Two plays staged by Compton Players

The Compton Players presented an evening of contrast on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with the three-act play* The Monkey’s Paw by W W Jacobs, in serious mood and the one-act play, The Bow Breaks** by Gwyn Clark, a comedy.
*one-act **incorrect title

The first was clouded with impending doom as the play developed and the wishes granted by the monkey’s paw would have been better never wished at all. The elderly couple played by Dick Greenfield and Margaret Pilkington had the difficult task of portraying old age which came off quite well and the clever inter-play between mother and son, M. Pilkington and Roger Gray was convincing. Peter Monger as Sergeant-Major Morris added a colourful member to the otherwise sombre scene.

The appearance of Tom Stephens, as bringer of sad news, was a study in restraint and sympathy and finely spoken as is always the case with this talented actor.

The cast maintained the drama of the play well in spite of an unsympathetic audience who were obviously unfamiliar with this play.

Sound effects and scenery all helped to build up tension and eventual tragedy.

Before the second play, the audience was entertained by a very personable, slick and polished performer, Brian Bowness, who showed much talent in his ability in miming and putting over a joke well.

Romans, Druids and “olive-skinned” maidens in a secret Druid Grove was the setting of the second play and fertility rites, the theme. A chuckle from beginning to end admirably played by Mike Yates and John Thomas as the two stalwart centurions, Katherine Jones as the “Silurian Seductress,” Margaret Pilkington, her “Still-living-in-hopes” mother and Peter Monger as the red-haired progenitor of so many red-haired children –Druid!

M.T.