Director
Jonathan Lewis
April 1999
Habeas Corpus
Alan Bennett
director
Geoffrey Crass
​
Music Linda Davison
Producer Maggie Spink
Assistant Joan Bottomley
Stage Manager Neil Gray
Cast
Dr Arthur Wicksteed - David Pike
Muriel Wicksteed - Barbara Crass
Dennis Wicksteed - Simon Stephens
Constance Wicksteed - Robin Walton
Mrs Swabb - Delia Madgwick
Canon Throbbing - Richard Wood
Sir Percy Shorter - John Roberts
Lady Rumpers - Bromwyn Jennison
Felicity Rumpers - Cassandra Bullock
Mr Shanks - David Goodwin
Mr Purdue - Ian Hall
Fond memories for David
I remember being cast as the breast implant salesman in this riotous comedy and my client was the statuesque Barbara Crass, her husband Geoffrey was in the directors chair and he told me "Dear boy, there is no mucking about here, grab them, weigh them and work them!" I said I couldn't possibly do that, he said it's a must! Barbara just looked worried, although, it maybe me, but I swear I detected a wicked gleam in her eyes! Rehearsals began and we all settled down to the fun of the piece, but whenever I had to "work" with these specific "props" I was a little nervous! (Although my wife maintains that each rehearsal was the equivalent of yet another birthday!). Just one specific rehearsal comes back to me. We had reached the end of the evening, and Barbara, beckoned me for a quiet word. "Darling" she said, "All is fine, but when you come to handle these props" (she gestured down) "could you be a bit more gentle?"
The fun of working with Barbara and Geoffrey Crass is a memory that never fades.