Cider with Rosie

Cast

Narrator, Laurie Lee.......................Tony Whitley
Mother.............................................Val Whitley
Loll, young Laurie Lee....................Ben Adams
Marge/Rosie............................Jenny McDonald
Mrs Davies/Miss Wardley................Pat Upton
Mrs Pimbury.................................Janet Townes
Doth...............................................Wendy Beric
Granny Wallon............................Pauline Green
Miss B/Granny Trill..................Anthea Blundell
Baroness von Hodenburg.......Marjorie Howarth

Phyll/Jo...........................................Helen Ryder
Jack...........................................Simon Ammora
Walt/Mr Davies............................Martin Illston
Uncle Sid/Squire...............................Phil Upton
Vicar...............................................Gordon Gell
Vincent/Tony........................Richard Stevenson
Spadge...........................................Mike Asprey
Teacher.......................................Audrey Warne
Gravedigger...................................Alan Morton
Child/Carol Singer.......................Anthea White
Singer.................................................Sue Orme
Gardener......................................Ray Gumbley

As they approach their 50th anniversary, the Marlowe Players used most of their members in "Cider with Rosie" at Derby Playhouse Studio Theatre.

It was a stage adaptation by James Roose Evans which brought to life the famous account of his boyhood by the author who died earlier in the year, Laurie Lee.

Tony Whitley, in this guise, benignly narrated these events throughout, with Ben Adams acting out his younger self.

Strewing of a few flowers, with a grassy mound surmounted by a cross, and a few props added as necessary, set the scenes for rural activities and reminiscences, with characterisations of people adding life to them.

Particularly effective were Val Whitley as Mother, Pauline Green as Granny Wallon and Anthea Blundell as Granny Trill; Marjorie Howarth as Baroness von Hodenburg; Phil Upton as the Squire, and Gordon Gell as the Vicar.

A welcome sight of doyen Alan Morton as the Gravedigger added to the charm of the play.

Presumably it was adapted in recent years, else why would the Lord's Prayer not follow the original words of the Book of Common Prayer?

Apart from this it was a faithful representation of what life is reputed to have been like after the first World War, with a poignant moment at the end when the two Laurie Lees appeared together.

Director was Suzie Illston, with Steve Cooper as stage manager and Val Whitley assembling a notable wardrobe.

Continuity was in the hands of founder member Vida Ayres.

- Margaret Beardsley