Description:A postcard view with left to right: Mr R H F Coleman, Miss S M Isaacson, Mrs Bibbey, Mr F J S Whitmore, Miss Almond, Miss D Wyndham-Smith, Miss Betty Masefield and Mrs Cull, who were some of the members of the cast appearing in Charles Lamb’s farce “Mr H-----“, at Cheadle Town Hall, during October 1910.
The following is an extract from an article published in the Staffordshire Sentinel on Thursday 20 October 1910.
Amateur Theatricals at Cheadle. An Interesting Evening. Tennyson’s “Falcon” and Lamb’s “Mr H-----“.
Two dramatic performances arranged to be given by a body of amateur actors residing in or near Cheadle, and advertised by the cryptictal name of “The Twelve Midsummer Crickets”, was given on Wednesday in Cheadle Town Hall, to a large and influential gathering. The proceeds for the entertainments are to be devoted to the fund being raised to pay for the new organ recently placed in the parish church. Some £400 of the sum wanted is already in hand, and doubtless when the proceeds of these performances come to be added to that total, the debt will be in a very fair way of being entirely extinguished. With reference to the smart title under which these clever ladies and gentlemen elect to be known, it may be advisable to say that the title “the Twelve Midsummer Crickets” has reference to three plays whose former interpretations have secured for the Cheadle amateurs both favour and distinction. The organisation has already scored well in “The Twelfth Night”, in “The Midsummer Night’s Dream”, and in “The Cricket on the Hearth”, and now they are adding to well-deserved laurels by the production of pieces so widely divergent in sentiment and treatment as Alfred Tennyson’s one-act idyllic drama of “The Falcon “and Charles Lamb’s two-act farce “Mr H-----“.
Charles Lamb’s farce “Mr H-----“was first performed in 1806 with a cast which included Elliston, the famous comedian, and the beautiful Miss Mellon, who subsequently became a Duchess. At Cheadle the same roles were sustained by Mr F J S Whitmore, of Denstone College, one of the very ablest of amateur actors in the Midlands; and Miss E E B Masefield, a young lady who had an excellent grip on the creation.
The scene of the farce is Bath; the period is 1800. The full cast was as follows:-
Mr Hogsflesh, known in Bath as “Mr H-----“, Mr F J S Whitmore.
Belvil, his friend, B G Meyrick.
Two Gentlemen, Mr R H F Coleman, Mr A Spencer.
Melesinda, a rich heiress, Miss E E R Masefield.
Martha Pry, (Landlady of the Blue Boar), Miss Masefield.
Betty Finch, (Maid to Melesinda), Miss G V Bussell.
Old Lady, Mrs Cull.
1st Lady, Miss S M Isaacson.
2nd Lady, Mrs Bibbey.
3rd Lady, Miss D Wyndham-Smith.
4th Lady, Miss Almond.
Jonathan, 1st Footman, Mr E R Almond.
David, 2nd Footman, Dr Wilson.
Susan, Chambermaid, Miss A F A Masefield.
The cast of “Mr H-----“ was reviewed as follows:-
Mr Whitmore was gorgeously attired for the part. Wearing a high cut-away frock coat in velvet, silk maroon knickers, white silk brocaded waistcoat, frilled shirt and cravat, he looked a perfect picture of an early eighteenth century swell. And the gentleman not only looked the part, but acted it, and acted it as to the manner born. It was a splendid study, without a flaw, and would have done credit to any stage. He was well supported by Mr Merrick, Mr Coleman, Mr Spencer, and by all the ladies, particularly, of course, by Miss E E R Masefield, who played her role as the rich and successful heiress with considerable tact and appreciation.
“Mr H-----“, was very well mounted, the second act in particular sparkling with colour and life. Mr Jacob Lowndes, of Cheadle, is to be credited with the success achieved through the scenery; and the men’s dresses were supplied by Messrs. L and H Nathan. Between the scenes and acts, Miss Brearley, of Leek, and Miss Godwin, of Harewood Hall, Cheadle, contributed excellent music, their items including the Scene de Ballet of de Beriot, the Humoresque of Dvorak; an arrangement for violin and piano-forte of “Il Trovatore”, the Raff Cavatina, the Salut d’ Amour of Elgar, and the Bridal March of Wagner.