Habeas Corpus

by Alan Bennett

directed by Roy Tabor

Performed at the

Nuffield Theatre

on

26th to 30th October 1976

"Alan Bennett's HABEAS CORPUS is a real turn-up for the book. He has now written a gorgeously vulgar but densely plotted farce that is a downright celebration of sex and the human body. The effect is rather like seeing an animated McGill postcard in which the captions have been written by an elegant verbal stylist Bennett starts out with a set of comic stereotypes; lecherous GP, unscaleably mountainous wife, celibate Canon, flat-chested spinster, cantilevered sex-pot, invertebrate hypochondriac, and arrogant colonialist. He then sets the puppets in motion by assuming they are all in the grip of some over-riding physical obsession; the doctor by unassuagable lust, the breastless wonder by the need for uplift, the unfired canon by the loss of virginity. Identities are mistaken, wires crossed and it is typical of Bennett’s method that a falsie-fitter, fresh from a crash course in Leatherhead, should stumble into the proceedings aiming his prehensile fingers at all the wrong bosoms".

Michael Billington
in the GUARDIAN

Cast  
Arthur Wicksteed Graham Buchanan
Muriel Wicksteed Avril Woodward
Dennis Wicksteed Graham Barnes
Mrs. Swabb Mollie Manns
Constance Wicksteed Philippa Taylor
Canon Throbbing Ken Hann
Lady Rumpers Jean Rowe
Felicity Rumpers Angela Stansbridge
Sir Percy Shorter Geoffrey Wharam
Mr. Shanks Michael Bryant
Mr. Purdue John Lelliot
 
For the Maskers:  
Directed By Roy Tabor
Technical Director Ron Tillyer
Publicity Graham Buchanan
Business Manager Brian Stansbridge
Stage Manager Mike Johnson
Lighting Designed By Derek Jones
Set Construction Ken Spencer, John Riggs, Mike Johnson, Alan Baker
Sound David Tillet
Properties & Wardrobe Chris Baker, Anne Robinson, Kate Summerton, Georgina Williams
Production Assistant Gillian Robert

Mollie Manns as Mrs Swabb, John Lelliot as Mr Purdue

 
 
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Shirley's own LOCAL theatre!

Maskers Theatre Company
Off Emsworth Road
Shirley
Southampton
SO15 3LX

Registered Charity 900067

Established 1968

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