The Dover Week has done all things well enough
in turn, but this year its theatricals have stepped into the front rank and
provided local ‘honest self respect’ with the ‘very best’ which it is obviously entitled to do.
Mr Lionel Kilby deserves every congratulation for the production of Gilbert
and Sullivan’s ‘HMS Pinafore’ by the corps of Dover amateurs under his direction.
The flowing and natural way in
which the whole company acted and sang, the brightness of the scenery and costumes,
and the perfect orchestra – members of the RIR Band – under the baton of Major
C H C Heyman, combined to produce an effect that took one back to memories of
seeing it at the Savoy, and no one not feeling that scorn, akin to snobbery,
for anything performed outside of London, could find much to criticise, even
after comparison with the very home of Gilbert and Sullivan. London, however,
is an extraordinary place, for with a whole catalogue of masterpieces by our
princes of comic opera at command, to provide perennially with music and song
and laughter, they are neglected, and Europe is searched to find productions
that are often nothing more nor less than wretched failure.
The highest praise to be thought of may well be given to the production
of ‘HMS Pinafore’, at Dover from an all round point of view.
That is where it scored. The
principals were good, but it would be fulsome flattery certainly not likely
to be appreciated by their ‘honest self-respect’ (as ‘Sir Joseph Porter’) styles
the quality which allows ‘Ralf Rackstraw’ to dub himself the best ‘top-man’
in the fleet. Mr C Martin, as ‘Sir
Joseph Porter, KCB, First Lord of the Admiralty’, was undoubtedly the greatest
individual success of the play in that clever and well-conceived part. The late Sir William Gilbert never wrote a cleverer skit on
political life , and one more thoroughly endorsed by public sentiment – but
paid less attention to – than the songs and utterances of ‘Sir Joseph’.
Meant in the 70’s for the late Right Hon. W H Smith, it seems likely
to apply for all time, especially at a time when it is possible for a big London
paper to write in all seriousness that ‘the idea of government with experts
at the head of each department is now quite exploded’.
‘Sir Joseph’s’ advice, ‘stick tight to your desks and never go sea, and
you’ll be ruler of the Queen’s Navy’, and his description of his rise from being
attorney’s boy to his eminent position, caused plenty of fun.
Mr C Martin played the part splendidly.
Mrs Lionel Kilby, as ‘Josephine’, the Captain’s daughter, looked well,
acted well, and sang well, whether in solos, duets or trios. Mr A G wynne as ‘Capt. Corcoran’, delivered himself of his
celebrated song, ‘I’m Captain of the Pinafore’ splendidly.
As a naval officer Mr Wynne was made up faultlessly.
‘Ralph Rackstraw’, the humble tar, but ‘type of manly beauty’, who loves
Josephine, was played by Major McCheane, and right well did he do it.
His voice is a good tenor, and in the two or three ballads and duets
in mock grand opera style, he alone or with Mrs Kilby, sang very well.
The ‘Little Buttercup’ of Mrs Adamson, was a part done adequate justice
to, and her singing too was very good.
Mr A J Hopson, as the morose ‘Dick Deadeye’, was just right, and added
much to the fun of the piece. Mr
A V lester made a smart middy. Mr
H R Geddes, as the carpenter’s mate, looked the bean-ideal of a stout and hearty
Petty Officer. Mr E A Taylor, as
‘Bill Bobstay, the Botswain’s Mate’, was also a typical man-o-warsman. To him is allotted the well-sung song ‘For he is an Englishman’,
the swining chorus of which is one of the best known bits from the music of
‘HMS Pinafore’. As ‘Hebe’, Miss
Kathleen Downes was excellent as the first of Sir Joseph Porter’s fair army
of very, very prettily dressed sisters, cousins and aunts that invade ‘HMS Pinafore’.
Their entry made a fine spectacular effect and their singing was very
good. Those responsible for these
parts were as follows:- Mrs F de W Lushington, Mrs Curtis Raleigh, Mrs A E Wynne,
and the Misses Adams, Birch, Carroll, V Churchill, Dixon, Gassen, Grant, Leigh,
Lucas, Pankhurst, Seys-Howell, Thompson, Underdown and E C Wood.
The singing of the chorus by sailors and marines was one of the features
of the evening. Some of the best
voices in Dover’s various choirs had been obtained, and the result was pretty
well perfect. This chorus was as
follows:- Capt. Eastwood and Messrs R Akhurst, K Barlow, J Beckett, E J Chamberlain,
T H Cuff, C Davidson, N Godfrey, F G Hayward, B J Herrington, E C Herring, J
W Hover, W F Howe, E Curtis Raleigh, F N James, E J Stacey, A J Taylor, Noel
Tutt, G Walsh, E H White and E Whettingstall.
It is quite impossible to mention all the good things that the joint
chorus were responsible for, but the pot-pourri of the piece which formed the
finale was one of the brightest things imaginable.
It has already been mentioned that ‘HMS Pinafore’,
which was performed by permission of Mrs D’Oyley Carte, was performed under
the direction and stage management of Mr Lionel Kilby, and with Major Heyman
as musical director. The dances
were arranged by Mrs Lionel Kilby. Dr
Ord was assistant stage manager, Mr P Hart business manager, Mr H H Ford prompter
– this work to outsiders seemed a sinecure – and Mr H W Youden added the work
of secretary to the production to his general secretarial duties for the week.
The comic-opera was preceeded by a one-act comedy ‘Only Amateurs’, in which the parts were ‘Kitty Clive’, Miss Beatrice Adams, and ‘Basil Jackson’, Mr E A Taylor. It was smartly acted by both, and gained well-merited applause.
At the close,
amid tumults of applause, bouquets were presented to Mrs Kilby, Mrs Adamson,
Miss Downes, and amid additional applause from the performers, no doubt in recognition
of her lengthy period of service at the rehearsals etc, to Miss V Mann, who
kindly acted as pianist. The curtain
had to be raised for quite a number of recalls before the audience were satisfied
with the amount of appreciation that had been shown, and at the finish the performers
themselves gave a hearty three cheers for the orchestra which the Royal Rifles
Band certainly deserved for their performance.
Programmes were sold by a number of lady volunteers,
who in the interval went round in regular London theatre style with boxes of
confectionery (supplied by the Opera Box, Dover). This corps included:- Miss Gladys Barr, Miss Marjorie Darracott,
Miss Winnie Downs, Miss Sybil Heyman, Miss Vera Keating, Miss Lilian Napier,
Miss Sugden and Mrs Gladys Wood.
A special cover was designed for the programme by Miss Helen Thoyts. The scenery was by Messrs J T Bull and Son, London; costumes etc by Messrs L & H Natham, London, and Mr George Hatton, Dover; lighting by the Borough Electricity Department, and make-ups by Mr E Lamidey, Dover.
The booking of seats was undertaken by Messrs Goulden and Wind, but a large number of local gentlemen kindly acted as stewards.