Written By
J. B. Priestley
Where and When
4th – 6th November 1982 @ The Allendale Centre, Wimborne
The Plot
Before, he had good memories of Martin, a wife who seemed too good for him, two partners he liked and respected and a girl he could idealize. Now, he finds Martin was an obscene lunatic who his wife adored, one of his partners was a cheating thief, the other a hysterical young pervert, and the girl was a slut. His disillusionment drives him to shoot himself. At this point, the opening scene is repeated, but this time they bypass the dangerous corner at which the truth is demanded, thus averting disaster.
One of the outstanding successes of the New York season, this play was brilliantely produced by Harry Moses at the Empire Theatre, after an enormously successful run in England. It is a fascinating combination of mystery play and psychological study. It shows how the gradual revelation of the truth about a murdered man disrupts his family and friends and shows them up for the rotters they are. George Jean Nathan writes of it that it “provided the only intelligent new play that the Broadway stage has uncovered thus far in a season.”
Cast
- Fred Caplan – Jan Stevenson
- Miss Mookridge – Margaret Pope
- Betty Whitehouse – Carolyn Woodward
- Olwen Paul – Raymonde Grenville
- Charles Stanton – Gordon Baker
- Gordon Whitehouse – Spencer Madan-Mayers
- Robert Caplan – Stephen Mason
Creative Team
- Director – Thelma Dryden
- Stage Manager – Frank Garner
- ASM – Carl Dewane
- Lighting – Roger Grenville
- Properties – Melitta Richards
- Prompt – Wendy Bruin
- Front of House – Daphne Young
- Publicity – Carolyn Woodward
Gallery
Reviews
Cast unable to breathe life into this play
Wimborne drama Club picked Bonfire Night as one of the evenings for ots production this year, and like many other productions that night it proved to be something of a damp squib.
The play was J. B. Priestley’s Dangerous Corner, which is largely concerned with how and why a dead man called Martin came to be deceased. At times one hoped he was going to make an appearance, dead or not, in an attempt to enliven the proceedings. But, alas, he never made it and I left after the second act.
One of the club’s [atrons commented that Wimborne make it difficult for themselves by choosing plays which would be huge successes, or have been, in the West End because of the skillful way they would be handled by professionals. It would be better if the club chose productions which stand up by themselves regardless of the treatment given to them by the actors.
Nevertheless Wimborne is to be congratulated with always coming up with some sort of production year after year. They had problems again this year in rehearsals which meant several changes of cast before the opening night. Two newcomers made their debut this time: Margaret Pope as Miss Mockridge and Stephen Mason as Robert Caplan, and considering this was their first time out they both did well.
Carolyn Woodward came over well as Betty Whitehouse, with Jan Stevenson and Raymonde Grenville taking the remaining roles. Spencer Madan-Mayers as the worried young man was very good, while Gordon Baker, on loan from Christchurch Theatre Club, enjoyed himself in his visiting role.
Producer Thelma Dryden with Frank Garner as stage manager and Carl Dewane as assistant. The somewhat haphazard lighting was in the charge of Roger Grenville, with Melitta Richards looking after properties and Wendy Bruin as prompt. Carolyn Woodward looked after publicity and Daphne Young front-of-house.
The club is still interested in recruiting new members or attracting patrons, and a comedy production is planned for next year.
Programme
