Rushden Research Group: Amateur Dramatic Society

Rushden Amateur Dramatic Society

On the 15th, 16th & 17th of February 1899 the Society presented the show Black Eyed Susan in aid the St John's Ambulance Corps, Rushden Branch. The surviving papers about this production may have been kept by the Society's treasurer as the poster has been marked "paid" on most of the adverts around the programme. J S Clipson & Darnell's furniture, glass & china were the only two who had not paid at the time.

BY DOUGLAS JERROLD
In Aid of St. John's Ambulance Corps, Rushden Branch
INCIDENTAL MUSIC
Arranged and Composed by Mr. W. S. BROWN
SCENERY BY E. V. & A. WILLIAMS,
Late of Drury Lane, Covent Garden and Her Majesty's Theatre.
Uniforms, Costumes &c., by JOHN HYMAN & Co., Costumiers to the Principal Theatres.

Cast of Characters
William	Mr. W. Hewitt
Doggrass (a Miser)	Mr. G. H. Parkin
Gnatbrain	Mr. J. W. Waite
Captain Crosstree	Mr. A. Mumford
Jacob Twigg	Mr. J. Dickens
Ploughshare	Mr. J. Bugby
Admiral	Mr. W. H. Moody
Raker	Mr. G. E. Cunnington
Hatchet	Mr. G. E. Woodward
Innkeeper	Mr. A. N. Other
Lieutenant Pike	Mr. R. Cunnington
1st Marine	Mr. W. Wood
2nd Marine	Mr. F. Reeve
Lieutenant Harris	Mr. F. Pratt
Blue Peter	Mr. A. Packwood
Quid	Mr. A. Groome
Seaweed	Mr. E. Linnett
Yarn	Mr. S. Perkins
Ben Hawser	Mr. S. Percy
Tom Taut	Mr. D. Danvers
Jack Halyard	Mr. T. Willmott
Captain Dalrymple	Mr. A. Ashby
Captain Patterson	Mr. A. Sargent
Captain Hartopp	Mr. W. H. Darnell
Captain Paget	Mr. T.T.Clarke
Captain Grosvenor	Mr. H. Chester
Captain Trevor	Mr. W. H. Pingston
Midshipman	Mr. J. Watson
Polly Perkins	Miss L. West
Nancy	Mrs. F. Shortland
Nellie	Miss F. Darnell
Carrie	T. Brown
Hattie	Miss E. Waite
Kathleen	Miss E. Knight
Nora	Miss L. Sargent
Dolly Mayflower	Mrs. J. Dickens
Black Eyed Susan	Mrs. W. Hewitt

Orchestra
Violin	Leader Mr. W. S. Brown
Violin	Mr. F. White
Violin	Mr. H. Underwood
Cello	Mr. I. S. Clipson
Bass	Mr. W. Lockie
Cornet	Mr. F. Robinson
Trombone	Mr. D. Percival
Clarinet	Mr. F. Chapman
Piano	Miss Clipson

Early productions included:

“The Lancers” in February 1898,

“Snowdrift” in 1898,

“The Purser” and

“Black-eyed Susan” in 1899,

“Much Ado about Nothing” in February 1901

and “Les Cloches de Corneville”

all at the Public Hall.

We also have this photograph of what appears to be a drama group. Please does anyone have any ideas - is it a production by this Society?

click here for some newsclips about the performance