Record Number: 30552
Reading Experience:
Evidence:
'Meeting held at “Frensham”, Northcourt Avenue, 21st Feb ’45
Howard R. Smith in the chair
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read & signed.
[…]
7. The play chosen to be read was “Mr. Bolfrey” by James Bridie. With all respect
to Howard Smith who played a devil raised from Hell, it must be admitted that it
was excellently cast. Cyril Langford introduced the characters & read the stage
directions.
Austin Miller read Cully, the typical product of Public School and University, unable
to listen patiently & with no manners
Bruce Dilks read Cohen – sturdy, Hebraic and disconsolate. He appeared
conversant with barrack-room language, and provided the comic relief.
Alice Joselin read Jean, the bright young thing from London who rebelled against
the of her Uncle’s life and outlook.
Muriel Stevens read Morag with all the freshness & innocence of seventeen.
Frank Pollard as Mr. McCrimmon gave a most convincing portrait of a Scottish
Presbyterian Minister – handsome and serious, very strict[?] and narrow minded.
Faith Miller read Mrs. McCrimmon with a charming Scottish accent, kind Motherly
and completely impenetrable.
Howard Smith read Mr Bolfrey, the Devils advocate and his verbal duel with F. E.
Pollard was particularly entertaining.
The play raises a number of problems to which it offers no solution, but we were
left with the feeling that although Devils may talk and umbrellas may walk its
always a good thing to dunk up your tea while its hot, and Monday will always be
washing-day.
[signed as a true record by] F. E. Pollard 25.IV.45 [at the club meeting held at 22
Cintra Avenue]'
1900-1945
Date:21 Feb 1945
Country:England
Timeevening
Place:city: Reading
county: Berkshire
specific address: Frensham, Northcourt Avenue
(Reader):
silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
(Listener):
solitary reactive unknown
single serial unknown
Reader / Listener / Reading Group:
Reader: Age:Adult (18-100+)
Gender:Female
Date of Birth:n/a
Socio-Economic Group:Professional / academic / merchant / farmer
Occupation:n/a
Religion:Quaker or associated with the Friends
Country of Origin:n/a
Country of Experience:England
Listeners present if any:e.g family, servants, friends
Members of the XII Book Club
Additional Comments:
n/a
Text Being Read:
Author: Title:Mr Bolfry: a play in four scenes
Genre:Drama, One act plays
Form of Text:Print: Book
Publication DetailsIn James Bridie, Plays for Plain People (London: Constable, 1944). This would have been the version available in 1945.
Provenanceunknown
Source Information:
Record ID:30552
Source:Manuscript
Author:Margaret Dilks
Title:XII Book Club Minute Book, Vol. 5 (1944-1952)
Location:private collection
Call No:n/a
Page/Folio:29–31
Additional Information:
Margaret Dilks was secretary to the XII Book Club from 1940 to 1970. It is inferred from this, and from the handwriting, that she was the author of this set of minutes.
Citation:
Margaret Dilks, XII Book Club Minute Book, Vol. 5 (1944-1952), private collection, 29–31, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=30552, accessed: 17 August 2024
Additional Comments:
Material by kind permission of the XII Book Club. For further information and permission to quote this source, contact the Reading Experience Database (http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/contacts.php).