gilbert and Sullivan, favoured by so many amateur operatic companies, is rarely undertaken by village players; too many difficulties present themselves in the staging of even the lesser of these popular light operas.
For two tiny villages like Filkins and Broughton Poggs to stage "H.M.S. Pinafore" so successfully as they did on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday evenings is in the nature of a triumph. Obstacles in casting and staging must have been tremendous, yet the Rev. R. F. W. Fletcher, Rector of Broughton Poggs, managed to produce a show that was definitely entertaining and followed very closely the Savoyard tradition.
A little assistance was recruited from Burford, but with two or, at the most three, exceptions the players were all residents of Filkins and Broughton Poggs. To cast the leading parts successfully must have needed no little discrimination; to obtain the strong chorus required must have entailed a lengthy search among local talent.
Gilbert's Delicious Humour
It would obviously be unfair to criticise this village production as one would deal with the same opera staged by a large company of amateurs in a big town, yet when I saw "H.M.S. Pinafore" on Saturday evening I was very impressed by the entertaining fare provided, writes a Faringdon Advertiser and V.W.H. Gazette reporter.
In one sense it was an unfortunate night, amateurs so rarely do themselves justice on a first night, and in certain cases very obvious nervousness spoiled the opening, but this was overcome later, as the players gained confidence.
In contrast, one or two of the principals, apparently no strangers to Savoyard productions, "walked through" their parts with great ease, in fact one or two of the finer points of Gilbert's humour were lost because of this rather casual way of treating the parts.
Mr. Fletcher and the Rev. Leonard Whitmill were the chief offenders in this direction. Mr. Fletcher gave an easy and charming portrayal of that very important little man, Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B., but points in the character might have been stressed a little more without the playing losing anything of its naturalness. Even more did this apply to Mr. Whitmill; I don't think Capt. Corcoran in his day would have accepted the First Lord's command to preface commands to his tars by a "please" quite so easily. Several chances of clever acting were missed in this way, and because of it the audience lost some of that delicious humour that is in every Gilbert and Sullivan opera.
Producer in Leading Part
It is, I am certain, a definite mistake for a producer to take a part in his own production, so rarely can he rise above the cares of production to do his own part justice. Mr. Fletcher had a most difficult part, the most exacting in the whole piece, and at the same time he had to bear all the trials of the producer. That he succeeded so well is a great tribute to his powers; the slight criticism is only offered because he was obviously capable of an even better performance, one that might well have approached the perfect.
And now a word as to his producing! The stage in Filkins Institute is very small, and the way in which Mr. Fletcher had fitted his rather large cast into the limited room available was little short of wonderful. The action rarely appeared cramped, and the ensembles were so well considered that there was little suggestion of crowding. One must mention, too, the way in which he had trained a company that must have been rather "raw" at the outset in the points of stage deportment.
The choruses, both of men and women, sang very tunefully, and caught the lilt of Sullivan's music. They followed the baton of Miss Barbara James very well.
A Charming "Buttercup"
Perhaps the most charming performance was given by Miss Doris Aldridge, the well-known radio singer. Every point of her portrayal had been carefully considered, her make-up was excellent, her demeanour bright and breezy, as befitting "Little Buttercup," and whenever she was on the stage she put "life" into the piece. As to Miss Aldridge's singing, that needs no comment.
Mrs. Katherine Ford, too, possessed a very pleasing voice, and played Josephine very well, but there were times when she should have put more verve into her playing. Capt. Corcoran's daughter was surely a little more animated than appeared, although in this respect Mrs. Ford provided an excellent foil for Buttercup.
Mrs. Fletcher, as Cousin Hebe, sang very pleasingly, in fact her trio with Josephine and Ralph Rackstraw was one of the "hits" of the evening, along with the trio in the second act between Capt. Corcoran, Buttercup and Josephine.
Natural and Entertaining
The great point about Mr. Fletcher's Sir Joseph was its delightful naturalness. Mr. Whitmill has a nice voice, and played Capt. Corcoran very competently, without getting the most out of the part.
Sidney Webb laboured under a painful nervousness at the opening, but he overcame this, and I must compliment him very sincerely on his performance. I liked his voice, and he fitted the part very well. Charles James' Bosun and George Giles' Ralph Rackstraw were really enjoyable.
The complete cast was:
Boatswain, Charles James; Carpenter and other Able Seamen, R. Giles, G. James, V. Miles, G. Webb; Mrs. Cripps, or Little Buttercup (a Portsmouth Bumboat Woman), Doris Aldridge; Dick Deadeye (Able Seaman), George Giles; Portsmouth Bumboat Woman, Doris Aldridge; Captain Corcoran (commanding H.M.S. Pinafore), Leonard Whitmill; Josephine (his daughter), Katherine Ford; Sir Joseph's Sisters, Cousins and Aunts, G. Beckley, C. Bedwell, R. Cock, G. Dunford, E. Holloway, E. Marmont, D. Puffit, H. Raynor, M. Robbins, G. Swinford, P. Whiteley, K. Whiteley; Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B. (First Lord of the Admiralty), Ronald Fletcher, Cousin Hebe (his first cousin), Cynthia Fletcher.
Miss Alice Stroud accompanied very competently, and it is no easy thing to provide the accompaniment for "H.M.S. Pinafore" with a piano alone.
The women's dresses, designed and made by members of the company, were very artistic, and entirely in keeping with the production. The scenery had been painted by Mr. R. Morley, the well-known artist. "H.M.S. Pinafore" was, of course, presented by permission of Mr. Rupert D'Oyly Carte.
The proceeds were for the Personal Service League for the Unemployed.
Now a review from The North Wilts Gazette of 1st March 1935
(There is a transcript below the clipping)
A LOVE TANGLE THAT NEEDED MORE ABANDON
Filkins Amateurs Sparkle in “H.M.S. Pinafore.”
Many of the best-known Gilbert and Sullivan melodies are to be found in “H.M.S. Pinafore”, which has been performed by the Broughton Poggs and Filkins Players at Filkins Institute this week.
During three nights’ production at the Institute, hundreds of people were entertained with a lively version of the opera, which was not allowed to suffer from the fact that the stage lacked adequate dimensions for this sort of production.
There is no denying that Arthur Sullivan’s rollicking melodies were given swing and occasionally subtlety. It was obvious that the musical interest was the main consideration. It was given much more attention than the dramatic. Even some of the love scenes between Josephine (Katherine Ford) and Ralph Rackstraw (Sidney Webb), conveyed, when spoken, the impression of holding up the musical sequence.
There was not nearly enough abandon about this illicit little love tangle. With double the dash, Sidney Webb would have been quite up to the standard of Josephine’s hero.
The love scenes (musical) between these two young people were entirely charming and well-staged. Katherine Ford sang with a thorough musical finish and sentiment, and she had some of the most difficult phrases to deal with.
“I am the Captain of the Pinafore,” led by Captain Corcoran (Leonard Whitmill) was the first rousing chorus to set things going in sea rhythm, the captain being a very presentable person with a good speaking voice and stage presence.
He might have pointed out to some of his worthy able seamen (R. Giles, G. James, V. Miles and G. Webb) as well as Dick Deadeye (George Giles), that their beards were for decoration, and not to be muttered through.
In the words of the Captain himself, Little Buttercup (a Portsmouth Bumboat Woman), played by Doris Aldridge, was “a plump and pleasing person.” He might have gone farther and handed her a bouquet as a young woman who really threw herself into the role of the picturesque figure of the docks, and handed out personality—of the sort that was wanted—in chunks.
Even the stage make-up seemed to take on a new complexion with Buttercup as the central figure. Her duet with the captain was “put over” with the maximum of punch, and was one of the liveliest things in the show. Buttercup, who “knew too well the anguish of the heart that loved but vainly,” also knew what the stage was for.
Then came the First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B. (Rev. Ronald Fletcher), in company with aunts and cousins—especially Cousin Hebe, adequately played by Cynthia Fletcher. The story is well-known enough not to require repetition.
Its action gained quite a fillip from the dazzling appearance of the “chorus,” which although not seeking to rival Mr. Cochran’s Young Ladies, played up excellently to the whims of the principals and gave them all the backing they needed. Their dresses were home produced, and all credit is due to them on that account.
Here are the relays of sisters, aunts and cousins: G. Beckley, C. Bedwell, R. Cock, G. Dunford, E. Holloway, E. Marmont, D. Puffit, H. Raynor, M. Robbins, G. Swinford, F. Whiteley and K. Whiteley.
Sir Joseph Porter was a character, who was given all the humorous twists expected of him. He was the lover who pleaded too eloquently the case for his rival, Rackstraw.
There was one glaring slip up in stage-craft during the near-“suicide” scene. After the revolver and [sic] been the focus of several dramatic moments, it was ceremoniously carried to a convenient resting place somewhere off-stage—too obviously a stage prop.
Josephine shone through the brightest episodes of “H.M.S. Pinafore,” and was obviously a big find for the players, both for her singing and stage bearing.
Charles James was the boatswain.
An outstandingly fine back-sheet was the work of Mr. R. Morley, R.B.A.
Alice Stroud, the accompanist, was largely responsible for the finished musical effect of many of the phrases. Barbara James conducted.
The players are a new organisation, and have been mustered by the Rev. R. Fletcher, of Broughton Rectory, who besides playing Sir Joseph Porter, produced the show. After the final production he thanked the cast and helpers for their co-operation.
A collection was made to meet expenses, any surplus being devoted to the Personal Service League.
R.A.
Ronald Fletcher ('First Lord of The Admiralty' in this production of 'HMS Pinafore') was the rector of the parish of Broughton Poggs from 1930 to 1942. In fact, Mr Fletcher was the last rector, for in 1942 Broughton Poggs was re-united with Filkins parish. 'Re-united', for there had been a short-lived unification after St Peter's Church, Filkins was built in 1857.
You can find more information about the Parish of Broughton Poggs in the booklet 'Two Churches: one Saint Peter' available from The Filkins Press.