Performed with a cast of 25 (playing 33 different roles) the Old Groynes‘ production of The Great Huntingfield Brain Robbery was the talk of the village after its first performances in May 2018. After details of the cast and crew we’ve added some scenes from the performances, clockwise from top left.
The cast and crew: Rex Avery……………………………………………….Ben Cheyne Nilda (Mrs Rex Avery)………………………………Cion Cheyne Brenda………………………………………………….Jackie Driver Sharon………………………………………………….Jackie Weare Genevieve…………………………………………….Rose Thompson Tabitha………………………………………………….Olivia Harrison Gwendolyn……………………………………………Lilia Pinnick-Smith Miss Hinge…………………………………………..Margaret Dennis Miss Scroat………………………………………….Sue Lucas Walter and Alphonse………………………………Nigel Jerry Carlie and PC Harris………………………………Sue Tyler Mrs Lucy Legge……………………………………Linda Berry Arthur Legge…………………………………………Brian Lucas Professor Myron Bing……………………………….Mike Stephens Professor Godfrey Bazeley……………………..Edward Watson Jagabundu…………………………………………….Joe Thompson Sgt. Wilkes and The Padre………………………Allan Barnes Whistling Jack…………………………………………Ken Burnett Harry…………………………………………………………Emma Zangs Lord Lu Run Xaio……………………………………….Tommy McGee General Tang…………………………………………Joan Baker The invading Chinese army……………………….A coatrack Dame Cecily Spencer Ackroyd…………………..Joe Burnett (Joe also plays The Hand — boo!) Frank Milton…………………………………………..Steve Moorhouse Miss Beryl Bing and Felixtoe her cat.Liz Forrester and Bo Narrator……………………………………………………Stephen Harrison Sets director……………………………………………Liz Forrester Light and sound……………………………………..David Burrows Scene-changer in chief………………………………..Brian Lucas Props…………………………………………………………Liz, Brian, Stephen Prompter………………………………………………….Marian Cannell Costumes/ wardrobe……………………………….Helen Cannon + cast members Written and directed by Ken Burnett Produced by Stephen Harrison Photos by Charlie Burnett.
Evil Lord Lu Run Xaio (Tom McGee), terror of the Shanghai underworld. The scientists, professor Godfrey Bazeley (Edward Watson), Dame Cecily Spencer Ackroyd (Joe Burnett), professor Myron Bing (Mike Stephens), the mysterious Jagabundu (Joe Thompson). Itinerant tramps Harry (Emma Zangs), Whistling Jack (Ken Burnett) and the Padre (Allan Barnes). The monster, Milton (Stephen Moorhouse) the murderer. Lord Lu, Myron and Jagabundu. The secretive, evil Hand working late in his laboratory, watched from a window by the play’s heroes, Mrs Legge (Linda Berry), Nilda and Rex.Rex (Ben Cheyne) and Nilda (Cion Cheyne) doing the Monster Mash. The breakthrough that will change the world: the evil Hand (Joe Burnett), at the moment of his momentous discovery. Sgt Wilkes (Allan Barnes) helps PC Harris (Sue Tyler) clean up the remains of poor, unfortunate Miss Beryl Bing (Liz Forrester). The schoolgirls prepare, including Arthur Frean himself, played by Olivia Harrison (second from right). A war huddle.The Narrator (Stephen Harrison) ably assisted by Tom Harrison. Nilda gets ready for war. The Hand (Joe Burnett) in his laboratory. Old Walter (Nigel Jerrey) discovers Arthur’s (Brian Lucas) brain is missing – perhaps old Walter’s brain is missing too? All set, though minus his costume, Joe discovers he also needs an audience…Harry the tramp gets a telling off from older tramps Whistling Jack and the Padre .
To her cost, greedy Beryl guzzles the new super-foaming toothpaste.
Alphonse (Nigel Jerrey) and the Padre await their doom.
The full cast and crew. Back row from left: Edward Watson, Marian Cannell, Allan Barnes, Mike Stephens, Brian Lucas, Ben Cheyne, Tommy McGee, Steve Moorhouse, Nigel Jerrey (inset, arrowed), Joe Burnett, Ken Burnett, Stephen Harrison, Middle row: Sue Tyler, Linda Berry, Cion Cheyne, Jackie Weare, Margaret Dennis, Sue Lucas, Joan Baker, Emma Zangs, Joe Thompson. Front row: Liz Forrester and Bo (in silhouette), David Burrows, Jackie Driver, Rose Thompson, Lilia Pinnick-Smith, Olivia Harrison.
Blimey! Alphonse’s beard is real. But Alphonse himself? Maybe not.
Why Fly die? Evil Lord Lu (Tom McGee) expresses his anguish to good buddy General Tang (Joan Baker). Click on the image to see a scene from the film.
