(Harrow County School plays, reviewed on March 30, 1961 by the Harrow Observer and Gazette)
As part of Harrow county Boys' School's golden jubilee celebrations, the school dramatic society last week presented two contrasting plays, a religious drama, "Samson Agonistes," by John Milton, and a Sheridan comedy entitled "The Critic." Both showed a high standard of production and acting.
The first play, with its lengthy harangues and monologues by the principals, could have been somewhat shortened without losing effect, although the delivery was both interesting and expressive. Effects were good and costumes excellent.
Graham Morris in the title role extracted all the agony of the unhappy character and Peter Gold as Manoah had good expression and timing. Telling his story with effect Malcolm Ingram as the Hebrew messenger kept the audience in the picture created by the offstage effects and noises.
Clive Newton and Jeremy Dicker led the chorus speaking with clarity and guest actress Marilyn Springer from the County Girls' School showed fire and attack as Delilah.
Stealing the scene very often, yet not speaking a word, was the attentive attendant to Samson played by Robert Locker.
Excellent support was given by Nicholas Hewlitt, derek Morris, David Zideman, Martin Norwood, Geoffrey Weedon, Sandy McLachlan, Nicholas de Lange, David Combie, Martin Balls, Christopher randall, Steven Rose, Roger Kraushaar, Anthony Coxhill, Ray Barnes, David Franks, Richard Curtis, Brian Bilgorri, Anthony Mansell, Harry Levine, Barry Jolly, Peter Rapaport, Ian Page, Peter Pearse, Lawrence Lando, and John Howard.
"The Critic" was staged complete with sinking ships and naval battles on stage in a most effective manner and full marks to the production team led by Mr. J. S. Golland.
In the principal roles a nice balance was obtained between the characters. Another guest from the girls' school was Rosemary Pratt playing Mrs. Dangle with a nice petulance. Robert Bassett insinuated the true meaning of the role into Mr. Sneer finding good foils in both the Sir Fretful, of Roland Grace and Mr. Dangle characterized by Graham Pearson.
Francis Pugh certainly had the "airy-fairy" Mr. Puff at his fingertips but all of them had to watch that scene stealer Michael Owen playing the manservant.
In the "play within a play" the best performance of the whole evening undoubtedly came from Michael Armstrong as Tiburina. this was a masterful piece of female impersonation very well abetted by steven Rose as Confidante.
Malcolm Ingram as Don Ferolo and Colin Hunter as the mysterious beefeater also added to the fun assisted by Christopher Randall, Anthony Coxhill, Michael Jiggins, Michael Fulton, Nicholas Hewlitt, David Hawksley, Nicholas de Lange, Sandy MacLachlan, Wiliam Davies, Ronald Berg, David Backhouse, Gabrielle Serota, Anthony Mansell, Howard Friend, Andrew Middleton, Robert Anderson, Roger Gold, Phillip Rose, Barry Jolly, David Zideman, Eric Gilliard, Robert Locker, Martin Wallace, David Franks, Andrew Smith, Brian Edwards, Anthony Mansell, Jonathan Hall, Christopher Rocker, Richard Curtis, Peter Pearse, Roy Parnell and Roger Kraushaar.