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Admirably Acted Play By Two Companies
"If
you have children take them to see it. If you have no children - well, go
and see it anyway. For the odds are ten to one in favour that, adult or
child, whatever your taste in drama, you will enjoy "Dad's Tale",
presented jointly by two companies, the Studio Theatre Company and the
British Dance Drama Theatre, in the Library Theatre, Scarborough.
To explain how these two companies can combine their talents without the
result being ludicrous, the story must be partly explained. A happy-go-lucky
family, consisting of Martin, who acts as story-teller, Dad, on the dole,
and Auntie, who looks after them, together with Martin's girl friend, Jenny,
find that on Christmas Day, instead of feasting on a turkey dinner, they
will be feasting on beef-dripping.
Not that they are the sort of family to despair at this. But each in turn
imagines himself or herself in some pleasant situation. Here the dancers
come in. Auntie sees herself having a whale of a time going round the shops,
Dad doing a burglary, Jenny, skating, and Martin, as the strong-man in a
circus. Each of the dreams is danced by members of the Dance Drama Theatre.
It is an enchanting play; written specially for the companies by Roland
Allen (Alan Ayckbourn). All the cast are extremely good, and especially so
are Stanley Page as Dad, David Jarrett as Martin, and Alan Ayckbourn
himself, who plays a medley of parts - clerk, labourer, shady character,
grocer, angry neighbour, and a removal man."
(Scarborough Evening News, 20 December 1960)
Different Theatre In The Round
"Theatre In the Round at Scarborough has let its hair down for a fortnight,
forsaking its serious dramatic Interpretation to indulge in a light-hearted
piece of nonsense called "Dad's Tale."
Into a rich tapestry of wit and humour, the author, Roland Allen, has woven
colourful splashes of an unusual and entertaining form of theatre - the
mimic dancing of the British Dance Drama Theatre, which cleverly fills in
pictures an empty stage is unable to present.
The highlight of last night's opening performance at the Library Theatre was
the inspired clowning of Australian Stanley Page as a Cockney dad who turns
Into a budgerigar. Alan Ayckbourn, the author by his stage name, had a
variety of characters to portray and he did so with his usual finesse. David
Jarret, Rosamund Dickson, Hazel Burt, and Phillip Clifford and the dancers,
Tonya Burcka, Jennifer Wright, Frances Harper, Brenda Elder and Robert
Horobin, completed a resourceful cast."
(Yorkshire Post, 20 November 1960)
Clever Dancers At Scarborough
"Clever mimic dancers of the British Dance Drama Theatre who visited
Scarborough for a short season this summer combine with actors of the
Theatre in the Round company in Dad's Tale by Roland Allen, which has
just begun a two-week run at Scarborough Library Theatre.
The author, who appears under his real name, Alan Ayckbourn, has written
several successful comedies and in this he strikes an entirely new note.
With little to spend their Christmas on, after a visit from the bailiff who
removes all their furniture, a poverty stricken Cockney family fancy
themselves in a variety of situations.
Dad, energetically and light-heartedly played by Stanley Page, an
Australian, imagines he has embarked on a life of crime, while Rosamund
Dickson, as Auntie, sees around her a world of little people in fanciful
costumes.
They receive admirable support from David Jarrett, Hazel Burt and Philip
Clifford. while Mr. Ayckbourn himself keeps popping on and off the arena in
various parts including a removal man, teddy boy, clerk, labourer and
grocer. A whirl of colour is added by the dancers. Tonya Burcka, Jennifer
Wright, Frances Harper, Brenda Elder and Robert Horobin, directed by Gerald
Bagley. Their skilful mimicry interprets the day dreaming of the central
characters with pleasing effect."
(Northern Echo, 21 December 1960) |
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