"WHERE THERE'S A WILL...."


At the Roxy Cinema, November 1955

The old notion that people living in the countryside should be depicted on the stage as having a fair amount of brawn but very little brain is fast disappearing, and in "Where There's A Will...." which Ross Operatic and Dramatic Society have been presenting before large audiences at the Roxy this week, the countryman's wit was seen to triumph over the "townies " smartness
R. F. Delderfield's play made life in a rambling old farmhouse buried "miles from anywhere" appear infinitely preferable to the prosaic life in a bustling city, even though he did not smooth over such things as leaking roofs and a complete absence of "modern cons."
'The cast was: "Cagey" Narracott, Trevor W. Lane; Lawyer Arscott, B.G. Moth; Annie Yeo, Peggy Roberts; "Mafeking" Brewer, Noel Fry; Alfie Brewer, Reg. Manwaring; Amy Slater, Mildred Emmet; Maud Hodge, Margaret Howe; Fred Slater, Mack Vaughan; June Hodge, June Moses; Ralph Stokes, Derek Wintle; Miss Cogent. Margaret Gardner
The heroine was the loyal housekeeper, and Peggy Roberts, who was taking part in one of the society's productions for the first time, gave a competent performance in which she showed a full understanding of a role made for an older woman and kept up the accent and mannerisms well.
Even the handyman on the farm - too often has this type of character been made a target for ridicule - was shown to possess a good deal of common-sense and Trevor W. Lane did not make the fatal slip of trying to burlesque the part. His outburst about the really good old days was true to character.

SPLENDID TRIO

"Where There's A Will . . . ." is, of course, a comedy and this was amply provided by the Londoners who were only to anxious to get back to the bright lights as quickly as the rather inadequate train service would take them. Mack Vaughan, Mildred Emmet and Margaret Howe made a splendid trio whose whirlwind entries and quick, assured repartee kept the fun at a sparkling level.
Reg Manwaring, as the Londoner whose ideas did not match those of his kinsfolk and who was anxious to make his life in the country, had one of the most difficult parts but he carried it off successfully.
June Moses, as the girl whose head was a little bit too high in the clouds, was another to give a capable performance.
The "Man from the Ministry" is not an uncommon character in modern plays but R. F. Delderfield introduced a female counterpart and Margaret Gardner gave a delightful caricature.
B. G. Moth. as the debonair solicitor, Noel Fry as the rascallv black sheep of the family, and Derek Wintle, another who was taking part in a production for the first time, filled the subsidiary roles well.
The producer was Mr. Brian Watson who has been responsible for several previous successes by the society, and this will rank high among them. By a switch in place names, the scene was moved from Devonshire to Herefordshire, but in one instance the original "Crediton" had no substitution.
Mr. D. Y. Watson was the stage manager, Mr. S. H. Maguire his assistant, Miss Marjorie Heffernon was the prompter; Mrs. Mary Middleton was in charge of properties, Mr. H.E. Middleton was the electrician, Mrs. Gladys Marshall and Mr. S. J. Marshall was responsible for the make-up. and Mrs. Gwen Whitehouse the wardrobe. Mrs. S. H. Maguire was the secretary and Mr. A. J. P. Scott the treasurer.