MR. PIM PASSES BY
by A. A. Milne
C A S T IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
Anne Anne Goodwin
Dinah Marden Sue Barker
Brian Strange Clive Argent
Olivia Marden Iva Barr
George Marden Russ Hemming
Lady Marden Vera Newbold
Mr. Pim Peter Beck
Producer Myrtle Newbury
Set Design & Construction Hugo Newbury
John Foulkes
Bill Newbold
Lighting Bruce Edwards
Props Bill Newbold
Prompt Judith Argent
Wardrobe Eileen Snell
Make-up Jose Fennell

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Priory Methodist Church Thursday 18th, Friday 19th and Saturday 20th May 1978

MR . PIM PASSES BY
(A number of times)

And devastates the calm and ordered life of Olivia and George Marden by telling them of his recent shipboard acquaintanceship with an Australian rogue, a man immediately recognisable to Olivia as 'someone from her past'. The ensuing confusion, complicated by the romance of their niece Dinah, all makes for a delightfully amusing and emotional story, set in the nostalgic 1920's.

A play, in three acts, set in the morning room of Marden House, Buckinghamshire, home of George Marden, J.P., and his wife Olivia. It is the month of July.

Extract from The Bedfordshire Times May 1978

Mr Pim an ideal choice

MR PIM just happed (sic) to pass by last Thursday and caused an evening of fun and confusion at Priory Methodist Church, Bedford. He may have had the smallest part in the Wesley Players' performance of an A. A. Milne comedy but his was the most influential.

Peter Beck was suitably nervous and apologetic as Mr Pim and ensured the show was a success. Mr Pim Passes By was the right choice for a limited amateur group like the Wesley Players.

The rest of the cast capitalised on the groundwork laid by the bumbling, infuriating Mr Pim. They had sufficient talent to provide an evening of light-hearted, touching entertainment.

The whimsical relationship between George and Olivia Marden took many twists and turns as Mr Pim occasionally drifted in giving news of Olivia's first husband, the dastardly Tellworthy.

Russ Hemming. as the stubborn George, and Iva Barr, as the sentimental Oivia, radiated humour and pathos. They stumbled over their linesv occasionally but after all, it was the opening night.

They were surpassed by the younger lovers, the brassy Dinah Marden and the smug Brian. Stange. Clive Argent's cherubic smile was ideal for the part, and Sue Barker did well in creating a wild, passionate manner.

Naturally things went wrong. The curtain was erratic and at one point obscured the prim and proper Lady Marden before she had a chance to get on to the stage. While drinking my coffee in the interval, I could not help wondering why she had been, so treated Was she such an ogre, that such drastic censorship had to be made?

I am glad she appeared in the second act, for Vera Newbold deserved a chance to show' she could act as a battle-axe.

There was plenty to be amused by, but I must confess I was also greatly amused by the reactions of the audience which was sadly meagre. Older ones tittered avidly whenever the lovers- indulged in a kiss. Still, I suppose that is part of the fun of amateur theatre — to see your friends on stage in rather unusual, situations.

Special mention must be given of Hugo Newbury, John Foulkes and Bill Newbold, who designed such an intricate set. The play was produced by Myrtle Newbury

KB
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