Written By
Alan Bennett
Where and When
16th – 19th February 2000 @ The Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne
The Plot
The antics at the Wicksteed home are a satirical merry-go-round. Family, friends and the sexual satisfaction of the “corpus” (body) are the ruling passions in this farcical comedy of ill-manners.
Cast
- Mrs Swabb – Chrissie Neal
- Dr Arthur Wicksteed – Jeremy Austin
- Muriel Wicksteed – Val Mantle
- Dennis Wicksteed – Martin Matthews
- Constance Wicksteed – Carolyn Hewitt
- Canon Throbbing – Richard Neal
- Sir Percy Shorter – Dave Williams
- Lady Rumpers – Margaret Pope
- Felicity Rumpers – Clare Downs
- Mr Shanks – Simon Jackson
- Mr Purdue – Bob Hucklesby
Creative Team
- Director – Barry Baynton
- Set Design – Barry Baynton
- ASM – Joe Brooks
- Sound – Carolyne Howe
- On The Book – Judy Garrett
- Special Properties – Eddie Colton and Saliann Colton
- Costumes – Ann Pond and Carolyn Hewitt
- Make-up – Calre Downs
- Drums – Fred Tyson-Brown
- Advertising Sales – Chris Brown
- Publicity – Barry Baynton
- Programme – Jeremy Austin and Richard Neal
- Photoraphy – Eddie Colton
For the Tivoli Theatre
- Stage Manager – Ashley Thorne
- Lighting – Russell Parker
Previews
Gallery
Reviews
Marily Ayres – Wimborne Magazine
Wimborne Drama tour de farce
Had Habeas Corpus been performed by professional actors, including a couple of big names, I doubt that I would have enjoyed it more. As it was Wimborne Drama’s production at the Tivoli Theatre this week proved that if people dismiss the efforts of local actors as “just amateur dramatics” then they really are missing out on some wonderful entertainment.
Of course it is a splendid play, but as it has been performed a number of times locally, there was a lot to live up to. This is Bennett’s only farce, set in the so-called permissive society of the 1970s, and the characters move in and out through a maze of mistaken identities and sexual encounters. The characterisation of every actor was very believable, and I particularly enjoyed the performance of Canon Throbbing, described as a celibate, and played by Richard Neal. When I saw him as a police inspector some years ago, I felt he was a littl wooden, but he has come a long way since then, and really put in a powerful performance.
It’s hard for the ego to play a dowdy character, but Carolyn Hewitt managed it splendidly, and on the other side of the coin, Clare Downs portrayed the glamorous Felicity Rompers without going over the top.
Habeas Corpus is set on an almost bare stage, but you hardly noticed as Mrs Swabb, the cleaner, played by Chrissie Neal, narrated us adeptly though the production, which left Mr Purdue, played by Bob Hucklesby, standing on the stage throughout the interval motionless with a noose round his neck!
Undoubtedly, much credit must go to director Barry Baynton, who has many stage appearances and productions under his belt.
Programme
