Review by Roger Clarke
Hattie Townsend’s latest dramatic production “After the War was Over” is set in the North Shelter in Roberts Park, and was intended top be performed there, in the open. However, the persistently poor weather of the weekend led to its transfer to the comfort of the Fluke Room in Victoria Hall where a captivated audience watched the three elements of the play unfold. Providing the thread between the three is a reporter (played by Kate Breeze) who is waiting for developments with her latest scoop.
What she finds is a fashionable, young, Saltaire milliner complete with cloche hat and flapper ambitions (played by Charlotte Reynard). who is waiting for a friend to go to the flicks, and a nurse pushing her mustard-gassed soldier casualty in a wheelchair (Sheila Lansdell and Josh Breeze). The resultant stories are as poignant as the scoop, which is based on the tragedy of Sir James Roberts’ daughter whose shell-shocked husband murdered a fellow officer. Marcia Wright played the family servant who gave evidence at the trial.
The play is at times amusing, but always brings the audience face to face with the many tragedies in the lives of ordinary people brought by the Great War of 1914-18.
All five actors gave polished performances, often bringing a tear to the eye. Talented author Hattie has once again written a well crafted script based on true events, and has cast, directed, costumed and produced it herself to bring this gem to the Saltaire stage. I hope that Sentinel readers who missed it will get another chance to see it sometime in the future.
