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Earby Players open with 'The Dear Departed'
THE Earby Players have presented their inaugural production – "The Dear Departed" by Stanley Houghton – at Earby Community Centre.
The play, produced by Malcolm King and set in the 1970s, takes place on a Saturday afternoon following the supposed death of Abel Merryweather, when his family meet to divide his belongings.
Amelia (played by Jackie Williamson) decides to help herself to the cabinet and television before sister Elizabeth (Julie Knowles) arrives. All proceeds well until Victoria (Bryony Williamson) goes to her grandpa's room to find him very much alive. Grandpa, alias Abel Merryweather (Julie Courtney) proceeds downstairs to a shocked family.
In the farce that follows, undertaker Mrs Farthingale (Beryl Hemmingway) turns up and is disgruntled not to find a corpse. Abel then recognises his cabinet and television and asks Amelia why she has taken them.
Elizabeth and her husband Ben (Matt Bowen) try to gain the upper hand by saying Amelia and her husband Henry had stolen it. Abel then states he has made a will which says his estate will go to the daughter with whom he is living at the time of his death.
Following the ensuing argument, during which the children Victoria Slater and Jimmy Jordan (Peter Knowles) are sent out to play, the old man states his intention to make a new will as he is to get married to the barmaid from the Ring O' Bells pub.
This was an excellent first production by Earby Players playing to packed houses each night and the players hope many more productions will follow. The evening was wrapped up by a home-made supper served by women from the community centre, who were thanked by the group, as was prompt Irene Boocock.
The Earby Players are looking for new members – actors and back stage. They rehearse in the Centenary Room of Earby Community Centre on Wednesdays, 7-30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
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Weather for Pendle
Tuesday 07 February 2012
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