Monday 1st - Saturday 6th March 2010
LORD ARTHUR SAVILE'S CRIME
A witty comedy by Constance Cox,
based on the short story by Oscar Wilde,
and set in the Edwardian period.
After Lord Arthur has had his palm read by Podgers,
who tells him he is destined to commit a murder,
he feels duty bound to get it over with before his
forthcoming marriage to Sybil. However, despite
being aided by the notorious anarchist Winkelkopf,
his attempts at homicide prove entirely futile.
It later emerges that Podgers is a charlatan,
and so Arthur is released from the need to commit the
crime. However, on his way to the wedding rehearsal he
finds that the carriage contains Winkelkpf's newest bomb.
Director: Fay Hamilton
.......
All performances start at 7.30pm.
Tickets for all performances are priced at £7.00 each.
The Cast:
Baines, the butler - David Wilkes
Lord Arthur Savile - Sam Pike
Sybil Merton, his fiancée - Charlotte Gould-Smith
The Dean of Paddington, his uncle - Alan Frost
Lady Windermere, his aunt - Jenny Roberts
Lady Clementine Beauchamp, his great aunt - Pam Terry
Lady Julia Merton, Sybil's mother - Pat Cowey
Mr Podgers, a cheiromantist - David Holt
Nellie, the maid - Dianne Nicholls
Herr Winkelkopf, an anarchist - Richard Gomm
The Company:
Stage Manager - Malcolm Elliott
Assistant Stage Manager - Ann McAlister
Set Design - Richard Gomm
Set Painting & Construction - Richard Gomm
and Club Members
Props - Elaine Harewood
Period Furniture - Gordon Elliott
Prompts - Sue Elliott
Lighting & Sound - Tony Goodwin
Wardrobe - Wendy Gomm,
Rosemary Holt and
Club Members
Poster & Programmes - Simon Blissett
Publicity - Roger Simmonds
Front of House - Judith Stewart Young &
Members of the Club
Refreshments - Liz Blissett and
Members of the Club
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The Cast
Review - Exmouth Journal Thursday March 11, 2010 .... Lord Arthur's success at Budleigh Playhouse WHAT better way to pass a chilly March evening than at the Playhouse in Budleigh Salterton, particularly when the Salterton Drama Group is presenting that improbable comedy Lord Arthur Savile's Crime? It was evident from the opening that a lot of hard work and attention to detail had gone into this production. The costumes were lavish and eye-catching, and even with many quick changes, in probably not vast dressing-rooms, the cast all managed to look poised and comfortable. The set was amazing, a drawing room, dominated by a set of double doors, crammed with furniture, plants, vases, ornaments and nickknacks, as was the custom at the time. All this achieved in such as small stage area must have given director, Fay Hamilton, a challenging time during rehearsals! The relationship between Baines and Lord Arthur was quickly established from the start and the scenes between these two were delightful. David Wilkes was superb as the world weary, cynical servant, tolerant of his master. His expressions and reactions were just right, measured but conveying his thoughts exactly and at times showing sparks of a very different character lying beneath! Sam Pike looked perfect and was excellent, suitably vague and totally believable as Lord Arthur, really not very bright despite having attended Eton and Oxford. While convincing the audience of his love for Sybil, he portrayed an upper-class self-confidence that everything should go his way, and was unfazed completely by the need to 'bump off' one of his relatives to get there! Although these were two excellent performances, this was still very much an ensemble production and the rest of the cast played their roles with confidence and conviction. Charlotte Gould-Smith made an attractive and poised Sybil, controlled, but with a rebellious streak and vey much liking her own way. Alan Ford gave a credible air to the role of The Dean, Lord Arthur's forgetful uncle, making the most of some lovely lines and escaping an untimely end by realising he had the wrong umbrella! As the two sisters Lady Winderemre and Lady Clementina, Jenny Roberts and Pam Terry were perfectly cast and played their parts beautifully, with ease and style, making the most of the waspish dialogue and underlying meanings. Pat Cowey, as Sybil's mother, Lady Julia, was strong and rather terrifying, giving as good as she got and showing immediate disapproval and suspicion of the suitability of the marriage! Richard Gomm did well as the eccentric and absurd Herr Winkelkopf, sustaining this accent and character throughout. David Holt was convincingly creepy as the wily and underhand Podgers, and Dianne Nichols instantly made her mark and was most endearing as Nellie the maid. This was a super and most enjoyable production, so thank you to director Fay Hamilton and Salterton Drama Club for bringing it to the stage. It will be interesting to see the interpretation by the touring company at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth, next week and see if they can do as well! Tricia Barclay
Updated 24 Mar 2010