Choral Society

This year our Choral Society joined with Queen Anne's Choral Society to perform Part I of Handel's Messiah in Chapel at an end of term concert. Practices were held in the Memorial Hall at 4.0 p.m. on Thursdays and, once the initial shyness had been overcome, we got down to some enthusiastic singing. At first there were not as many men (i.e. tenors and basses) as we would have wished for, but later, with the help of a few masters, a satisfactory balance was obtained. Next term Stanford's "Songs of the Fleet" will be sung and new members will be welcomed for what promises to be both interesting work and a very enjoyable get-together.

R.M.C.

SCHOOL PLAY

SIX MEN OF DORSET

CAST

George Loveless

A: N. LAWRENCE

Betsy Loveless, his wife

G. A. R. WARNOCK Jinnie 1 P. A. Sam Neddy their children N. D. BRISCOE Little Georgie N. GRAY James Loveless R. J. CARSON Thomas Stanfield P. R. STANSFIELD John Stanfield M. H. DRUCQUER James Brine C. J. BROWN James Hammett "R. C. SPENCE Bob Dominy, a poacher

Susan Morris A. G. B. PERKS

S. D. JEFFREY

Edward Legg, the informer The Squire Dr. Warren Farmer Bryant Farmer Case Farmer Duffet William Cobb

. J. T. MORLEY M. G. V. STEPHENSON J. FENDER R. ASHBURN J. D. HARRISON M. G. B. HEPWORTH T. J. YOUNG

Harry Brown Mr. Frampton Mr. Wollaston Constable Brine Judge Baron Williams Mr. Gambier Mr. Butt Clerk of the Court Mrs. Wetham

Robert Owen

M. W. BAINBRIDGE S. J. PARKER R. H. H000soN

F. T. GOODER R. F. HORNBY G. HODGSON R. T. S. YOUNG G. A. HUNT

B. C. MACARTNEY M. E. BAILEY

Thomas Wakley, M.P. The Rev. Dr. Wade, D.D. Pocock

E. R. WALKER R. ASHBURN P. H. RIVERS Master of the Convict Settlement J. R. WILLIAMSON

The Overseer

Three Convicts

J. D. HARRISON I. A. GILL

R. D. MACLEOD JJJ C. D. MCAINSH

Producer: MR. P. M. NIXON Stage Manager: S. W. St.J. Oliver Set Designed by Mr. J. C. Brown, Mr. J. Gaastra and Mr. J. Maw Set Constructed by S. W. St.J. Oliver, S. R. Bell and D. C. Smith Advised and Assisted by Mr. R. Hawkins Set Painted by J. M. Pearson, D. C. Smith, S. R. Bell, P. Beddoes and A. G. Sherriff Lighting by G. S. Clarkson, D. C. Fatheringham and R. F. Hamby Advised by Mr. R. H. Hubbard and P. Holmes Properties: Mr. P. G. Feek and C. G. Robertshaw Make-up: Mrs. R. C. T. Hall, Mr. P. D. R. Gardiner, Mr. D. K. Exham, J. A. G. Craven, J. Whittle, J. C. P. N. Lightowler and M. S. Bidgood Costumes Arranged by Mrs. P. M. Nixon Wardrobe Master: F. T. Gooder Wardrobe Assistant: J. D. Willis Dressers: Mrs. P. M. Nixon and Mrs. K. G. Coulthard Prompter: C. W. Kidd Scene Shifters: T. H. Stead, G. E. Park, A. P. Pollard and N. C. Foley Curtain: R. J. Dunk Publicity and Programme: Mr. R. T. Pullin and J. A. G. Craven "SIX MEN OF DORSET" The action takes place in the early 1830's. Acr I

Scene 1. A room in George Loveless's cottage in Tolpuddle, Dorset. Scene 2. A few days later. The same room. Scene 3. A few days later. A room at Dr. Warren's Parsonage. Scene 4. Two years later. The room in George Loveless's cottage. Acr II

Scene 1. The cottage. Scene 2. The Parsonage.

10 minute Interval Acr III Scene 1. The Court House, Dorchester. Brief Interval

Scene 2. The cottage. Scene 3. The campaign office in the Tottenham Court Road, London. Scene 4. A convict settlement in Van Diemen's Land.

The year is 1834. In the industrial North, children, little more than babies, labour from five in the morning until ten at night for 3/71d. a week. Their parents, fearful of losing their own jobs if the whole family does not present itself for work each morning, fretfully pummel the children into exhausted wakefulness, rush them through their no-breakfast, and half drag, half carry them to the factory, the mill, or the mine. Captains of industry make huge fortunes while those they employ live— and die—amid crushing poverty.

In the country, conditions are scarcely better, and the law is barbaric. In Hamphire a farmhand is hanged for "stealing" an anonymous, scrawny, stray sheep to feed his starving family of seven. In London a boy of ten is executed for taking two coins whose combined value is fourpence—a piece of arithmetic he could not begin to cope with. In the Dorsetshire village of Tolpuddle, George Loveless, a farmworker, and his friends suffer the shameful symmetry of the seven day, seven shilling week. Today, less than 140 years later, let those who think that the Union's have become too strong and the law too weak ponder these obscenities. "Six Men of Dorset" tells the story of the Tolpuddle martyrs, six farm labourers who were sentenced to transportation at Dorchester Assizes in 1834 for their part in forming an early trade union which was more akin to a mutual friendly society in times of need. Though originally written for the stage, the play is best known as a radio drama: it certainly presents problems in the way of movement, grouping, and stage business, demanding a high degree of imagination and inventiveness on the part of the producer. It is scarcely surprising then, that in the production there were a few moments when one could have wished for more movement, when the action became rather static and the words a debate.

Wisely, Mr. Nixon had decided that in the relatively short time at his disposal—barely seven weeks—his priorities must be clear, firm delivery of lines and sensitive feeling for character. In both •these aims he succeeded admirably, and the result was a production greatly enjoyed by audience and cast alike.

Outstanding in a cast of over 40 was A. N. Lawrence as George Loveless. This was a remarkably assured performance, always commanding and frequently very moving in its portrayal of integrity, quiet conviction, and inner strength. R. T. S. Young delivered a powerful and impassioned plea as Counsel for the Defence, and G. A. R. Warnock gave a sensitive performance in the difficult role of Betsy, Loveless's wife. There is much to be said in favour of a boy playing the female lead, but lines such as, "I couldn't live without you Betsy," delivered with the length of a massive looking "oak" refectory table separating the lovers are not likely to convince and might be better omitted!

Memorable cameos were presented by B. C. Macartney as the formidably self-important Mrs. Wetham, and by P. H. Rivers as a whining and defeated transportee.

Impressive sets ranged from the Lovelesses' simple cottage and the more sumptuous Parson's house, to the court of the Dorchester Assize and the convict settlement on Van Diemen's land. A hard-working and efficient stage crew coped manfully with no less than ten scene changes and the wardrobe department achieved some pleasing effects especially in the trial scene and in the colourful cravats of the London gentlemen.

Coincidentally, the play was performed during a week when the National Union of Agricultural Workers was pressing for a minimum wage of £16 and a 40-hour week. At a time when the National Average Wage for a manual worker is £24 a week, the farmworker receives a minimum of £12 for a 44-hour week. They were offered a minimum of £13 and a 43-hour week: perhaps things have not changed so much, after all.