Half A Sixpence
29th November - 3rd December 2005

Music by
David Heneker

Lyrics by
David Heneker

Book by
Beverley Cross

Based on
"Kipps" (Novel) by H. G. Wells

Reviews

The Team

Director - Jane Kerfoot
Musical Director - Rob Randall
Choreographers - Sue Reader & Katrina Trice
Stage Manager - Stuart Mather
Assisted by - Brian Beckley, Ted Edgeler and Catriona Maclean, Bob Cockshott, Ian Lambert, Richard Burchill & Paul Cohen
Front of House & programme Sales - Olive Leach
Publicity - Rick Baxter, Briar Blake, Kevin Hayes and Dawn Lambert
Ticket Secretary - Derrick Cathie
Sound - James Patterson
Lighting Design - Simon Clarke
Wardrobe Mistress - Anne Cathie
Costumes - Admiral Costumes
Set design - Scenic Projects
Continuity - Chrissy Bright
Posters and programme design - Les Watts

The Cast

Arthur Kipps - Kevin Hayes
Sid Pornick - Wayne Trice
Buggins - Cory Trice
Pearce - Adrian Morrissey
Carshot - Ray Beaney
Flo Bates - Katy Davis
Victoria - Lindsay Spence
Kate - Charlotte Alger
Emma - Penny Davis
Mr. Shalford - John Speller
Mrs. Botting - Niki Davarias
Mrs. Walsingham - Dawn Lambert
Ann Pornic - Jacky Davis
Young Walsingham - Andrew Roach
Helen Walsingham - Karen Mawson
Chitterlow - Alex Murphy
Laura - Tracy Wrench
Edith - Heather Duncan
Student - Chris Beaney
Photographer - David Hayes
Gwendoline - Hazel Istead
Company - Rick Baxter, Chris Beaney, Wendy Beckey, Jenni Chadney*, Heather Duncan,
David Hayes, Hazel Istead*, Liz King, Barry Knight*, Sean Lewis*, Stephanie Poulter, Pat Weston, Gary Wookey*, Katie Wookey*, Brenda Wren, Tracy Wrench
*dancers
Children - Harriet Harvey, Amy Hayes, Chloe Jackson, Beau Scarlett-Pitt.

The Story

In Edwardian England, orphaned Arthur Kipps finds a new sixpence as he walks along a stream with his girl friend, Ann. Before going to a nearby town to serve as apprentice to a draper, Kipps has a blacksmith cut the coin in two and gives one half to Ann as a symbol of their love. Kipps's work at the drape store is difficult and his living conditions minimal, but his luck changes when he becomes friends with Harry Chitterlow, an eccentric actor-playwright; Chitterlow discovers from the newspaper that Kipps is heir to a fortune left him by his grandfather.

Now a wealthy young man, Kipps rewards the showman by investing in one of his productions and then leaves the store for a trip abroad. Upon his return, he forgets his vow to Ann, who is now a maid in a large manor, becomes engaged to snobbish socialite Helen Walsingham, and allows her brother Hubert to invest his money. His break with his former friends becomes final when he leads a crew of his aristocratic friends to victory in the Henley Regatta. Kipps soon realizes the shallowness of his new lifestyle, however, and renews his pledge to Ann by breaking his engagement. Kipps and Ann get married and move into his grandfather's mansion, as he makes plans to build her the most elegant home in England. Ann despises her husband's grandiose airs, and their marriage soon becomes a series of quarrels over social status. Their problems multiply when Hubert disappears, leaving behind a mountain of unpaid bills and a bankrupt Kipps. Sobered by misfortune, Kipps happily returns to his former way of life with his old friends and prepares to settle down in a modest cottage with Ann.
Later, Chitterlow unexpectedly reappears with news that his play is a smashing success and that Kipps will reap a percentage of the profits.

(Synopsis source unknown, if this is your intellectual property please contact us and we will remove it)