Sailor, Beware!

Publicity #1: Sailor, Beware
Publication: Brighton & Hove Gazette
Publication Data: April 11 issue 1959 – page 14 – Local Limelight by Thespis
Text: Content

THE Young Wick Players’ next production is Sailor Beware by Phillip King and Falkland Cary at the Barn Theatre, Southwick, next Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Betty Carpenter plays Emma Hornett, and producing for the first time is Frances Moulton. Phillip King is giving generous assistance in the production.

The Players’ “under 21’s” go to the Glyndebourne finals next Saturday, and the senior team to Croydon for the next round of the British Drama League Festival the following week. This means divided loyalties for backstage staff and helpers. Fortunately there is no duplication of casts.

Review #1: Sailor, Beware
Publication: Shoreham Herald
Publication Data: April 17 1959 issue – page 9
Reviewer: Unknown
Text Header: “Amateurs with the professional touch”
Text: Content

Sailor, Beware, presented by The Young Wick Players at the Barn Theatre, Southwick, on Wednesday, was obviously moulded on the film interpretation of the same title, which starred Peggy Mount . Betty Carpenter, playing Peggy Mount’s part of Emma Hornett, decided that the professional interpretation was best and her masterly portrayal proved correct. But the Young Wick’s version was no pale, bloodless copy of the famous piece, which won success on stage and screen. It was a thoroughly workmanlike, well produce comedy that raced along in good style from the beginning to the end.

Mrs. Frances Mouton, the producer, had the professional and personal assistance of Mr. Philip King, co-author of Sailor , Beware, with Falkland Cary, and, in her own words, the aid was invaluable. Mrs. Moulton, however, is well versed in amateur theatricals. She seeks to understand her cast, and reaching that understanding knows when to guide and when to allow a natural bent to flourish. This she did to good effect in the case of Patricia Menheneott, who played the part of Shirley Hornett, left at the altar and saved from the effects of a ‘bleeding, broken heart’ by Albert Tufnell A. B., played by Barrie Bowen, rounding on the dominating Mrs. Hornett, nailing his colours of independence to the mast.

Special mention must be made of Betty Elliott’s portrayal of half-mad Edie Hornett. Her characterisation was convincing, and although her lines were delivered in tense scenes, in the midst of hilarity, she was always audible, accurately timed and acting all the time. Henry Hornett, hen-pecked beyond measure, was a quiet, intense part and Ralph Dawes played it quietly and calmly. He was the perfect foil for loud mouthed Emma. For a Sussex man to tackle a broad Glaswegian accent is a tough problem, but Raymond Hopper as Carnoustie Bligh, was a braw Scots laddie, down to his penny-saving meanness. The flirtatious Daphne Pink, played by Clodagh O’Farrell, as pretty as the blooms she sells in her florist’s shop, was an adequate interpretation, and the Rev. Oliver Purefoy, acted by Nicholas Sweet, was also a case of good casting.

The Wickers deserve to be praised for their courage in choosing a stage and screen hit, and putting it across deeply and cleverly etched with their own brand of talented histrionics.

Review #2: Sailor, Beware
Publication: Brighton & Hove Gazette
Publication Data: April 18 1959 issue – page 6
Reviewer: THALIA
Text Header: ‘Sailor’ is their delight”
Text: Content

SAILOR BEWARE! is evidently destined to be the delight of amateur groups. When the group is as talented as the Young Wick Players the audience is also delighted. The play was presented at the Barn Theatre, Southwick, this week, with a final performance tonight.

Emma Hornett, scourge and glory of her family, was extremely well played by Betty Carpenter. She shared the honours with Betty Elliott, who played the weepy Edie Hornett to the life. It says much for the skill of these two players that, though obviously too young for the parts, they carried them off with such conviction. Eddie Hornett’s make-up, however, might surely have been made more helpful to her.

Patricia Menheneott was a winsome bride, with many varieties of mood, and Barrie Bowen was a fine, manly young sailor bridegroom whom one could well believe would not be dominated by his mother-in-law. As Carnoustie Bligh, his friend, Raymond Hopper was less shy and dour than one would have expected. He made a most engaging young sailor, however. Albert [sic] Dawes was a good as the henpecked husband, and there were good performances by Mary Gedge, Clodagh O’Farrell and Nicholas Sweet.

The play was well produced by Frances Moulton.

Review #3: Sailor, Beware
Publication: Unknown
Publication Data: Unknown
Reviewer: Unknown
Text Header: “A young man’s dread becomes a reality”
Text: Content

A perfect example of every young man’s dread as his mother-in-law is Emma Hornett, the militant central character in Sailor, Beware admirably presented at the Barn Theatre, Southwick, by the Young Wick Players.

Albert Tufnell, the sailor, bites off more than he can chew in falling in love with attractive Shirley Hornett, for there is her mother to contend with – a vociferous dictator who demands implicit obedience to her every command. One can hardly blame him for getting ‘cold feet’ on the eve of the wedding, particularly when dithery Aunt Edie lets it out that Emma’s gift to the bride and groom is a house – only three doors up the street!

This play, by Philip King and Falkland Cary, draws a diverting picture of domestic chaos as the ceremony approaches, and the bottom falls out of the Hornett household when Albert’s courage fails him and poor Shirley is left waiting in church without a groom.

Frances Moulton, the producer, has done some excellent casting, notably assigning to Betty Carpenter the taxing rôle of Emma. She makes a grand job of it, maintaining throughout a simmering explosiveness which bursts into eruption with alarming frequency. Downtrodden and sentimental Edie, herself jilted 20 years previously, is divertingly played by Betty Elliott. Hers is a gem of comedy acting throughout. As the sailor and his bride, Barrie Bowen and Patricia Menheneott are teamed with distinct success and both contribute appreciably to the fun – though there is a telling touch of pathos here and there. Ralph Dawes, as Henry, the bride’s long-suffering father seeking solace in the company of his backyard ferrets, s also well in character, and there are clever studies by Raymond Hopper and Clodagh O’Farrell. Ably completing the cast are Nicholas Sweet as the Rev. Oliver Purefoy, who pours oil on troubled waters, and Mary Gedge, as Mrs. Lack, the Hornett’s neighbour with a nose for a free cup of tea.

The company greatly appreciated the attendance of Philip King at some of the rehearsals of his play, which is made all the more enjoyable by its setting.