Record Number: 30554

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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]'

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

21 Feb 1945

Country:

England

Time

evening

Place:

city: Reading
county: Berkshire
specific address: Frensham, Northcourt Avenue

Type of Experience
(Reader):
 

silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

Type of Experience
(Listener):
 

solitary reactive unknown
single serial unknown

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Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

Francis E. Pollard

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

1872

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

Formerly schoolmaster, now occasional lecturer and supply teacher, and supported also by wife's unearned income

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

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Text Being Read:

Author:

James Bridie

Title:

Mr Bolfry: a play in four scenes

Genre:

Drama, One act plays

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

In James Bridie, Plays for Plain People (London: Constable, 1944). This would have been the version available in 1945.

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

30554

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=30554, accessed: 22 November 2024

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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).