Written By
Peter Coke
Where and When
28th – 29th April 1967 @ The Church House, Wimborne
The Plot
When Dame Beatrice is given a mink stole by her maid, she is reminded of the maid’s shady past and immediately suspects that it was stolen from the the next flat. A former army officer and other lodgers endeavour to return the stole. The plan is devised with care and all of them take such delight in the secretive scheme that they wonder why they don’t do this more often. They form a syndicate for stealing and returning furs. Everything goes well until a loss is reported and the police come charging in. The maid is horrified to discover what has been going on behind her back, but agrees to employ her talents to bail the amateurs out of trouble if they agree to never touch another fur. She succeeds, the police leave, and life returns to its humdrum ways until someone remembers that it was only furs they had promised not to touch!
Cast
- Miss Nanette Parry – Janine Brockes
- Brigadier Albert Rayne – Arthur Brooks
- Lilt Thompson – Carole Bird
- Lady Alice Miller – Thelma Dryden
- Dame Beatrice Appleby – Murial Brooks
- Miss Elizabeth Hatfield – Patricia Wood
- Pape – Christopher Hughes
- Kemp – Jeofrey Turner
Creative Team
- Producer – Derek Saunders
- Stage Manager – Jeofrey Turner
- Property Masters – Ian Raeburn and James Clanfield
- Prompt – Doreen Hodson
- Lighting – Dennis Curran
- House Manager – Tim Eling
- ASMs – Ian Raeburn and Don McKay
- Make up – Sam Fawcett and Cynthia Shackles
Gallery
Reviews
Robin Hood Theme at Wimborne
Wimborne Drama Club’s presentation of Peter Coke’s Breath of Spring, in th Church House, Wimborne, was a racy three-act show which did credit to the cast.
The club overcame their problem of a shortage of male actors by finding a play where five of the six major parts were taken by women. The cast took advantage of the oppurtunity to revel in a number of humurous character parts giving ample scope for lively acting.
Producer Derek Saunders, in control of a Wimborne play for the first time, made a point of keeping it moving at a fast tempo and must take credit for its good presentation.
Fur Coats
The palys story is a bit like a modern-dat Robin Hood in that a group of well-to-do people, including a dame, a lady and a brigadier, set out to rob the rich to look after the poor. But instead of making the Sheriif’s funds a target for attack these funny rogues stole fur coats and re-sold them.
The gang was led by the military minded bigadier (Arthur Brooks) who made a fetish of precision, even to the point of sychronising watches before a snatch. With him were Miss Parry (janine Brockes), Lady Miller (Thelma Dryden), Dame Appleby (Muriel Brooks) and Miss Hatfield (Patricia Wood).
Officials
Carole Bird in her first part in a club play was Lily Thompson, a former gaol inmate. The policeman was played by Christophe Hughes, and Jeoffrey Turner completed the cast with a walking-on part.
Officials for the production were: Stage Manager, Jeoffrey Turner; props, Ian Raeburn and James Glanfield; prompt, Doreen Hodson; lighting, Dennis Curran; hous manager, Tim Eling; assistant stage manager, Ian Raeburn and Don McKay; make-up, Sam Fawcett and Cyntia Shackles.
Programme
