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 The
Cicala Players in A River Breeze by Roland Culver
Staged: 13 and 14 November 1958 at the Rudolph Steiner Theatre
Park Road London NW1
 The Cicala
Players is almost lost in 1957, through what are described by Martins Bank
Magazine as “the serious difficulties which resulted in the
partial cessation of their activities last year”.
Thankfully, those who brought to the stage one, often two productions a year
for ten years, are not about to roll over in surrender, and the group bounces
back in the Autumn of 1958 with a three-act comedy at the Rudolph Steiner
Theatre. An injection of new blood, including members of staff from across
the London District, gives the Players a new impetus, but they are still
dogged by old problems, mainly financial, brought about by low ticket
sales. Evidently pleased to be back
doing what they love best, the performers throw themselves into the slightly
complicated plot surrounding the swapping at birth of two baby girls. The
Magazine has only good things to say about the individual performances, and
it is of course great to see the Cicala Players keeping calm and carrying on
once more…
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 The revival of
the Cicala Players after the serious difficulties which resulted in the
partial cessation of their activities last year is due in no small measure
to the enthusiasm of a few far-sighted members who realised that the work
of many years would be thrown away if the Society closed down, for such a
Society cannot resume where it leaves off if the thread of continuity is
broken and the support of patrons has to be enlisted all over again. Some
of the difficulties remain—thin audiences with resulting financial loss,
but the infusion of new blood to replace the former stalwarts, now serving
outside the London area, is a most heartening sign. This Company is worth
our support, not only on its merits as a company of talented amateurs, but because of the
contribution it makes to the social life of the District. It would be a
mistake to underestimate the value of this.
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George Kent Tom Blossom Carol Cove
Mignonne Paice Clive Hamilton Hugh Sunley and Ann Howard
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The play chosen
for presentation at the Rudolf Steiner Theatre on November 13th and 14th
was “A River Breeze” by Roland Culver It is a three-act comedy dealing with
the situation which arises as a result of baby girls accidentally swopped
at birth. About twenty years later the mistake is discovered and while the
family is still reeling from the shock one girl falls in love with the man,
she had hitherto supposed to be her brother Undoubtedly, the best
performances were given by the father, mother and daughter. Tom Blossom's interpretation
of the father, easygoing, humorous and altogether natural (assisted by his
most distinguished appearance) was admirable. His wife, played by Mignonne
Paice, gave a matching performance of most pleasing quality and her scene
with the daughter in the second act was quite excellent, the most perfect
thing in the play.
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Clive Hamilton Ann Howard Mignonne Paice
Betty Evans and Tom Blossom
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Mignonne Paice Tom Blossom and Hugh Sunley
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To Ann Howard,
however, we are inclined to give the top marks, because she had the
farthest to go Without previous experience, she gave us a performance as
the daughter which was most delightful. Vivacious, coquettish, roguish or
forlorn, as the occasion demanded, she tripped about the stage like a fairy
and won all hearts Clive Hamilton had the job of portraying the explosive
Colonel (Uncle George) who has left his wife in a huff, a state of affairs
which has arisen before.
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You can't
concentrate your fire if your targets are dispersed and due to his complete
inability to grasp what was going on around him. Uncle George's pepperiness
simmers down into somewhat pathetic and forlorn grumbling which is the
prelude to a return to the wife from whom he had fled. A good performance of
a difficult part. Betty Evans
played the part of the housekeeper with kindly and admirable restraint.
Hugh Sunley, as the brother with whom the ‘sister’ falls in love, really
had a part for which he was rather out of character He didn't look as
though he had been out East for four years and he lacked the assurance and
poise which the part demanded. His best performance was in the love scene
with Ann Howard, but she gave him every encouragement The part of the other
daughter was taken by Carol Cove. It was not a big part but she did it full
justice and gave a most attractive portrayal. George Kent had the job of providing
comic relief as the small boat owner, in difficulties on the river, who
makes unwanted appearances at moments of crisis He got his full quota of
laughs and adequately fulfilled the author's intentions The play was
produced by Mr R. J Bull, who, in a little speech on the second night,
invited the back-room boys on to the stage to receive an expression of
appreciation from both the audience and the company, a thoughtful gesture
which was much appreciated.
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Hugh Sunley and Ann Howard
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Sep3M x
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