Little Theatre, Reading

‘“The Shewing-up of Blanco Posnet” was written in 1909 and banned from public performance for a number of years. It takes place in a court-room in a village in the United States in the early pioneer days. and is described by the author as a “religious tract in dramatic form.” Blanco Posnet, worthless rover and vagabond, steals a horse which he finds in the stable of his brother the Elder, and which subsequently turns out to be the sheriff’s horse. Riding away from the town he is stopped by a woman with a dying child, and to his own astonishment “goes soft,” as he puts it, and gives her the horse to ride to a doctor. The impulsive act means that his pursuers catch him before he can get far away on foot, and he is put up for trial as a horse stealer, the penalty of which is death. Glyn Morgan showed considerable talent as Blanco, in spite of getting rather tied up with his words on the first night. Bobby Fennall gave a clever character study as the pious brother, and Balfour Thompson was quite at ease in his part as the sheriff. Arthur Plowman made a formidable Strapper Kent [sic – Kemp], who accuses the thief, and Pauline Parry, as Feemy Evans, a woman of doubtful character, gave a skilful performance. A light touch was introduced by Percy Fish as Nester, the drunken member of the Jury. Linda Bridges gave a sympathetic portrayal of the woman with the dead child. The plays were produced by Miss Olwen Roose. Music was provided during the interval by Miss Edith Morgan. Picture on page 9’. Reading Standard, 1 December 1939.