Noc-Turne!

Publicity #1: Noc-Turne!

Publication: Brighton & Hove Gazette
Publication Data: Local Limelight by Thespis
Text Header: “FOUR NIGHTS”
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“WE are playing for four nights this time, as last year we had to turn people away” This throw-away remark by Clodagh O’Farrell is enough to strike any society with green envy. But I remember that I hardly got in myself to the Wick Theatre Group revue last year. Once again Ian Elliott is directing, and the title is Noc-turne!. You will recognise this as a play on words [Knock-turn … very clever!] and the cast consists of Ian and Betty Elliott, Maureen Payne, Fay Stuart, Maureen Hammond, Ray Hopper, Ralph Dawes, Peter Power and John Perrett, with Phyll Beard as a refugee from the Southwick Players.

The programme will consist of sketches, songs, dance routines, and the twists and turns which the Wick Theatre Group seem so adept at contriving. Performances are at the Barn Theatre, Southwick, on December 11, 12, 13 and 14. Music will be provided by John Mansfield with Oliver Goldsmith on drums.

Further information from the company’s P.R.O., Miss Clodagh O’Farrell, 52 Hangleton Road, Hove [tel. Hove 48863].

Review #1: Noc-Turne!
Publication:
Publication Data: December 14 1963 issue
Reviewer: B.W.
Text Header: “Wick Company in Slick Revue”
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Extra duties were thrown on the shoulders of some members of the Wick Theatre Company during the second performance of their full-length revue Noc-Turne! on Thursday night at the Barn Theatre, Southwick. Fay Sturt, one of the ten-strong cast, was absent through illness, but it is hoped she will be back to-night, for the final production of a smart, slick show.

Apart from Fay Sturt, the cast includes Betty Elliott, Ralph Dawes, Phyll Beard, Ray Hopper, John Perrett, Maureen Payne, Ian Elliott, Peter Power and Maureen Hammonds, all capable of meeting the special demands of revue. The material is very funny in parts – and why not? After all, some of it was written by Alan Melville, Michael Flanders and Donald Swan, and Richard Addinsell, and has been heard before, with great success, on stage and television. Gems, for instance, like Bessie Plenderleith in the first half, a satirical reflection on modern sculpture, or Peter Patter and Trouble in the Works in the second half, items packed with sustained wit.

John Mansfield is musical director, assisted by Oliver Goldsmith on the drums. This is only the second revue of the company which describes itself as ‘politically and religiously uncommitted!’ We hope it is not the last.

Review #2: Noc-Turne!
Publication:
Publication Data: December 20 1963 issue – page 11
Reviewer: C.S.P.
Text Header: “SHOW TRIED TO BE SO SOPHISTICATED”
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WICK Theatre Company’s second full-length revue Noc-Turne! certainly rang the changes at the Barn Theatre, Southwick, last week.

Wednesday’s opening performance lacked pace and sparkle, but this ingredient became more apparent later. It was a show which tried to be very sophisticated and which hard-peddalled monotonously on the sexy snigger, but a great deal of genuine fun was provided too. There was even some sheer clowning, as in a St. Trinian’s frolic with three males appear in as the schoolgirl ‘horrors’, and farcical ballet number.

Local flavour

Last of the Line, had a topical local flavour, with three gloomy engine drivers on the Shoreham-Horsham route bemoaning their probable fate if Dr Beeching had his way and firmly refusing to drive buses instead. Other particularly amusing items were Bessie Plenderleith, a skit on modern art, The Applicant, Trouble In the Works, Self Portrait, Sustained Objection and Modern Trends – Ibsen tragedy translated into musical comedy! Some of the material was home grown, but much of it came from the pens of Alan Melville, Harold Pinter and Michael Flanders and Donald Swan, to name but few.

Production was by Ian Elliott, who also appeared, and the rest of the cast composed Betty Elliott, Ralph Dawes, Fay Sturt, Phyll Beard [loaned by Southwick Players], Roy Hopper [sic], John Perrett, Maureen Payne, Peter Power and Maureen Hammonds. Music was by John Mansfield and Oliver Goldsmith. Other assisting were Barrie Bowen, Clodagh O’Farrell, Frank Hurrell, Morfydd Bowen, Frances Thorn [sic], Elizabeth Penney, Margaret Perrett, Susan Hayter, Elizabeth C. King, Terry Mase and Paul Carpenter.

Another show is already lined up for next April.

Review #3: Noc-Turne!
Publication: Brighton & Hove Gazette
Publication Data:
Reviewer: Thespis
Text Header: “Good vocal ‘turne’ was needed”
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I went to the revue Noc-Turne! by The Wick Theatre Company in high expectation because the previous revues by this company have been so enjoyable.. this time I was disappointed. In saying this I appreciate that Fay Sturt was taken ill a few hours only before the performance and the necessary re-casting of the show presented especial difficulties; I appreciate that on the evening I was there the audience was small, which is unhelpful to this kind of presentation. But even so, this revue fell far short of the others.

There was at least one item which I found in extremely doubtful taste. The projected pictures which were so telling last time were less pointed when accompanying a corny piece of CND propaganda sung by Ray Hopper. In fact, it was on the vocal side that the show fell down.

Those taking part, all of whom worked very hard, were: Ian and Betty Elliott, Maureen Payne, Phyll Beard (of the Southwick Players) Maureen Hammonds, Ralph Dawes, Ray Hopper and Peter Power. There were good things in the revue, but a lot of tightening up, and a more critical eye to the material used, together with a good vocal ‘turne’, were needed. The revue was presented by Ian Elliott, and Barrie Bowen and Clodagh O’Farrell did a masterly job of intricate stage management. Music was provided by John Mansfield and Oliver Goldsmith on piano and drums.