castlist

Dear David,

Old Askeans……from Rodney Bennett (rigsbet@tinyonline)

I have come across a copy of a school play from 1951

Hoping it may be of some interest…and not too long

A TALE OF ASKE

By

ROBERT FURNIVAL

Being an erstwhile Scholar and Usher

A Tedious Briefe Historie of the Askean

Being a Dramatick Recitation, or Account, of the Genesis, Growth, and Sad Decay, together with a Depiction of a Happy recoverie from the Effectas and Horrors of Warre, of ROBERT ASKE’S SCHOOL, situate in Hatcham, where even now it flourishes.

With Humbleness of Heart, Contriteness of Spirit, and much Earnestness to Please, this Historie lies dedicate to All Askeans, whether of the Then or of the Now.

Given as it was most Nobly Enacted upon Thursday, July 12^th. And that most Hapless Day, Friday July 13^th. 1951………etc.

Character	Description	Played by
Prologue	An Old Man	Master Harding
The Average Askean	An Average Askean	Master Dunkley
A Little Angel	An Angelic Small Boy	Master Verrall
A Little Devil	A Devilish Small Boy	Master Goddard
A Chorus of Scholars	Divers Scholars
A Historian	A Granary of Wisdom	Master Thomas
Robert Aske	Our Worthy Founder	Master Rivers
Two Artisans	Men of Muscle and Hew	Masters Robinson & Cancea
\|Doctor Hook	A Gauger of Gresham	Master Watson
Master Haddon	A Pedantique Person	Master Griffiths
Master Stowe	A Surveyor of London	Master Forbes
James Curtis	A Clerk of Astounding Wisdom	Master Parsons
James Lesingham	Criminal	Master Miller
Jos. Gibbs		Master Goldman
Thos. Freeman	Fire-Lighters	Master Pickering
Jos.Wassals		Master Glassock
John Dawson	All	Master Hatton
The Master of the Company	A Wise Ruler	Master Daniels
Four Wardens	Disembodied Voices	?????
A Schoolmaster	An Erudite Factotum	Master Felix
A Matron	A Busy Bee	Master Wright
A Porter	An Hypochondriack	Master Eastwood
A Chorus of More Scholars	Divers More Scholars
A Modern Haberdasher	A Fellowe	Master Copping
An Ancient Ditto	An Ancient Fellowe	Master Embleton
Three Editors	Harassed Scribes All	Masters Gilmore,Lane & Griffiths
Yet More Scholars	Yet More Scholars

Those having charge of the Stage, Makers of Light & Musick:

Masters Shephard, Holden, Wood, Martin & Kenward

The Companie most humbly thank Mr. Smith, for his Carpentry, and Messrs. Smith & Wormack for their Industry in Searching the Archives. Also to ROBERT ASKE, for the use of the Hall, and all that therein lies, Much Thanks.