‘Reverend Wilkinson would be proud’ (From Watford Observer)

Abbots Langley Gilbert and Sullivan Society looks back over 60 years

9:48am Friday 29th October 2010 in Memories By Michael Pickard

As members of the Abbots Langley Gilbert and Sullivan Society prepare to celebrate its diamond jubilee, here is a photograph taken from its first ever show – a performance of Mikado in 1951.

Brenda Southorn recalls: “In the September of 1950 the vicar of Abbots Langley, the Reverend Raymond Wilkinson, decided to follow his love of Gilbert and Sullivan by forming a society in the village to perform the works of that illustrious pair.

“At that time nearly all of the village cast were newcomers to the stage and the first production of the Abbots Langley Gilbert and Sullivan Society was performed in Leavesden Hospital’s fine big hall commencing on January 29, 1951.

“The chosen production was The Mikado and the title role was played by the vicar while his curate the Reverend William Peverley played the part of Ko-Ko. It is reported that they were overheard in the wings on the Saturday evening discussing who was doing the sermon in church the next day.

“One of the founder members and well-known tenor the late Derrick Phoenix recalled in a press interview: ‘You could go up and down the High Street in Abbots Langley and find the whole cast’.

“During these early years the society often performed two Gilbert and Sullivan operas each year at both Leavesden Hospital and the Henderson Hall in Abbots Langley and many fine local singers and actors started their stage careers in the village society.

“The society then, as now, encouraged youthful talent and in the 1953 production of Ruddigore, three of the leading roles were played by 17, 18 and 20-year-olds to great acclaim. In our forthcoming show in January five of the principals are in their 20s.

“In 1960 Jimmy Perry invited the society to perform an annual show at the Watford Palace Theatre. It had been many years since Gilbert and Sullivan had been performed at this venue and it was with much excitement and some trepidation that the company took their production of The Pirates of Penzance to the theatre in February 1960.

“This is very much reflected in the press release of that time with headlines like ‘Amateurs to take Palace stage’, ‘Abbots invasion of Watford’ and ‘Butterflies and headaches’.

“With a line up of local celebrities present on the first night and faced with the fact of having to sell five times more seats than they were used to it is no wonder that there was some apprehension amongst the committee members as to the wisdom of their decision to accept Jimmy Perry’s invitation. However the venture paid off as the headlines the following week read ‘Langley Pirates a Big Hit at the Palace’.

“The society has performed Gilbert and Sullivan at the Palace Theatre every year since 1960 and also took part in Gilbert and Sullivan for All concerts at the Palace in the 1960s with stars from the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company, Valerie Masterton, Gillian Knight, Donald Adams and Thomas Round who remains one of our vice-presidents.

“The move to the Palace brought about an expansion in the society with people coming from Watford, St Albans, Bushey and Chesham to join the company and this resulted too in a wider audience.

“Another turning point came in 1972 when it was decide to stage a non-G & S Show at the Abbey Theatre in St Albans. The first show was Brigadoon and this was followed by such shows as Carousel, Guys and Dolls and Orpheus in the Underworld. Other venues we have visited for our ‘second’ show each year have been Watersmeet Theatre, Rickmansworth; The James Theatre and Pump House Theatre, Watford; and Henderson Hall, Abbots Langley.

“This has enabled the members to experience other types of musical style and has again led to a further expansion of the membership.

“In 1998 we were invited to perform at the prestigious Buxton International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival and we have since performed there on nine occasions winning many nominations and awards for our productions.

“In our 60th year we are presenting a double bill of Trial by Jury and HMS Pinafore at the Watford Palace Theatre from January 17 to January 22. Our run finishes exactly one week before the 60th anniversary of that first opening night.

“We will be holding a Gala reunion evening on Friday, January 21, when we hope many of our former members will be able to come from far and near. This evening will also give us an opportunity to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease charity. The box office number is 01923 225671.

“We are sure that the late Reverend Raymond Wilkinson would be very proud of his little village society.”