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Rookery Nook by Ben Travers
This comedy was produced by Aubrey Brown on the 2nd & 3rd of December 1966. It is one of a number of "Aldwych Farces" which were produced at the Aldwych Theatre in the late 1920s and early 1930s. A large factor in the success of the Aldwych Farces was their predictability: audiences wanted stock characters and stock situations, and got what they expected. The BBC made a series of Travers's Aldwych Farces in to televison shows in the early 1970s. Gerald Popkiss has come to stay at "Rookery Nook", a house in Chumpton-on-Sea, Somerset. Gerald married Clara six weeks before, and has come to visit Clara's sister Gertrude and her husband Harold Twine who live in the area. Visiting with Gerald is his cousin Clive who has a tendency to get into trouble. No sooner has Gerald settled in when a beautiful young lady named Rhoda Marley shows up at the house claiming that her step-father Putz has thrown her out of the house for eating wurtleberries, a "forbidden fruit". Since she is barefoot and soaked, Gerald lends her a pair of his pyjamas and a dressing gown - Gerald cannot refuse a lady in distress. When Gertrude and Harold show up, Rhoda must hide in the kitchen. Unfortunately, she is discovered by Harold, who is sworn to silence to avoid having Gertrude telling tales to Gerald's wife Clara. The following morning, Harold arrives to hear the explanation, but states he has to get to the golf course to meet Admiral Juddy. Mrs Leverett, the housekeeper, and Gertrude also arrive unbeknownst to the men and see Rhoda coming out of Gerald's bedroom and vow to tell Clara. Clive and Gerald convince Harold to get some clothes so that Rhoda can leave the house and head to London to stay with friends. They also pay off Mrs Leverett for the whole week so she will leave them alone. While Harold is searching for clothes, the outraged Juddy arrives, saying that Harold never showed up for their golf game. Clive volunteers to drive Rhoda to London as he has developed affection for her. Harold tries to get Rhoda's clothes from Putz's house, but Putz set the dog on him, so Harold is forced to borrow some of Gertrude's clothes. Clara arrives after being informed by Gertrude that Gerald is cheating on her with Rhoda. A village girl named Poppy selling lifeboat flags stops by and Rhoda borrows Poppy's clothes and escapes. Clara confronts Gerald, and he opens up the bedroom to show the sweet little girl he was trying to help, only to find a brazen Poppy with no clothes on. He tries to explain about Rhoda's crazy stepfather, but when Putz arrives he is calm and courteous, and totally out of character. Poor Gerald is sunk until Rhoda shows up to thank Gerald for his help and Clive accuses Mrs Leverett of spreading false rumours about Rhoda. Mrs Leverett says she heard it from Gertrude and Putz, hearing the scandalous accusation, goes into a rage. In the ensuing melee, Gerald reclaims Clara and Clive gets Rhoda. Rookery Nook Progamme (pdf file, 318,758 bytes)
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