The Happiest Days of Your Life

Taken from the Wharfedale and Airedale Observer, Thursday March 13, 2008

New recruits prove to be a class act in school farce – The Happiest Days of Your Life by Menston Thespians

Last year this small but talented group of players had to consider the possibility of having to close down due to a lack of members and support – despite only having celebrated the Menston Thespians’ 50th anniversary in 2006. They have a reputation for attaining a high standard in their productions and in particular the plays they perform. It is great to see that they are able to continue. After asking for help the group attracted an influx of new acting members and also backstage support. Six of the acting recruits are taking part in this latest production.

The Happiest Days of Your Life is a farce which was first performed in 1948 at the Apollo Theatre, London. But most people will remember the film which came out in 1950 and starred Alastair Sim, Margaret Rutherford and Joyce Grenfell. It concerns a very conservative boys’ boarding school who are told they must accommodate another school. The masters, thinking of course this is another boys’ school, are obviously horrified when they learn they have to share their premises with a girls’ school plus headmistress and female staff. The ensuing mayhem can be imagined.

The play is obviously nothing like the film. Visually mayhem etc. has to be imagined by the audience and we are left with the actors on stage explaining with amusing dialogue and comings and goings what is happening. The action is set in the masters’ common room. This was an excellent set designed and built by two stalwarts of the society, John Howell and Rae Barker. There was good movement and direction at all times and the production was by Joan Newman.

Not only have the group been lucky in attracting new players but they are also lucky to have some established players who are long standing members. Notably John Howell who plays the senior assistant master, Rupert Billings, Rae Barker as the school porter and Tony Wade who is cast as the headmaster. All three turned in excellent performances. There was also a fine performance from Phil Howell as one of the young masters who falls in love with a teacher of the girls’ schoolplayed nicely by Kirsty Armstrong.

There was a commanding performance from Sarah Hobson in what I would presume was the role once played by Margaret Rutherford, as headmistress. She was strident and forcible in a “get out of my way you hopeless men” kind of way. Penny Richards, one of the newcomers, was very good in the opposite character of Miss Gossage. Jack Margerison and Julia Bettison as pupils were both valuable assets to the cast as were Jeremy Davis, Lauren Shaw, Adrian Miller and Sharon Howell as Reverend Peck, Mrs. Peck, Mr. Sowter and Mrs. Sowter.

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