The Greville Theatre Club
Oct/Nov 2007

 When We Are Married
by J B Priestley.
  

Directed by
John Richardson

 

"John Richardson is well
served by those in his cast"
Braintree & Witham Times

 

When We Are Married is set in Clecklewyke, a small town in the West Riding of Yorkshire in the early years of the twentieth century.  Twenty-five years ago, the Helliwells, the Parkers and the Soppitts were married on the same day by the same clergyman.  When they gather at the Helliwell home to celebrate their silver wedding, the new chapel organist tells them that he recently met the parson, who conducted the triple wedding ceremony, and realized that he was not authorised to do so.  Pandemonium breaks out when these pillars of society believe that they have been living in sin.

Mrs. Northrop (Jan Ford) shows Gerald Forbes
(Nigel Smith), the chapel organist, who has
been summoned by Alderman Helliwell,
into the sitting room.

 

Alderman Helliwell's niece, Nancy Holmes, (Carol Parradine) who is meeting Gerald secretly, tells him that he is in real trouble.

Fred Dyson (Steve Bradley) and Henry
Ormonroyd (Adam Thompson) of the
Yorkshire Argus arrive to interview and
photograph the three couples.  Nancy
shows them a photo of their wedding.

 

The three couples, Joseph and Maria Helliwell (Barry Ditchfield and Marcia Baldry), Albert and Annie Parker (Rodney Foster and Madeline Harmer) and Herbert and Clara Soppitt (David Bone and Diana Bradley) arrive to celebrate their anniversary.

 

An aggressive Mrs. Northrop is told to bring in
the drinks.

The three pillars of the chapel complain to Gerald about his "carrying on". Gerald tells the men that they are not officially married.

 

Mrs. Northrop who has been listening at the door
is beside herself with mirth.

 

 

Maria gives Mrs. Northrop her notice.  Mrs. Northrop, on the other hand, tells the ladies what she has overheard.

 

Ruby (Amanda Thompson) admits Lottie Grady
(Carole Parradine) who tells the ladies that
one of their husbands told her, on a trip to
Blackpool, that if he was not married, he would
rather be married to her.

 

The Rev. Clement Mercer (Peter Nicholson) arrives, having been told by Mrs. Northrop's husband that the three couples are in need of a clergyman's services.  He is appalled to find that they are not properly married.

 

Alderman Helliwell is horrified to see Lottie who has
come to take him up on his promise.

 

Maria prepares to return to her mother's and leave Lottie to run the household.  She instructs her on what needs to be done.

 

Joe manages to persuade Maria not to leave.

The Rev. Mercer upbraids Mrs. Northrop for drinking and making trouble.

 

Henry Ormonroyd shows the men evidence
that they are truly married after all.  A
registrar was present.

 

                 With everyone now happy, Henry
                 at last takes the couples' photograph.