Mexborough and Swinton Times March 10, 1939
“Thark” – Wombwell Thespians in Farce – Lively Humour
A scene from Wombwell Thespians’ production of “Thark.”
Comedy is evidently the strong suit of the Wombwell Thespians Amateur Dramatic Society who this week-end are making the most of the diverting inanities of Ben Travers’ farce “Thark”. Last night they played before an enthusiastic and discriminating audience, ii and will give further performances tonight (Friday) and tomorrow night.
The Society is carrying a rapidly increasing membership and have given leading places in “Thark” to several players who previously have had only minor parts.
The humour of “Thark” verges on the impudence to which the “leftist “members of an eye brow lifting Purity League might object and clumsy handling of the various delicate situations might have had banal consequences. Under Mr Arthur Bradley’s skilful direction the insinuations are nicely glossed with historic subtleties. The technical skill of Mr. J. Schofield as stage manager is no small factor in the success of this offering.
William H. Grant makes a welcome return to the amateur stage with a robustly enjoyable presentation of the engaging knavery of sly old Sir Hector Benbow, Bart, M.F.H. He is most successfully teamed with Jack Guest in the role of Ronald Gamble, a role offering the latter full scope for his amazing mobility of mood, gesture and expression. Pearl Hollings is just that ultra-smart “turn-out” which Travers visualised in his Cherry Buck, and her first big part with the Thespians is especially well done.
Winifred Turner’s Kitty Stratton is pleasing work, her speaking being an object lesson.
Jean Johnson gives a well studied Lady Benbow, combined with a first class sense of climax. High marks in this entertainment go to Maurice Bee-vers who gives an appropriately “wooden’ interpretation of the butler Hook. His facial contortions and conventionally of movement and expression are superbly done.
Alfred Barber as the gloomy Jones succeeds from the very beginning in making the flesh of the audience creep. He has got just the right vein and tempo. The rigidity and frigidity of the “no longer young” is successfully achieved by Annie M. Davies as Mrs. Frush. She is fully equal to one of the most difficult pieces of characterisation in the show. Pleasing works is accomplished by Dorothy Rusling as Warner a pert maid, and Ernest Hinchcliffe and Kenneth Thompson as Lionel Frush and Whittle.
Altogether it is a fine piece of comedy, vigorously and pleasingly served. There are musical interludes by Mrs. Lowcock, Mrs. Beevers, and Mrs. F. Barnes.