THE WEST SUSSEX GAZETTE

Arundel, Sussex, England

5 January 1928

(page 11)

SANCTUARY PLAYERS’ PANTOMIME.

The popularity which the Sanctuary Players are attaining was amply demonstrated on New Year’s eve, when the Playhouse was packed for the presentation of a remarkable pantomime. It bore the prosaic title, “The Babes in the Wood,” and the programme informed one that it was the work of “the Very Reverend Augustus Swank Vickybird, P.I.B., M.U.G., S.A., &c., &c., Professor of Applied Tripe to the Royal University of Gotham; Exhibitioner of Bilge to His Remarkably Serene Highness the Maharajah of Tosh; Chief Examiner of Back-chat and Cross-words at Colney Hatch College; Corresponding Dog-Latin Secretary to the Cats’ Home of the Persian Empire; Humgruffin-in-Ordinary to the Great Artichoke of Jerusalem, &c., &c., &c.” and so forth. Mr. Victor B. Neuburg, the poet-printer, of Steyning, had not only written a most amusing pantomime but his well-printed programme provided a continuous roar of laughter. Isaac Moses (Victor B. Neuburg), a pawnbroker, and his wife Rachel (Christine Shulver) are left with the care of two orphans of the latter’s brother, Billie (Ruby Mears) and Millie (Lily Shulver), whose fortune they will inherit upon the death of the twins. Isaac and his spouse are plotting the destruction of the children when “Mephisto” (W. C. Owen) appears and offers the services of two of his angels—“Basher” (F. Heston Cooper) and “Slasher” (E. Dennis Earle), who agree to do the dark deed for 25s., after Isaac has vainly pleaded with them to accept £1. “Robina” (Vera Dennis Earle)—who is really a fairy—the nurse of the children, is dismissed by Rachel, and the children, in charge of Basher and Slasher, set out for Canterbury Ring in the evening. While the children wander away to visit the Dew Pond, Basher and Slasher quarrel, as the latter does not wish to kill the orphans, and after a fierce duel, kill each other. After their death they sing a duet, “Pickle our bones in alcohol.” The children sleep under the shadow of the Ring, guarded by “Robin Redbreast” (W. Heston Cooper), “King of the Fairies,” and his troupe of fairies, whose parts are taken by Alice Heaton Cooper, Joyce Colley, Joyce Whitwell, Bunty Whitwell, and Geoffrey Whitwell. In the morning there is an affectionate re-union of all concerned in the bar of the “Frankland Arms,” with Sidney Colley taking the part of the landlord. The curtain is rung down on “Mephisto” and the “King of the Fairies” pledging themselves in foaming tankards of lemonade. The presentation of the show, under the direction of Dennis Earle, left little to be desired. The scenery (the work of W. Heaton Cooper and Dennis Earle) was most effective. The pantomime was to be given again yesterday evening, and there will be another performance on Saturday.