There were few institutions where superiority and snobbishness were more endemic than the private schools of the 1950s.
They catered for single sex groups of pupils whose parents were neither wealthy nor well connected enough to send their children to public school, but would not have dreamed of exposing their little darlings to the horrors of the state school system. Their academic status was doubtful, too, as a large proportion of the intake were II-plus failures, not bright enough to make it to the prestigious and historic Grammar Schools at the peak of the state system.
It is in one such school, Gibralter House at Hartmouth, that Georgina Reid's Ladies of Spirit is set, and that was the play chosen by Mere Amateur Dramatic Society for its November production.
It's good to see a new play, and specially one whose setting is so uncomfortably similar to my own education, albeit without nuns.
Instead we have Miss Rowe, a domineering social climber whose toadying to local dignitaries and hatred of the working classes is pulling the school down.
Gibraltar House was founded in 1916 by the Misses Harriet and Matilda Pye, and now it 1958. Miss Maudesley, past retirement age, continues from the Pye days.
Miss Rowe has been in post for 10 years, and she brought with her Miss Danvers, the deputy head and a fierce supporter.
Miss Thorpe juggles teaching with raising her three children, is beloved of her pupils and brings a wonderful humour to the staffroom.
Newly joined is Miss Cox, fresh from teacher's training college, and she has no truck with all Miss Rowe's airs and graces.
As well as bullying Miss Maudesley, favouring the odious daughter of a town alderman and demonising the bright daughter of the local beautician, Miss Rowe wants to change the name of the school and remove the portraits af the founders from the hall, to be replaced by a ghastly daub of a modern painting presented by the alderman.
And in the tradition of Angela Brazil, it's time for action to be taken.
And in from the edges come the Misses Pye, Harriet , stately, piercingly intelligent and very witty, and Matilda as her loveable sidekick.
Pip Brown and Chris Wood directed this play with a wicked eye, revelling in the new facilities of the refurbished Lecture Hall and bringing sensational performances out of their talented cast.
There are only two men in the play, and they have no words, so it's all credit to the ever delightful Eric Kincaid and the smouldering young Josh Wood to have made such an impression.
Angela Kincaid captured the domineering bluster of Miss Rowe to perfection, and Juliet Booth was the scheming Miss Danvers.
The audience felt for poor Maudy (Evelyn Chapman) and cheered on the efforts of Tessa Harris and Anne Rich as the other teachers. Emily Thommes was ideal as Sally Burgess, the school secretary.
But it was Mary White who stole the show as the older Miss Pye, and she had very funny support from June Hewett as her sister. Miss Harriet brought all her ghostly powers to bear to materialise, and into a Middle European duchess, cousin to Miss Maudesley and visitor to vet the school for the arrival of a young princess. She came from somewhere that most closely resembled in sound Schleswig Holstein, but was so hilariously mangled in her mittle-accent that it brought the house down AND so impressed Miss Rowe that all her changes were forgotten in the dash to ingratiate herself with "royalty".
Maggie Durkee's cameo appearance as Mrs Emmett was a brilliant contrast to the refeenment of the staff room. And the final twist was a joy.
Everyone involved deserves a big hand for this show, which was dedicated to a young man who had done so much for the society on the technical side.
Simon Farnfield, husband, father and hard working supporter of MADS, died last year at the age af 28, while the new hall was being refurbished. He always loved comedy and it was with him in mind that the group chose Ladies of Spirit. It was a fitting tribute.
But one footnote. On the front of the (prospectus) programme it says "Chair of Governors: Alderman 0 Pursey". In 1958 no one of either sex thought it necessary to refer to themselves as a piece af furniture. Chairman, please!
GP-W
Taken from the Blackmore Vale Magazine, Nov 28th. Issue No. 1573