Tuesday 12th June and Wednesday 13th June 1984
Directed by John Scadding
An extra entertainment for a summer's evening, Bench Fringe Theatre is proud to present these two plays by Bench Theatre member John Scadding.
This play was written in 1984 and, set on and near the River Mississippi in the 1850s, is a "free re-working" from Twain's 'Huckleberry Finn'.
'The Havant Mysteries' consisted of three separate stories which were "believed to be a genuine forgery". The following note appeared in the programme.
"In the winter of 1399 a young novice monk one Brother Peter de Quincy of Westbourne Abbey, being pressed by the priest and the people of the borough of Havant, did pledge his heart and his hand to fashion them such Mysteries as they might themselves shew forth at the next Corpus Christi, this being their desire. And having set to with a will to thus configure God's glory, he did slacken with a fever and being twice o'er purged expired suddenly causing grief and concern. Among his goods and his papers were found as many as were ready and as an act of homage and piety to Brother Peter's memory the people of that town presented these mysteries. Since which, far off time be they vanished entirely."
Translated from the journal of Sir Thomas de Mandeville, 1386 - 1472
These plays were staged at Havant Arts Centre, East Street Havant - Bench Theatre's home since 1977. They were produced as part of 'Bench Fringe Theatre' staged in addition to the company's usual run of main plays. Unlike previous Fringe productions a charge was made for admission.
Jim | Brian Smith |
Huck | Peter Holding |
Webster D Noakes | Derek Cusdin |
T J Kerwellin | Roger Thurling |
Boy | David Brown |
Aunt Biddy | Nicola Scadding |
Lucy May | Robbie Cattermole |
Sarah Jane | Judy Salmon |
Mary Anne | Stella Benton |
Cook | Jo German |
Servants | Terry Cattermole |
Angel and Demon Angel Mary Magdalene | Stella Benton |
Bird and Angel Devil and King Angel | Robbie Cattermole |
God God | Terry Cattermole |
Storyteller Old Shepherd Angel | Derek Cusdin |
Eve Mary Mary | Jo German |
Devil and Death Joseph Jesus | Pete Holding |
Angel and Demon Angel Mary Cleophas | Jane Hope |
Adan Angel Angel | Tony Kellaway |
Fish and Angel Devil and King Angel | Jude Salmon |
Storyteller Young Shepherd Angel | Nicola Scadding |
Demon Angel and King Angel | Brian Smith |
Shepherd Angel | Roger Thurling |
Cow and Angel Angel Angel | Jane Yeomans |
Director | John Scadding |
Stage Manager | Tony Kellaway |
Lighting | Jane Hart, Paul Francis |
Sound | Chris Hall |
Setting | Bill Bickers, Karen Caen |
Props | Nicola Scadding |
Poster | Jane Hart |
Photographs | Chris Shaw |
Publicity | Penny Cameron |