Birth of a new Wateringbury amateur dramatic club (1902)

Post date: Dec 21, 2011 4:53:25 PM

The following is an extract from The Wateringbury parish magazine of March 1902:

It is rather late in the day to dwell upon the success of Mrs. Southwell-Sander's Theatricals, but we must compliment her upon it, and thank all the members of her company for their share in it. Mrs. S. Sander and Miss Churchill played a very affecting duologue with much force, and the latter lady gave a patriotic recitation that was much appreciated. Between the two pieces Mr. Charles Pine sang a couple of irresistibly funny songs.—(The Vicar asked Mr. Pine to come and sing again on the evening of the 2nd prox., but he wrote to say that he had "an engagement with another clergyman on that day." We hear he is about to be married ! and wish him happiness). In that old but never stale farce Ici on parle Francais. Mr. Blest and Mrs. Eowe, as the would-be lodging-house keeper and his wife, who had evidently known better days, Miss Curtis, who played her role as daughter well by being just her natural self, Dr. S. Sander, as the very irate major, and Mrs. Gerald Warde, as his innocent wife, Mr. Lance White, whose Frenchy appearance and broken English were 'as to the manner born,' and lastly Mrs. S. Sander herself, inimitable as the drudge—well, we should like to pay them compliments one and all, but enough to say that such talent was displayed as to warrant the Vicar's expression of a hope that that evening marked the birth of a new " Wateringbury Amateur Dramatic Club."

A sum of £6 odd was handed over for the rooms after payment of expenses—but, of course, out of that sum conies the cost of purchasing scenery, and making foot-lights, etc., which will form part of the permanent furniture of the rooms.

The vicar at this time was Rev Greville Livett and the reference to 'the rooms' refers to the new Parish Church rooms which had just been built on Glebe land on the site of the present Village Hall. For further information on the history of the village hall refer to 'About Wateringbury' (pages 5 to 11). In his comments on previous amateur dramatic 'entertainments' in the village the vicar had been less wholehearted in his enthusiasm!