Connis dean

Connie Preece - an Appreciation

Mrs Connie Preece (née Dean), who died recently aged 94, made her first stage appearance with R.O.A.D.S. in the front row of the chorus in "The Gondoliers" in February 1925 and her first in a role was as Fridoline in "King of Cadonia" in February 1926. The following year also in February, Connie played Lady Saphir in "Patience" and then November saw her as Nanoya in "The Cingalee".

Connie made her first appearance in the dramatic section of R.O.A.D.S. in 1928, when she played the lead in "Eliza Comes to Stay". At this time R.O.A.D.S. was affiliated to R.A.D.A. and a representative could walk in at any moment to see a performance. The representative attending a performance of this play was so impressed with Connie's performance that he asked to meet her mother and father and offered her a place at R.A.D.A. Much to Connie ' s regret the stage at that time was not considered respectable and she was not allowed to take up the offer. The report in the Hereford Times stated that they played to a capacity audience and from start to finish Connie was the hit of the whole play and an amusing caricature of her was printed.

In February 1929 Connie played Honour, Sophia's saucy little maid, in "Tom Jones" - and the press review says that this part was "in the safe hands of Miss C. Dean and graceful dancing was another asset". Then in the December she was Millie Montgomery in "The Best People" and in February 1930 the lead role In "Iolanthe". The press commended her on the "finished rendering of the part of Iolanthe... singing nicely and acting with distinction." She remembered wearing her own hair - long - and the presents, chocolates and bouquets that were showered upon her. This was followed in February 1931 by the role of Phoebe in "Yeomen of the Guard"; the press reported "her acting is always attractive." Saesneg, the - 'unmusical critic', reported that it "gripped the audience the moment the curtain went up" and another critic - "Miss C. Dean was positively bewitching in her coy and alluring part."

After appearing as Olga in the February 1932 production of "Katinka", Connie then appeared to have 'rested' until February 1936 when, under her new name of Connie Preece, she played Phoebe in "The Quaker Girl" followed that October as Mrs Leverett in "Rookery Nook" by Ben Travers.

Although Connie remembered with pleasure all the joys of the productions in which she took part, it was not all easy. The conditions were by no means ideal; one could call them primitive, and certainly would not comply with modern safety regulations. The stage was small and had very little depth; there was no room behind the backcloth. When an actor made an exit on one side followed by an entrance from the opposite side the following routine had to be followed:
1. Off stage and down Fire Escape to yard at back.
2. Out of yard into street.
3. Down street into The Kings Head Hotel.
4, Through Kings Head Bar and upstairs to door connecting with stage.
5. Onto stage & on cue if you were lucky.
A hazardous journey by any standard, Dressing Rooms - Ladies in Kings Head & Gents in building opposite Lloyds Bank in Church Street. But there were hilarious last nights which ensued at The Waverley, now Pearl Insurance, for drinks and sandwiches.

When Colonel Heywood of Cradoc Court was President he would send his Rolls to pick up 4 soloists to entertain guests, this included Connie, Enid Evans, Harry Llewellyn & Jack Capewell. They would be returned at 5 o'clock with a ten-shilling note and chocolates. The group also entertained at Goodrich Court (later removed to America) when Mrs Moffat was their President.

Possibly Connie's last appearance on the stage was to accept a bouquet presented to her on the opening night of "The Boyfriend" in October 1988, 63 years after her first appearance. Truly a great trouper and one of the many people of Ross who were the backbone of our Society.

Ken Farley
Archivist

Updated: Saturday, 9, June, 2001