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Bless The Bride
By A.P. Herbert, music by Vivian Ellis
Performed at Leicester's Little Theatre
Monday 15 April - Saturday 20 April 2002
Our Golden Anniversary production was Bless the Bride, the second time the show has been presented by the Players. The production drew very favourable comments (at least from those who did pass on their thoughts!) and was a colourful and tuneful affair. The large cast list made it a good choice for the 50th Anniversary, giving many members individual parts to play that otherwise they may not have had.
(An
amateur production by arrangement with Samuel French Ltd)
Mayfield, Sussex and Eauville,
France: the year is 1870
SYNOPSIS
ACT 1
It is July 1870. While peace prevails in Victorian Britain, the Continent drifts towards the Franco-Prussian War in which Britain will remain neutral. The curtain rises on the garden of the Willow family home where family and friends have gathered for a game of croquet. Not playing however is young Lucy Willow, who is the next day due to marry the Honourable Thomas Trout. The betrothed couple arrive late and Lucy is eager to play, however Thomas demurs and shortly thereafter departs, leaving Lucy to confide in her sisters (all of whom are named after one of the Virtues) that she would have wished for any man but Thomas as her husband. Thomas returns with his French friends Pierre and Suzanne. Pierre is much taken with Lucy who, although pleasantly surprised, tells Pierre that she is still obliged to marry Thomas. Later, Lucy's grandparents arrive for their own Golden Wedding celebrations and the family leaves them alone for a while to reminisce over their youth. Lucy sings them a sad song and Pierre senses her sadness, secretly suggesting to her that they should elope. She rejects him, which pleases the jealous Suzanne. Everyone then celebrates the strong sense of family that binds the Willows together.
The next morning, preparations proceed for the wedding. A large bouquet arrives for Lucy with a cryptic note advising her "watch out for the doctor". Lucy confesses to Nanny that she does not love Thomas and cannot bear to go through with the ceremony. At this point a doctor arrives - it is Pierre in disguise. Quickly Nanny helps Lucy and the page Buttons to change clothes and Buttons, the wedding veil across his face, remains unrecognised for long enough that Lucy and Pierre make their escape. The family are outraged at the deception and vow to pursue her across the Channel.
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ACT 2
The Willows travel with Thomas to France in an attempt to recover Lucy. By now, war with Prussia is at hand. In Eauville, Suzanne recognises the family but will not betray Lucy and Pierre to them as time is short and she knows that Pierre’s duty is to go and fight for France. The Willows, heavily and "obviously" disguised behind bushy beards, accidentally go for a meal in the same café as Lucy and Pierre. The Willows’ attempts to “blend in” result in their arrest as Prussian spies, although they are quickly released when Lucy and Suzanne identify them. News arrives that war has indeed been declared, and Pierre knows he must leave to join the Army. Lucy begs him not to go but he cannot refuse, and marches off while Lucy returns distraught to England.
The next year, Lucy reaches her 21st birthday. Despite her sisters' attempts to cheer her up, she is still miserable because Suzanne has written to say that Pierre was killed in the war. Thomas reappears, a changed man, and tries to make amends, even tentatively proposing marriage once again. Lucy cannot however forget Pierre and Thomas retreats. Suddenly, Suzanne appears. She angrily compares the polka-dancing English to the defeated French, but then tells Lucy that she has brought her a present for her birthday. She leaves, and returns with Pierre, whose reported death was untrue. Thomas finally seizes his moment and brings Pierre and Lucy together, accepting that she is lost to him. The lovers embrace to the song "This is our Lovely Day" as the curtain falls.
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ALICE CHARITY WILLOW |
Rosemary Blackler |
THE
WILLOWS’ YOUNGER DAUGHTERS
Natalie Faulkner, Emily McDonald
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FRENCHMEN |
WAITERS at the Café des Pommes |
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Ian Bennett,
Richard Blackman |
Alan Gale, Keith Goode, Paul
Nicholls, David Robinson |
FRIENDS,
RELATIVES & SERVANTS of the WILLOWS; RESIDENTS of EAUVILLE
Pauline Brimble, Anne Charleston,
Deborah Dowsett, Lesley Heighton, Jo Holroyd, Gill Horton,
Christl Hughes, Christine Jaques-Davis, Patricia Johnson, Pam Meade,
Sarah Robinson.
Ian Bennett, Colin Blackler, Richard
Blackman, Alan Bullas, Peter Charleston, Alan Gale,
Keith Goode, Paul Nicholls, Geoff Orrill, David Robinson,
Richard Smithson, Frank Williams.
PRODUCTION
TEAM
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Director |
Andrew Wilson-Jenner |