“WOLF WHISTLES and catcalls greeted the rise of the curtain on the opening night of “Merrie England” presented by the Queen’s Boys’ School, Wisbech, on Tuesday and Wednesday. The reason was the appearance of a chorus of cherry-dimpled dollies, suitably be-wigged and gowned. It was for this reason more than any other that the School’s Dramatic Society scored such a tremendous success. For the mums and dads in the audience it was a continuous source of amazement that the “sweet young thing” in the front row of the chorus was their son.
“A dish fit to set before a queen!“
said the newspaper report, written by Chris Peacock, for the Wisbech Standard, December 16th, 1966
“The masters too, took some recognising, particularly as they had all sprouted particularly fine beards for the occasion. “Merrie England” is very much an embroidered tapestry of Old England that sets out in words and music to re-create the colourful traditions of former glories.
“As Elizabeth I, Pauline Bambridge was very much the star of the show. As the Great Virgin Queen, she looked quite superb – it was like seeing Bette Davis all over again!
“Mr Peter Moore sang charmingly as Sir Walter Raleigh, and Paul Watson quite stole our by hearts as Jill All-Alone. Peter Eveson gave a masterful performance as Walter Wilkins, the pantomime fop. I loved his walk, but found the continuous gestures with the flower in the opening act a trifle tedious.
“Stuart Carnson and Mr Robert Bambridge made a very dashing pair of royal foresters, and Paul Skells looked smasjhing as the May Queen. It was when we heard him speak that he rather gave the game away. There were good performances from Mr A Ingram as the Earl of Essex and Timothy Alberts as Bessie Throckmorton. My congratulations to the producer, Mrs Audrey Carnson on a splendid show. The mums, too, did a marvellous job with the costumes.
“Others taking part in the cast were Christopher Worley, Clive Brooks. Trevor Gibbs, Mr D Whitney, Stephen Laws, Martyn Bloodworth, · Glynn Tilbrook, Paul Batterbee, Stephen Fisher Colin Jimson, and Andrew Leet. ‘ The orchestra, who are to be congratulated on a very spirited performance, consisted of Mrs C Andrews (piano), Mr S Hall (trumpet), Mr G Naylor (violin), Mr W Whitfield (clarinet) and Mr S Frisby (French horn). The settings were by Mr B D Clements and Mr David Harriman, On Monday, the pupils invited 45 old people to the dress rehearsal and afterwards gave them tea.”
I remember going along to see some of this – I don’t have many clear memories, but I do remember that they were all having a really good time, and the boys were very kind to me (the young daughter of one of their fiercest teachers, Mrs Carnson, my Mum!)
