Much Ado About Nothing - Dramatic Society Production 9th-11th November, 1950
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
| Leonato (Governor of Messina) | Michael Bristow |
| Antonio (His Brother) | Brian Wilson |
| Hero (Leonato's Daughter) | Jennifer Preston |
| Beatrice (Leonato's Niece) | Elizabeth Bishop |
| Margaret (Their gentlewoman) | David Jones |
| Ursula (Their gentlewoman) | John Simpson |
| Don Pedro (Prince of Arragon) | James Henderson |
| Benedick (Young Lord of Padua) | Richard Burnett |
| Claudio (Young Lord of Florence) | Tom Moore |
| Don John (Pedro's Brother) | Michael Rose |
| Correade (His Follower) | Michael Casemore |
| Borachio (His Follower) (The Drunkard) | Alan Thompson |
| Dogberry (Constable) | Barry Clifton |
| Virgus (Headborough) | Bernard Conrall |
| Watch 1 | Ian Greenhalgh |
| George Seacale (Watch 2) | Anthony Hodge |
| Francis Seacale (Sexton) | Tom Howe |
| Friar Francis | Bryan Seagrove |
| Boy, Messenger, and Page | Peter Kettle |
| Directed by | Mr. H. J. Mees |
| Scenery by | D. Jones and K. Spelding |
| Lighting by | Wayte & Ridley |
| Stage Staff | Spelding, Snow, Norman |
| Loudspeaker equipment kindly loaned by Keith Wilson and operated by Myall. | |
"Much Ado About Nothing" has not been seen in the School, apart from in the examination syllabus, for eighteen years.
It is impossible to make mention of all who contributed to the excellence of the production, for the direction of which Mr. H. J. Mees is to be especially complimented. By its confidence, the cast was master of the audiences, which, for two of the three performances, filled the hall. The attention did not flag, for the words were clear, and the movement natural. Beatrice and Benedick played by Elizabeth Bishop and Richard Burnett, as once by Ellen Terry and Henry Irving, set the pace of the whole play, and were especially well-cast. Michael Bristow, as Leonato, executed a difficult part with ease, and yet with feeling, and Michael Rose as Don John the Bastard, suitably attired, was admirably following his spleen. Jennifer Preston and Tom Moore played their rather insipid parts as Hero and Claudio modestly, and James Henderson played the generous, match-making Prince, Don Pedro, with suitable carriage. In smaller roles, Barry Clifton and Bryan Seagrove were especially good. The one as Dogberry, commanded by his loud-mouthed pomposity, the other, as friar Francis, by his well-modulated tone and solemn bearing. None of the supporting characters spoiled the performance by stiffness. "Well done!" to Brian Wilson as Antonio, David Jones and John Simpson as Margaret and Ursula, Michael Casemore and Alan Thompson as Correade and Borachio, Bernard Conrall as Virgus, Ian Greenhalgh and Anthony Hodge as the watch (accents well maintained), Tom Howe as Sexton, and Peter Kettle in several small parts.
A. B. A.
The Old Gaytonians Dramatic Society ... "loaned" to us two of their young ladies to take the femaile leads in our production. Mr. Attridge also must be thanked for giving up so much of his valuable time in order to "make up" for us.
from The Gaytonian, December 1950