Ely High School 1905-1972
"I HAVE FIVE DAUGHTERS".
by
Margaret Macnamara.CHARACTERS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE.
Mary Brenda White Elizabeth Bennet Ann Dobson Jane Bennet Margaret Dixon Lyndia Bennet Katherine Humphreys Kitty Hazel Smith Mrs. Bennet Jennifer Drake Charlotte Lucas Evelyn [Carol] Bidwell Mr. Bennet Christine Bell Mr. Bingley Judith Chapman Mr. Darcy Jill Burroughs Mr. Collins Lynda Butt Miss Bingley Janet Robinson Lady Catherine de Bourgh Christine Ellis Servant Shirley Brown. Directed by Miss P. Brook
Costumes by Nathan of London.
Wardrobe Mistress - Eleanor Taggart.
Set painted by Katherine Humphreys
and members of the Sixth Form.
Furniture by Pettits of Ely.
Lighting - Christine Ellis, Alayne Hoather.
Make-up - Sixth Form.
Prompter - Jane Smith.The Sixth Form wish to acknowledge the help of all others, not mentioned above who have made this production possible.
Coffee will be served after the third scene.
Standing: Janet Robinson - Lynda Butt - Christine Ellis - Shirley
Brown (servant) - Jill Burroughs - Judith Chapman - Brenda White
- Maureen Smith - Kathryn Humphreys - Christine Bell
Seated/kneeling: Carol Bidwell - Ann Dobson - Margaret Dixon -
Jennifer Drake
programme & photo source: Jackie Sotheran (Bidwell)
IDs: Christine Fuller (Bell)
from the May 1962 Ely High School Magazine
I Have Five Daughters - 1961 Sixth Form production
This play, an adaptation of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" was prepared and performed during the final few weeks of the summer term by a combined effort of members of the sixth forms, under the experienced direction of Miss Brook.
The large and enthusiastic audiences were provided with plenty of humour in the fast moving dialogue which had a most pleasant background in period setting, designed and painted by members of the cast.
Ann Dobson, as the vivacious Elizabeth Bennett, was, as all the players were, well cast. She presented the character with an intelligent variation between sparkling sophistication and delightfully feminine change of mind. Jill Burroughs gave a polished performance as the handsome and aristocratic Mr. Darcy, who beneath his outward show of pride, subtly indicated the shyness and likeability in the character.
The talkative and overbearing Mrs. Bennett, striving throughout the play to have her daughters married, was played with an excellent sense of comedy by Jennifer Drake. Her eldest daughter Jane (Margaret Dixon) offered a striking contrast in her sweet nature and good breeding to the near vulgarity of her boisterous younger sister Lydia (Katherine Humphreys).
Christine Bell as the ironical Mr. Bennett played her first stage part with gentle cynicism and unruffled good humour and Linda Butt as the pompous clergyman, Mr. Collins, succeeded in indicating his moral indignation, together with his awe of his aristocratic associates.
These characters were well supported by Evelyn Bidwell as the tolerant and unromantic Charlotte Lucas; Janet Robinson as the haughty Miss Bingley; Judith Chapman as her good humoured brother Charles; while Christine Ellis gave a militant rendering of the haughty and domineering Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Many other people contributed to making this production enjoyable and worthwhile.
ANON.
Cambridgeshire Times, Friday July 28th 1961
HIGH STANDARD MAINTAINED ...
... by Ely High School PlayThe high standard achieved in recent years by the dramatic productions at Ely High School was certainly maintained by the Sixth Form's presentation of an adaptation of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" entitled "I have five daughters" last week.
The play, performed before an enthusiastic and appreciative audience on Thursday week, and before parents and friends on Friday and Saturday, portrayed plenty of humour in the fast moving dialogue and action, which had a most pleasant background in period setting, designed and painted by members of the cast.
One of the main reasons for the success of the venture was that all the players were well cast, and three of the leading roles were played by girls who showed a natural instinct for stage movement and timing.
Ann Dobson displayed mature understanding in the elegant portrayal of the witty and vivacious Elizabeth Bennet, presenting the character with an intelligent variation between sparkling ophistication and a delightfully feminine change of mind.
POLISHED PERFORMANCE
Her role was well complented by a polished performance by Jill Burroughs as the handsome and aristocratic Mr. Darcy. Beneath the outward hauteur in this portrayal there was a subtle indication of the shyness and likeability in the character.
The talkative and overbearing Mrs. Bennet, striving throughout the play to get her daughters married, was played with forceful verve and an excellent sense of comedy by Jennifer Drake. Her performance was nicely gauged in its blend of endearing motherly anxiety and its display of sheer histrionics.
Margaret Dixon gave a sensitive picture of the sweet nature and good breeding of Jane, the eldest Bennet daughter, in contrast to the near vulgarity of her boisterous younger sister Lydia, played with an attractive charm and coquettishness by Katherine Humphreys.
EXCELLENT DEBUT
Few would have guessed that the ironical Mr. Bennet was Christine Bell's first stage part. It was played with gentle cynicism and unruffled good humour. Mr. Collins is a character part with interesting possibilities and Lynda Butt succeeded in indicating this pompous clergyman's moral indignation, together with his awe of his best aristocratic associates.
The tolerant and unromantic Charlotte Lucas was played by Evelyn Bidwell, with quiet control, and the sneering haughtiness of Miss Bingley was well conveyed in Janet Robinson's bearing and tone.
Judith Chapman conveyed the unobtrusive good breeding and good humour of Charles Bingley with ease and charm, while Christine Ellis gave a militant rendering of the haughty and domineering Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Good expression and movement was seen not only in the principal characters, but also in the minor ones of Kitty, Mary and the Servant, played respectively by Hazel Smith, Brenda White and Shirley Brown.
The lighting was supervised by Christine Bell and Alayne Hoather, and the wardrobe by Eleanor Taggart and Susan Bunnett. The valuable though thankless task of prompter was performed by Jane Smith.
Congratulations are due once more to Miss P. R. Brook, the producer for a most praiseworthy and enjoyable performance.
Pictured above are members of the cast. They are (left to right) Janet Robinson, Evelyn Bidwell (curtseying), Lynda Butt. Christine Ellis, Ann Dobson (curtseying), Shirley Brown, Jill Burroughs, Judith Chapman, Margaret Dixon, Brenda. White, Jennifer White (curtseying), Hazel Smith, Katharine Humphreys and Christine Bell.
(Photo: W. A. G. Burroughs, Soham).
cutting source: Jackie Sotheran (Bidwell)
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