Martins Bank Players (North Eastern) - 1953 The Chiltern Hundreds

MARTINS BANK PLAYERS (NORTH EASTERN)

Martins Bank Players (North-Eastern) in The Chiltern Hundreds by W D Home

Staged: 10 to 14 November 1953 at the Little Theatre Gateshead

A common theme, which runs throughout the performances of the Bank’s amateur dramatic and operatic groups, is “experimentation”. That is to say they are none of them afraid to tackle difficult material – either difficult due to the length of a performance, or a production which has a difficult topic. “The Gleam”, performed by the Cicala Players in London deals with the controversial reaction of doctors to the new National Health Service. The Argosy Players have in their turn, performed one or two plays involving religious issues and crises of conscience.

In 1953 the North Eastern Players tackle W D Home’s Play, the Chiltern Hundreds, which Martins Bank Magazine acknowledges is hard for an amateur group to perform. Complex characters and situations are being acted out here by a cast of eight, of which only three had acted with them before. It is heartening to hear that the play has a very successful run, and that the producer Nora Wilkie, who has also performed on stage with the North Eastern Players, is singled out for praise. The photographs which accompany the review are particularly expressive of a piece we wish we could go back in time to see…

For their 1953 production the North Eastern Players chose W. D. Home's play The Chiltern Hundreds and performed it at the Little Theatre, Gateshead, for five nights, November 10th to 14th. It is not an easy play for amateurs to perform and the Players cannot be accused of lack of courage, for of the eight performers only three had appeared with the Players before, though one of the best had had previous experience elsewhere. Several were appearing for the first time. The play had a very successful run and Nora Wilkie added to her laurels as a producer. The critic's Oscar unhesitatingly goes to G. K. Eaves for the best performance he has so far given us. If he had failed in his part no one else could have retrieved the situation, but he has reached that pitch of experience where his every gesture commands attention and he could convey his thoughts to the audience by a look, without opening his mouth.

David Batey Angela Bailey Meredith Charlton Bill Surtees Nancy Eaves Pat Allen and Gerald Eaves

Not that his lines were inadequate, and a lesser actor might have relied on these alone, hut the combination made all the difference between a mediocre and an outstanding performance, for the butler turned politician, defeating the son of the house in the local Parliamentary election and returning to his duties, is not an easy part to portray. Equally outstanding was Pat Allen as the maid who becomes engaged to the son of the house but finally finds her true level (and happiness) by marrying the butler. She played the part delightfully, without impudence or presumption, but with a true appreciation of a maid's real social status, and as a little lady in her own sphere throughout. It was a very pleasing portrayal, entirely free from the artificial pertness which so often characterises the stage maid. There are some who would quarrel with us for placing Bill Surtees third and would claim for him an equal second place. We do so only because we think his part was easier to play. The brainless, old-school-tie carl whose only interest is in huntin’ shootin’ and fishin’ is a stock type and an indifferent portrayal would not have had the same disastrous effect as would have been the case with the other two. Having said that, we have nothing but praise for the very excellent manner in which he played the part.

David Batey and Pat Leeman

Angela Bailey

Gerald K Eaves

Nancy Eaves as the old earl’s wife played the part most competently and resisted the temptation she might have had to overplay, a mistake which would have spoiled both her own and the carl's performance. Angela Bailey had the difficult task of sustaining an American accent throughout and if she lapsed now and again, she more than made up for it by her most charming and attractive personality. A very commendable first performance. David Batey as the earl's son did not have a very easy part and found difficulty in convincing us of the reality of his predicament, whereby he either had to get a job or forego the hand of the lovely American heiress. Even a job in a bank would have qualified him, but to let a lovely girl like Angela, and a rich heiress as well, go for the sake of a parlour maid, needed a lot of acting experience to be convincing, and we weren't quite convinced, but possibly that was because we couldn't take our eyes off Angela! Pat Allen did a good job as the earl's horsey sister. It must have been a good job because, seeing her from the audience we thought how well cast she was. Seeing her at the party afterwards we wondered how we could ever have thought her horsey! Meredith Charlton as the Labour M.P. also gave a very satisfactory impersonation. He made us want to kick him for his smugness and self-satisfaction and that was the impression he should have created. Very neat! After the show on the last night, we were privileged to attend the customary party at the home of Mr. K Whittingham. About fifty past and present players, friends and helpers attended, and an excellent buffet supper sustained the charming informality of the occasion until the small hours of the Sabbath.