Post War Music - the Powell Davies period.
For reasons mentioned in the Dramatic Section, there was a considerable
hiatus between 1938-49. Mr. Keith Powell Davies soon made his arrival
felt, for, in 1948, he began chorus practice for"The Gondoliers".
He tells of the difficulty he ran up against because material was still
in very short supply. No canvas was obtainable for back-cloth but eventually
they found one intended for a theatre then discovered to be too small.
It was exactly the right size for Lydney Town Hall and was used for
every subsequent production. The costumes too were brand new and had
just been completed as the others had not been renewed since 1939.
As for the school performance itself I would like to use a criticism written
for the school magazine by Megan Lewis (a V1th Former who took her own part
of the Duchess of Plaza-Toro well, but omits to mention that!). She wrote"After
a good deal of hard work and anxiety, he (the producer and director) succeeded
in finding characters to suit each part. For the leading male roles of Marco
and Guiseppe he succeeded in persuading two of his friends to play the part
three weeks before the performance! Patrick Largey, who was already rehearsing
for two London shows, and David James, who travelled from Cheltenham for each
rehearsal, became Marco and Guiseppe and played their parts magnificently.
No one every tired of hearing Marco's rendering of"Take a pair
of Sparkling Eyes" and all gasped with amazement at the speed with which
Guiseppe sand"Rise Early in the Morning". The opera received a
grand reception, the audience being captivated by the vivacity of the sweet-voiced
Contadina (the School girl chorus). Each character was chosen very suitably.
The audience was continually delighted by the lovely singing of the three leading
ladies, Margaret Vedmore, Janet Bond and Kathleen Lucas and extremely amused
by the excellent performances of Mr. Cecil Born, who played the part of the
very hen-pecked Duke of Plaza-Toro and the Rev. R. Mansfield played by Beryl
Lansdown, kept the audience well in touch with the story with her vivacity,
which never waned for one moment, and her very pleasant voice. Everyone was
delighted to see the senior boys of the school entering into the spirit of"The
Gondoliers", providing the bass and tenor parts, and we are very grateful
for the help of Mr. Cedric Coller and Mr. Cecil Virgo who strengthened the
male voices and gave others inspiration by their own enthusiasm and enjoyment.
K. Baber as Luiz, the drummer boy gave a very good performance and surprised
many with his pleasant voice, heard for the first time by the majority of us.
In offering these tokens of praise, there is one vital member of our company
who must not be overlooked. Derek Hyde played the piano at every rehearsal,
a task requiring an abundance of patience when we were but ‘raw recruits'.
He adapted himself with great skill to the rest of the orchestra, which he
heard for the first time the day before the performance“.
Megan goes on to pay special tribute to the people back-stage: the Wardrobe
Mistresses, Miss. E, Cowler and Miss D. Collingwood (later Senior Mistress
and also Mrs. K. Winspear), also Mr. A. W. Barlow, who with his team made-up
thirty-three people in record time. Their chief achievement was to transform
Freda Grimmett - a good looking 17 into Nurse Inez. an old woman of 90. Her
part, despite its brevity was played very impressively and she succeeded in
horrifying everyone with her smile! Miss E. Thompson, then School secretary,
worked hard for many weeks organising the sale of tickets and programmes, whilst
Mr. Ken Winspear started his long career of being in charge of the lighting
until the school closed as Lydney Grammar School. There can be no doubt that"The
Gondoliers" proved a tremendous success as growing audiences in the coming
years were to prove.
It should be added that Mr. H. Stevens led his ‘scratch' orchestra
extremely well in this and subsequent shows and listeners found it almost impossible
to believe that they had only met at the dress rehearsal. But this contribution
added that last vital touch which knitted the rest together. Unfortunately,
the cost of getting the players home proved expensive for cars were not so
plentiful in those days, but the Headmaster's inspiration of a school
Tuckshop took care of these financial problems and enabled the school and their
friends to provide something of a really high standard.
In the following year, 1950,"The Pirates of Penzance" was presented
with Patrick Largey as Frederic, Cecil Born, as the Pirate King, David James
as Major-General Stanley and Robert Mansfield as the Sergeant of Police, in
the principal male roles. Amongst the ladies Margaret Howell took Ruth, whilst
Kathleen Lucas shared the role of Mabel with Beryl Lansdown. Jane Adams, June
Phipps and Megan Lewis took minor roles very well. A large chorus of 43 was
made up of mainly school pupils assisted by a few Old Boys and members of the
Staff. The orchestra was larger than ever and drawn from all parts of the Forest
and Gloucester. Once more Mr. H. Stevens was their leader with Derek Hyde as
accompanist. Everything went beautifully and the packed audiences gave it the
reception it well-deserved.
Later on in December of the same year"The Mikado" was presented.
In this Mr. J. C. Chamberlain stepped into his first leading part as did Miss
Eunice Cowler (both members of the Staff) and newcomer Mrs. Freda Cullis took
the demanding role of ‘Katisha' and another newcomer, Derek Worgan
- a young giant of a schoolboy - played the name part with astonishing regal
dignity. Our old friends Patrick Largey, Robert Mansfield, David R. James and
Cecil Born were all there once more in leading parts which they took with great
success, by now taken almost for granted. Perhaps I should pause here to pay
special tribute to the impeccable performances always given by Patrick Largey
whose beautiful silver tenor voice was heard only recently in Lydney Parish Church.
Without detracting in the least from the others, who did so well, he was quite
outstanding on the men's side and one could not help but admire the way
he filled in with the young, inexperienced leading ladies opposite whom he played.
His contribution to the astonishing development of Beryl Lansdown in particular
seemed to me to be more and more apparent as each show went by.
In this particular performance both Beryl and Kathleen Lucas sang and acted quite
superbly. There was a chorus of 40 made up of school girls, Old Boys and three
members of the male staff. It is somewhat repetitious to say it was a fine performance,
very well attended and equally well received, but it is true nevertheless.
As readers of the Dramatic Section will see the School also put on"The
Taming of the Shrew" in 1950, also a first class concert, as the first
of many between 1950-57, all in aid of Cancer Research."P.D." also
found time to take two choirs to the Cheltenham Festival and although they did
not get the two first prizes as in the previous year they did very well.
In 1949 the adjudicator had said"this was the highest standard of choral
singing on which he had adjudicated". Both the Girls' and Boys' choirs
obtained 1st Prize in their sections and Derek Hyde (accompanist) was specially
recommended. Thus, when I write that the chorus work in the various operas were
of the highest standard my readers may more readily accept the judgement I offer.
It is perhaps worth adding that in this year, 1950, we not only did well on the
Sports field but also obtained some good examination results so that clearly
neither the pupils nor Staff were exactly idle. It can also be appropriately
mentioned here that in 1954 too the school produced two musical plays, a drama
and also a school concert.
Of the concert in 1950 a critic wrote"The School Operatic Society" had
the assistance of Patrick Largey and David James. The school pupils showed considerable
talent. Beryl Lansdown sang Puccini's"O My Beloved Father" and
Mozart's"The Violet" and Kathleen Lucas"Thine is My
Heart" and the duet"O Rapture" with Patrick Largey. Two boy
sopranos, Ian Phipps and John Dyal, sang solos by Mendelssohn and Brahms. The
chorus work was well varied and reached a high standard. In the rhythmic Strauss
waltzes the choir sang with verve and gaiety, showing admirable restraint in
a setting of Byron's"She walked in beauty". An interesting
item was an original composition by Derek Hyde whose setting of Shelley's"When
Soft voices die" was well sung by the choir". Derek Hyde also played
two solo pianoforte items quite beautifully and the choir gave selections from"The
Gondoliers" and"the Pirates of Penzance". It should also be
added that the guest artistes mentioned sang up to their usual high standard.
In 1951, as the Festival of Britain was held this year, the Operatic Society
decided to produce"Merrie England" by Edward German. In this the
Rev. Robert Mansfield assisted Mr. Powell Davies in the production. There were
21 main characters and 33 in the chorus. Patrick Largey was again the leading
tenor with Cecil Born, J. C. Chamberlain, J. D. Green, Stuart Yeatman, Raymond
Harris, Roy Wyand, and Wyndham Jones taking the other leading male parts. The
corresponding parts amongst the ladies were taken by Norma Brown, Eunice Cowler
and two others who merit special mention, namely Jane Adams, a school girl, as
Jill-all-alone and Margaret Berry (now Mrs. Mudway) who played Queen Elizabeth
quite magnificently. It so happened she had left school in the year"P.D." arrived
and it took him two years to discover he had a polished gem on his very doorstep.
Her entrance was spectacular; her contralto singing superb. She starred in every
other show that he produced. Although twenty-two years have passed I can still
remember the impact she had whilst she recalls these years as amongst her happiest
memories. A Sixth Former, who happened to be particularly interested in ballet
(Ann Hotchkiss), was given the task of arranging the dances and found it a great
honour and one of the happiest memories of her school days.
In the same year P. D. was responsible for a Festival Celebrity concert held
in the Town Hall on September 27. Lydney Grammar School choir joined the Five
Acres Ladies Choir and the Lydney Male Voice Choir to give a fine concert. Raymond
Cohen was the violinist and Freda Cullis the contralto soloist. Derek Hyde and
Mr. Powell Davies played two pieces for two pianos with Olive Gwilliam accompanist
throughout. Space does not permit me to list the items but the music reached
a very high standard. The audience was large and appreciative.
The following year saw a return to Gilbert and Sullivan."Trial by Jury" was
sung by members of the Lower Forms. Amongst the cast list are the names of Philip
Grindle, John Dyal, Trevor Wintle, Roger Reissner in leading parts, with David
Baingent, David Sims and Robert Windsor amongst the gentlemen of the Jury. It
proved a delightful introduction to the main work of the evening"H.M.S.
Pinafore". In this all the old familiar and welcome names were there with
two new ones, Messrs. R. Slee and Gilbert Charles. I recall Margaret Berry as"Little
Buttercup" and Beryl Lansdown as"Josephine" best of all. The
chorus was large and in excellent voice. As usual the thirty schoolgirls were
supported by fourteen men and boys - the former a mixture of Staff and Old Boys.
There was a very full orchestra with Ann Holland as accompanist, since Derek
Hyde had gone off to wider spheres. Mr. Alan Sands was responsible for the scenery
which he both designed, manufactured and painted. He had done this for the previous
production and was to do it for the next one too, in which he probably reached
his peak where his Forest of Dean backcloth drew especially favourable comment.
But to return to the two 1952 productions mentioned above, no one could complain
that the standard was any lower than in the previous years.
1953 proved a relatively quiet year musically speaking, though the school choirs
went up to the Cheltenham Festival as usual and the combined choir also joined
in a Lydney School concert organised by the County Music Organiser. In fact there
was intense activity behind the scenes (apart from a School play) for Mr. Powell
Davies and the Rev. Robert Mansfield had decided on a completely new venture
and wrote an operetta themselves. This was"The Phantom of Delight" and
was produced in April 1954. This"home-made" piece had the advantage
of one set only, modern costumes and no royalties.
It featured many of the old players like Joan Redding and her sister Lorna, Glenis
Smith, Pamela Baker, Pamela Butcher, Benita Beverstock, Cynthia Harris and Esme
Allen plus the three leading players, Jane Adams, Beryl Lansdown and Margaret
Berry. On the opposite side came David Voss, Eifion Jones together with familiar
names like those of Stuart Yeatman and Robert Mansfield. But there was one completely
new face in Farleigh Price (music critic of the"Gloucester Journal")
who stepped in at three weeks' notice. A Chorus of thirty-six made up the
chorus which now comprised mainly school boys and girls with one or two Staff
and six Old Boys. For this show Miss E. M. Cowler was not only wardrobe mistress
but arranged the dances too.
Let two outside critics give their respective verdicts: the first, reviewing
the year's productions called it"a brilliantly written opera" and
added"This was perhaps the greatest venture of the year and I still have
hopes of seeing this lovely work performed on the professional stage";
the second critic wrote"As usual Mr. Powell Davies made the fullest possible
use of the talent at his disposal and as a result enhanced his fine reputation
as a musician and composer. The cast was admirably chosen and the setting had
a very realistic appearance. A newcomer to the Society's ranks was Farleigh
Price. His refreshing tenor voice did full justice to his role. The whole evening's
entertainment was really first class and spoke volumes for all the hard work
put into it; Mr. Powell Davies and Mr. Mansfield can feel justly proud of the
great success to their new opera.
The first writer's wish nearly came true because to quote Mr. Powell Davies,"At
the last minute the backer dropped out because theatre managements had no faith
in a phantom fantasy plot (realism being the rage at that time) and the music
hadn't enough ‘Beat‘. A ‘hotted' up version could
have come on in the early sixties and commercially it was probably a mistake
to turn it down, but this 'pop' version was far removed from the
original production to be acceptable". I believe those who saw it would
applaud Mr. Powell Davies' final decision.
In December 1957,"Iolanthe" was presented with Jack Chamberlain,
Robert Mansfield, Peter Breeton, Reg Slee and Stuart Yeatman in the male leads
with the usual magnificent trio, Beryl Lansdown, Margaret Berry and Jane Adams
as the female leads. It was a sad-seet occation for Beryl as she was leaving
the district to marry Derek Worgan, the young giant referred to the"The
Mikado". As he was now a regular soldier she had to travel with him. (The
last time I heard of them they were still taking parts in Gilbert and Sullivan
operettas in Malta.)
I recall as if it were yesterday Reg Slee's sentry song - said to be practised
for hours before a mirror until he was satisfied he could sing it without moving
a whisker! Everyone gave of their best, especially Beryl Lansdown and Margaret
Berry. The Town Hall was packed to capacity and the audiences enthusiastic.
Mr. Powell Davies' last production was called"My Lady Cavalier" written
by himself with the book by Robert Mansfield simply to show, in the latter's
own words,"we could do another". The Principals were Mike Smith,
Robert Mansfield, Stuart Yeatman, Valerie Watkins, Margaret Berry and Joan Redding,
with David Hoult as the accompanist and the usual excellent orchestra led by
Mr. D. Stevens. All the cast knew it was to be"P.D.'s" last
at L.G.S. and they gave of their best as a tribute to his long, successful and
happy time with us.
Here let me quote the words written by Joan Imm, a member of the chorus and the
V1th form then (now Mrs. Michael Chamberlain)."It was a very sad thought
that one who dad done so much for the school musically was going to leave. Although
we were happy as the curtain came down on the last night that the opera had been
a success, it was with much regret that we sang."Auld Lang Syne".
I am sure there are many pupils, past and present; members of the Staff then
and now; also the outside friends who came into help who would agree with her.
Mr. Powell Davies would, I know, wish me to add his own deep appreciation of
the tremendous response he got from everyone concerned; both those who had some
of the limelight; and those who did so much behind the scenes, and particularly
to his colleagues who guided their efforts so successfully.
J.H.
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