Written By
Peter Ustinov
Where and When
18th – 20th November 1976 @ The Allendale Community Centre, Wimborne
The Plot
This timely satire on the everlasting generation gap is not content to dally with the problem, but boldly thrusts on by having the older generation beat the younger at its own game. It begins with the return from middle east duty of a general who finds he hardly recognizes his children. His son has embraced the new cult of the moment and his daughter is enceinte by persons unknown. Rather than rant and rave, the general looks into the matter. And, by george, he even adapts to it. The children protest that he is aping them and trying to shame them into going back into society; but no, he is in earnest as he climbs a tree and elevates the cult to new realms. Soon, everybody wants a tree to climb into.
Cast
- Lady Fitzbuttress – Elizabeth Anthony
- Helga – Tricia Marshall
- General Sir Mallalieu Fitzbuttress – John Anthony
- Robert – Spencer Hare
- Lesley – Ian Corcoran
- Brigadier (Tiny) Gilliant-Brown – Arthur Brooks
- Basil Utterwood – Eric Wright
- Vicar – David Green
Creative Team
- Director – Arthur Brooks
- Stage Manager – Richard Cave
- ASM – Frank Burgin
- Properties – Jackie Winn
- Prompt – Jean Lewis
Gallery
Reviews
Ustinov play club’s choice
Halfway Up The Tree, a comedy by Peter Ustinov was presented by Wimborne Drama Club at the Allendale Centre on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
It was produced by Arthur Brooks, a long-standing member of the club, who also took over one of the parts after another member dropped out.
The play deals with a domestic crisis that an Army general finds upon returning home after a number of years in the Malayan jungle and the 1967 West End which was directed by Sir John Gielgud, starred Robert Morley and Ambrosine Phillpotts.
The first night on Thursday vas not particularly well supported but first nights never are and with competition from the ‘Miss World’ contest on television the club didn’t stand much of a chance.
However on Friday and Saturday there were more than 100 people for each performance. Until recently the club have had their headquarters in the old station premises, but have since moved to the Allendale
Centre where they hold regular meetings.
The cast of last week’s play was Elizabeth Anthony, John Anthony, Spencer Hare, Julia Cave, Tricia Marshall, Ian Corcoran, Eric Wright, David Green and Arthur Brooks.
Programme
