The Complete Plays: Bell, Book & Candle (1959)
Production Details
Title:
Author:
New Play:
Venue:
Location:
Staging:
Author:
New Play:
Venue:
Location:
Staging:
Bell, Book & Candle
John Van Druten
No
The Library Theatre, Scarborough
Concert Room
Round
John Van Druten
No
The Library Theatre, Scarborough
Concert Room
Round
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
16 June 1959
17 June 1959
19 August 1959
17 June 1959
19 August 1959
Company Details
Director:
Stage Manager:
Assistant Stage Manager:
Stage Manager:
Assistant Stage Manager:
Rodney Wood
Ann Hughesdon
Ann Summers
Ann Hughesdon
Ann Summers
Character
Gillian Holroyd
Anthony Henderson
Miss Holroyd, Gillian's aunt
Nicholas Holroyd, Gillian's brother
Sidney Redlitch
Pyewacket
Gillian Holroyd
Anthony Henderson
Miss Holroyd, Gillian's aunt
Nicholas Holroyd, Gillian's brother
Sidney Redlitch
Pyewacket
Actor
Dona Martyn
William Elmhirst
Faynia Jeffery
Alan Ayckbourn
David Campton
Joanna (a cat)
Dona Martyn
William Elmhirst
Faynia Jeffery
Alan Ayckbourn
David Campton
Joanna (a cat)
Notes
○ Bell, Book & Candle was programmed to tie in with Scarborough's Dutch Week and was chosen because the author was of Dutch descent.
○ Although advertised to open on 17 June 1959, an invitation only Civic Night performance was held on 16 June for the town's Dutch Week celebration.
○ The play features a cat, Pyewacket, which is credited in the programme as "Joanna appears courtesy of Mr. Eric Mason."
○ Despite frequent reports that Bell, Book & Candle was the play in which Alan Ayckbourn confronted Stephen Joseph about his acting roles resulting in the commission of his first play The Square Cat, this is patently not the case given both plays were in the same season. The offending play was actually David Campton’s Ring Of Roses from the 1958 winter season.
○ This is believed to be the first professional in-the-round production of Bell, Book & Candle in the UK.
○ Bell, Book & Candle was presented without an interval.
○ The programme notes how the play was made into a film in 1958, which featured Hermione Gingold as Mrs de Pass. Hermione was Stephen Joseph's mother.
○ Although advertised to open on 17 June 1959, an invitation only Civic Night performance was held on 16 June for the town's Dutch Week celebration.
○ The play features a cat, Pyewacket, which is credited in the programme as "Joanna appears courtesy of Mr. Eric Mason."
○ Despite frequent reports that Bell, Book & Candle was the play in which Alan Ayckbourn confronted Stephen Joseph about his acting roles resulting in the commission of his first play The Square Cat, this is patently not the case given both plays were in the same season. The offending play was actually David Campton’s Ring Of Roses from the 1958 winter season.
○ This is believed to be the first professional in-the-round production of Bell, Book & Candle in the UK.
○ Bell, Book & Candle was presented without an interval.
○ The programme notes how the play was made into a film in 1958, which featured Hermione Gingold as Mrs de Pass. Hermione was Stephen Joseph's mother.
Links
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd. Image copyright: Scarborough Theatre Trust