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Martins
Bank Society of the Arts (Music Section) in The Arcadians
Book by Mark Ambient, A. M. Thompson & Robert Courtneidge
Lyrics by Arthur Wimperis - Music by Lionel Monckton &
Howard Talbot
 Staged: 6th to
10th February 1951 at the Crane Theatre Liverpool
 When the Society of the Arts Music Section stages
“The Arcadians”, Martins Bank Magazine comments that this is perhaps their
most ambitious production. In a
departure from the more familiar
D’Oyly Carte Operas, “The Arcadians” makes greater demands on the cast and
crew. Professional Criticism from the
Liverpool Daily Post Newspaper is particularly good, and must be seen as
encouraging by all those taking part. By now, some names are beginning to be
regularly mentioned as excellent performers, amongst the men are Evan Jones
and Bill Brookes, and amongst the women, the singing of Margaret Groome and
the dancing of Beryl Evans receive particular praise. The production runs for five nights in February
1951 at the Crane Theatre Liverpool, the venue of choice for our
performers. As we will see in the
article below, another Liverpool theatre is called in to help with certain
“wardrobe malfunctions”…
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 IN
some respects the choice by the Music Section of Martins Bank Society of
the Arts of “The Arcadians” was the most ambitious yet embarked upon. The revival
of this elaborately-dressed Edwardian “Musical” was a break-away from the
“safer” Gilbert and Sullivan and Edward German, and, taken as a whole, the
production was very good, and in parts excellent. The show attracted some
attention from the professional critics and we ourselves felt that the
comments of A. K. Holland of the Liverpool
Daily Post should be regarded as helpful and encouraging in the
extreme. He was scrupulously fair, generous where praise was due and
unerring in finding the weak spots. So far as the singing was concerned,
Margaret Groome's performance raised the whole production on to a plane not
often reached by amateurs. Her lovely voice and her sweet nature captivated
the audience each time she appeared. Brenda Stephens sang beautifully and
acted superbly. Her Irish brogue, the grace of her movements, her coy
acting, in fact everything about her, won all hearts.
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Simplicitas
is reluctantly compelled to start his mission
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As for Maureen Dempster,
well, as the week went by they clapped her as she came on the stage as well
as when she made her exits. She gave the most finished performance of her
career to date as the cockney lady. Very well done indeed. Basil Williams
took the leading male role with that confidence and competence we have come
to expect from him. His diction is excellent and his portrayal has just the
right amount of extravagance to be convincing. A good effort. Bill Brookes
as the “cheerful” jockey kept his audience rocking with merriment. He
looked the part; he acted the part and his facial expressions were even
funnier than his lines. His best
performance yet. Norman Hubbard has an excellent stage presence and his
portrayal of Sir George Paddock was faultless.
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Brenda Stephens and Alfred Pope
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Basil Williams, Bill Brookes and Maureen Dempster
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It was tantalising that Evan Jones, the best tenor in the company,
had so little scope for his singing, but he did very well with the acting
which his part demanded. Alfred Pope gave a good account of
himself with both his singing and his acting, and his dancing was
especially good. Evan
Jones's son Albert, took the dual roles of Time and Percy Marsh. He made a
very good show of both, particularly the former. Among the Arcadians Betty Spencer Hayes
was very sweet as Chrysea, and Muriel Jones,
Beryl Evans and Audrey Jennings performed their dances with skill and sang
their choruses with great sweetness. The male Arcadians were Peter Swinton, Jack Smith and R.
Fairclough. Mention should
also be made of Ursula Clarke, Hilary Parr and Jean Boothman, who looked
charming in their Edwardian dresses and played their small parts well, also
of J.B. Atherton and P. L. Tiplady, whom we shall look to see again, in
bigger parts, perhaps.
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Father
Time visits Arcadia
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While we have admired the chorus work in past years we must
mention it specially this year. We were glad to see so many new youthful
additions to the chorus of ladies. The scenes in which they appeared and
sang were not only as pretty as a picture, they were a picture. We would like to see some more young men
in the male chorus; they are needed badly. At the same time a word of
praise needs to be uttered to those who always come forward for the good of
the show to help us over this difficulty. At this point it is appropriate to mention the Liverpool Playhouse,
who willingly and enthusiastically came to our rescue on the opening night
to make good certain wardrobe deficiencies. We much appreciated their help.
Mr. H. Spencer Hayes conducted and Mr. J. Balfour Thompson was the
Producer. The ballet mistress was Miss Hylda Delamere Wright and Mr. H. F.
Boothman was Hon. Accompanist. Nor must we forget those vital people,
Sybil Welsh, the Wardrobe Mistress; C. E. Bresnan, the Property Master and
Miss Koop, Business Manager. In
fact, well done, everybody, it was a grand show!
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