THE ASPERN PAPERS
By Michael Redgrave
Produced by Phyll Bennett
Performed September 1966
This was produced in September 1966 by Phyl Bennett and was the WDG entry in the NSW Arts Council's Country & Metropolitan Drama Festival adjudicated by Mr Reid Douglas. It is based on the story by Henry James. The play ran for three performances, Friday 2 September, Friday 9 September and Saturday 10 September 1966, the last one of which was the adjudicated entry in the Drama Festival.
The play was adapted by Michael Redgrave in 1962 from the novella written by Henry James, published in 1888. It has also been made into an opera, a movie (The Lost Moment starring Susan Hayward and Robert Cummings) and was serialised on BBC radio's A Book at Bedtime series.
Review of the play by Neville Goldsworthy following the adjudicated performance on Saturday 10 September 1966
Article on Wednesday 31 August 1966.
Conclusion of the above article from Page 4. This will have been published in the Wyong Advocate.
Article which would have appeared roughly the week before opening. Notice the error in John Worgan's name (appears as Morgan).
James was a dominant literary figure at the turn of the century (1899-1900), one of those Americans who, like the central character of the play, looked to Europe for the tradition not yet developed in his own country. He became more English than the English, a master of the grand manner and grand style. His influence lasted until Hemingway and other younger rebels swept away the pretentiousness in the 1920s.
​
In the story, a nameless narrator goes to Venice in order to locate Juliana Bordereau, an old lover of Jeffrey Aspern, a famous and now dead American poet. The narrator insinuates himself into the old woman's house as a lodger and flatters Miss Tita, her niece, a plain, somewhat naive spinster, in hopes of getting a look at some of Aspern's letters.
The only photo extant of this production, shot from backstage, showing Bonnie Bryant as Asunta the maid.
When Juliana falls ill, the narrator sneaks into her room and gets caught by the oldlady as he is about to rifle her desk for the letters. Juliana calls the narrator a "publishing scoundrel" and collapses. The narrator flees, and when he returns some days later, he finds that Juliana has died. Miss Tita hints that he can have the Aspern letters if he marries her.
​
Again, the narrator flees. For a time he considers Miss Tita's proposal, but when he returns, he finds that she has burned all the letters, one by one. The narrator never sees the precious papers, but he does send Miss Tita some money for a miniature portrait of Aspern that she gave him.
Article appearing before 22 August 1966 outlining The Aspern Papers opening, and a farewell to Phil and Rene Levenspiel (then owners of WM-Holden Wyong and long-time drama group members) who are about to depart on a world trip.
You can access The Aspern Papers programme below, and also read the novella on which he play was based (The Aspern Papers, by Henry James - first published 1888).
PRODUCED BY:
Phyll Bennett
CAST:
ASSUNTA - Bonnie Bryant
MRS. PREST - Gwen Clarke
HENRY JARVIS - John Worgan
MISS TITA - Isobel Unsworth
MISS JULIANNA BORDEREAU- Beth Gingell
PASQUALE - Ian Tasker
ROOKERY NOOK
By Ben Travers
Produced by Aub Brown
Performed December 1966
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 into 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.
Article from The Advocate, Wednesday 16 November 1966
Article from The Advocate, Wednesday 23 November 1966
(Click photos to view full-size images)
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.
Article by Neville Goldsworthy, The Advocate Wednesday 7 December 1966
Article from the Gosford Star, Wednesday 30 November 1966
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.
PRODUCED BY:
Aub Brown
CAST:
GERTRUDE TWINE - Mildred Ede
MRS. LEVERETT - Lorna Worgan
HAROLD TWINE - David Fryer
CLIVE POPKISS - George Geatches
GERALD POPKISS - Ian Tasker
RHODA MARLEY - Pamela Jones
PUTZ - Bruno Marsonnet
ADMIRAL JUDDY - Fred Chapman
POPPY DICKEY - Pamela Say
CLARA POPKISS - Beverley Say
MRS. POSSETT- Bonnie Bryant
LOVE'S A LUXURY (1967)
By Guy Paxton and Edward V Hoile
Produced by Bonnie Bryant
Performed April 1967
This was Bonnie Bryant's debut as a director (then, of course, known as "producer") for Wyong Drama Group. Unlike other directors, however, it was certainly not her last effort. The play opened in April 1967, and is your typical English farce. This play has been done by WDG three times (so far). Maxine Morris directed it in 1987, and Bonnie reprised it again (with Howard Oxley as co-director) in 1999. This production played on two days: Friday 21 April, and Saturday 22 April 1967.
​
A theatre man, who seeks a refuge in the country away from the women around him, makes his way to Cranberry Cottage with his leading man. They are met by a young girl who is standing in for her mother who is the housekeeper. Add a crazy camper and allow the wife and girlfriend to arrive with the son and you have the ingredients for a farce. The Camper, Mr Mole, steals the show with what he does with his shorts. The focus of the attention, Mr Charles Pentwick, overdoes all the attributes of the theatre man.
Article in an unknown newspaper posted by the group, on the desperate search for a specific prop (date unknown).
Article promoting the show in an unknown newspaper, most likely The Advocate (date unknown).
This play was the last production at the Wyong Youth Hall in Hely Street. It played for three nights, Thursday 8 April, Friday 9 April and Saturday 10 April 1965. On Monday 12 April the whole production was taken up to Morisset Psychiatric Hospital for a special performance for the patients only (not open to the public).
Fred Chapman as Mat and Ian Tasker as Bob
Fred Chapman as Mat, Pam Robinson as Jenny, Don Watson as Basil, Helen Marsonet as May, Ian Tasker as Bob and Jan Bailey as Pam
Watching the rehearsal (the last show in the Youth Hall): Mrs Chapman, an unknown young member, Bonnie Bryant and Gwen Clarke
Fred Chapman as Mat and Ian Tasker as Bob
Use the arrows to browse through the gallery for Bed of Roses Click the images to view them full-size.
Rose has convinced herself that she is an invalid and spends all her time lying on a couch with her husband Matt at her beck and call. Matt and the doctor devise a plan. Matt pretends to have injured his leg and when Rose gets up to tend to him he jumps on to the couch so that she is unable to resume her role as invalid.
PRODUCED BY:
Arthur Gleed
CAST:
JENNY PICKERSGILL - Pam Robinson
PAM PICKERSGILL - Jan Bailey
MRS . BLISDEN - Gladys Goldsworthy
BOB HUGGINS - Ian Tasker
ROSE PICKERSGIILL - Mildred Field
MAT PICKERSGILL - Fred Chapman
BASIL GRAVES - Don Watson
DR. RAHENY - John Worgan
MAY ROSSITER - Helen Marsonet
ARMS AND THE MAN
By George Bernard Shaw
Produced by Frank McKone
Performed August 1967
This is a very funny and quirky play by Shaw, outlining the futility of war, and the pragmatism employed by the soldiers fighting it. It also contains a story of rivalry for a woman's hand in marriage, and in the end, yes, the Man gets the girl. It was written in about 1890 and first performed in 1894, but it is almost as fresh today as it was when Shaw wrote it.
​
Captain Bluntschli, a professional soldier, practical and straightforward, with no romantic illusions, brings Raina down to the level of his worldliness and raises her to his level of understanding. Louka, a servant who aims at climbing the social ladder by her (his) cunning, knocks the romanticism out of Sergius.
Gwen Clarke playing Catherine Petkoff, talking with Major Paul Petkoff, portrayed by Arthur Gleed.
Mark Levenspiel as Nicola, getting the attention of Louka, played by Mary Smith
Shaw could not but help to see the funny side of these clashes of personality, while he seriously believed that the world must rid itself of the romantics - that only logical, scientific thinking can produce a sane and peaceful world. Therefore in his play, the anti-romantics win the day.
​
The play was produced by Frank McKone, a regular actor who finally got a gig as a director. He also produced an even older play She Stoops to Conquer a few years later in 1970. It played at Wyong on Friday 11 August and Saturday 12 August 1967.
Article in the Wyong News, 16 August 1967.
The show programme, and full script for Arms And The Man, can be accessed below:
PRODUCED BY:
Frank McKone
CAST:
RAINA PETKOFF - Anna Butchart
CAPTAIN BLUNTSCHLI - Howard Cassidy
RUSSIAN OFFICER - Alan Hicks
SERGIUS SARANOFF
- David Still
CATHERINE PETKOFF - Gwen Clarke
LOUKA - Mary Smith
NICOLA - Mark Levenspiel
PAUL PETKOFF - Arthur Gleed
SAILOR BEWARE
By Phillip King and Falkland L Cary
Produced by Rene Levenspiel
Performed November 1967
Rene Levenspiel was back after a hiatus and produced this classic English farce for us which played on Thursday 23 November and Friday 24 November 1967.
Newspaper article, probably in the Tuggerah Lakes News, possibly by Neville Goldsworthy, on or about 29 Nov 1967
Scroll through the gallery of production shots from Sailor Beware. Click on each image to expand them.
Note: Thank you to Les Turton for this photography. Apologies for any incorrect captions; identities were determined to the best of our abilities. Please use the 'Contact Us' button to help us correct any incorrect captions on this gallery, or any other images in our archives.
Sailor Beware was first produced on stage in 1955 and later made into a movie with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. It is, naturally, set in the navy and as a movie it was converted into a musical comedy. Because of a mix-up, Melvin Jones (in the movie, Jerry Lewis) is inducted into the Navy, despite his numerous allergies. When appearing on a TV show sponsored by a lipstick manufacturer, a series of bizarre circumstances cause him to be perceived as an irresistibly good kisser, and he is undeservedly hyped by the media as 'Mr ... Temptation'. His shipmates bet their pay that he can get sexy French chanteuse Corinne Calvet (appearing in the film as herself) to kiss him. Despite his allergy to kissing girls, he tries not to let them down - even though it threatens his relationship with his erstwhile girlfriend Hilda (who was played by Marion Marshall in the movie).
PRODUCED BY:
Rene Levenspiel
CAST:
EDIE - Beth Gingell
EMMA - Bonnie Bryant
MRS. LACK - Mildred Field
HENRY HORNETT - Ted Bryant
ALBERT TUFNELL - George Geatches
CARNOUSTIE BLIGH - Alan Hicks
DAPHNE PINK - Roslyn Lewis
SHIRLEY HORNETT - Mary Skidmore
REVEREND OLIVER PUREFOY - Bruno Marsonnet
LOVE'S A LUXURY (1967)
By Guy Paxton and Edward V Hoile
Produced by Bonnie Bryant
Performed April 1967
Article in an unknown newspaper posted by the group, on the desperate search for a specific prop (date unknown).
Article promoting the show in an unknown newspaper, most likely The Advocate (date unknown).
This play was the last production at the Wyong Youth Hall in Hely Street. It played for three nights, Thursday 8 April, Friday 9 April and Saturday 10 April 1965. On Monday 12 April the whole production was taken up to Morisset Psychiatric Hospital for a special performance for the patients only (not open to the public).
Fred Chapman as Mat and Ian Tasker as Bob
Fred Chapman as Mat, Pam Robinson as Jenny, Don Watson as Basil, Helen Marsonet as May, Ian Tasker as Bob and Jan Bailey as Pam
Watching the rehearsal (the last show in the Youth Hall): Mrs Chapman, an unknown young member, Bonnie Bryant and Gwen Clarke
Fred Chapman as Mat and Ian Tasker as Bob
Use the arrows to browse through the gallery for Bed of Roses Click the images to view them full-size.
PRODUCED BY:
CAST:
JENNY PICKERSGILL - Pam Robinson
PAM PICKERSGILL - Jan Bailey
MRS . BLISDEN - Gladys Goldsworthy
BOB HUGGINS - Ian Tasker
ROSE PICKERSGIILL - Mildred Field
MAT PICKERSGILL - Fred Chapman
BASIL GRAVES - Don Watson
DR. RAHENY - John Worgan
MAY ROSSITER - Helen Marsonet
LOVE'S A LUXURY (1967)
By Guy Paxton and Edward V Hoile
Produced by Bonnie Bryant
Performed April 1967
Colour photo of rehearsal action from Love's A Luxury.
This was Bonnie Bryant's debut as a director (then, of course, known as "producer") for Wyong Drama Group. Unlike some other directors, however, it was certainly not her last effort. The play opened in April 1967, and is your typical English farce. This play has been done by WDG three times (so far). Maxine Morris directed it in 1987, and Bonnie reprised it again (with Howard Oxley as co-director) in 1999. This production played on two days: Friday 21 April, and Saturday 22 April 1967.
​
A theatre man, who seeks a refuge in the country away from the women around him, makes his way to Cranberry Cottage with his leading man. They are met by a young girl who is standing in for her mother who is the housekeeper. Add a crazy camper and allow the wife and girlfriend to arrive with the son and you have the ingredients for a farce. The Camper, Mr Mole, steals the show with what he does with his shorts. The focus of the attention, Mr Charles Pentwick, overdoes all the attributes of the theatre man.
Article in an unknown newspaper posted by the group, on the desperate search for a specific prop (date unknown).
Article promoting the show in an unknown newspaper, most likely The Advocate (date unknown).
Article in an unknown newspaper promoting the show, in the week prior to opening (around 17-20 April, 1967).
Article from an unknown newspaper, published at a similar time to the article to the left.
Review by Neville Goldsworthy, from the Wyong & Tuggerah Lakes News, 26 April 1967.
Action from Love's A Luxury. Click the images in the gallery to view them full-size
PRODUCED BY:
Bonnie Bryant
CAST:
(Click photos to view full-size images)
ROLLIE - Goldie Geatches
MR. MOLE - Frank McKone
CHARLES PENTWICK - Aub Brown
FRITZY VILLERS -
Roslyn Lewis
MRS. HARRIS - Mildred Ede
DICK PENTWICK - Howard Cassidy
MOLLIE - Beverley Say
BOBBIE BENTLEY - George Geatches
MARGARET PENTWICK - Beth Gingell
DESERTED NIGHT
By T B Morris
Produced by Gwen Clarke
Performed April 1968
This play is a comedy-thriller for eight ladies and was produced in April 1968 by Gwen Clarke. It was presented on Friday 5 April and Saturday 6 April 1968. The action of the play takes place within the ruined walls of an ancient building in the Arabian desert.