Written By
Derek Benfield
Where and When
6th May 1972 @ The Church House, Wimborne
The Plot
In this merry comedy of marital mishaps the scene is set for an evening and morning of riotous misunderstandings and mistaken identities as the guilty parties in question try desperately to keep their romantic secrets secret! Your audience will be kept on a roar for two hours and at the end of the play we realize that the complications and confrontations — far from ending — are only just beginning…
Cast
- Belinda Scott – Margaret Green
- Gregory Scott – Peter Lupton Cowling
- Robert Skeffington – Arthur Brooks
- David Warrender – Mike Waring
- Lyn Warrender – Janine Brockes
- Bunty Thompson – Sue Pickard
Creative Team
- Producer – Tricia Marlow
- Stage Manager – Alan Lewis
- Wardrobe and Properties – Iris Platt
- Prompt – Murile Brooks
- Business – Ted Henbest
- Front of House – Janine Brockes and Arthur Brooks
Ticket Info
- Admsission by programme – 25p
Gallery
Review
Comedy tested new players
Choosing and producing a comedy with limited stage space available, novice actors, and a tight fast-flowing script, is hard. But congratulations must go to Wimborne Drama Group on their production last Thursday, Friday and Saturday, of “Champagne for Breakfast” by Derek Benfield, and particularly to producer Tricia Marlow. This was her first full experience as a producer, although she has been with the club for four years.
The story concerns an idyllic, honeymoon cottage by the sea – idyllic for two young people, until four
others arrive, all to rent the same cottage, and all with more than a hint of old romances linking them.
GOOD START
Margaret Green and Peter Lupton Cowling a are comparative newcomers to the club. They were the frustrated couple, and it was their first time on stage. What a shame that after a good beginning they both lost confidence and had to be prompted regularly in the second half of the play. Peter has a natural easy humour which he should cultivate.
Sue Pickard, as Bunty, made every woman in the audience green with envy in her hot-pants, and as a secretary “with a lot of freedom” she was superb. This was also her first play, but she would do well to remember that although affected hand gestures were an essential ingredient of her part, one can have too much of a good thing.
Janine Brockes and Arthur Brooks are both old hands now, and the benefit of their experience showed clearly. Both were superrb in their roles, she as an America wife, and he as a shy retiring bee-keeper. Especially good though, was Mike Waring, in his first major role. His style of….
Experience and beginners please
The cast of Wimborne Drama Club combined to provide enjoyable theatre with the three-night showing in Church House of Champagne For Breakfast. Derek Benfield’s modern comedy in three acts provided Tricia Marlow with her first major effort at producing. And using the diffcult combination of seasoned actors and beginners, she managed very well.
Excellent performances were given by Janine Brockes, who skilfully maintained her North American accent as Lyn Warrender, and Mike Waring (David Warrender). Mr. Waring, in his first major part, used a clear clipped delivery to make good his comedy lines and he showed a confident stage manner.
Arthur Brooks, as the eccentric Skeffington – bees and bungling in the kitchen – had a jolly time in his short appearances. The three other members of the cast of six were making their first stage appearances.
Sue Pickard, as Bunty, showed vivacity and assurance and should do well in future productions. Margaret Green and Peter Lupton Cowling were paired as the honeymoon couple. Unfortunately they ran into
a patch of forgotten lines after making a promising start. But both kept going through the test of stage nerves and, shepherded along by prompt, Muriel Brooks, won through
Programme
