Flowers for the Living
This tour was scheduled to stop at the Empire Theatre, Hartlepool from 13th to 18th February 1950, immediately prior to the production opening in the West End on the 21st. However, the week was cancelled – ‘owing to indisposition’, according to local ads. It’s fair to assume that the week was actually cleared in order to rehearse Kathleen Harrison (who took over from Renee Heath) and three other new cast members in time for a revamped West End premiere (qv). The ‘re-directed by’ credit in the West End went to John Citroen.
On tour, top billing above the title went to Nova Pilbeam and Barry Morse; however, in London they were billed below top-billed Kathleen Harrison. By 5th June 1950 the play was on tour again (qv), with Renee Heath back in the role of Mrs Holmes and a completely different cast – apart from Margot Boyd, who played Mrs Shadwell throughout.
Cast & Crew
Cast
A Young Man | Robert Desmond |
---|---|
Dickie Holmes | William Strange |
Gladys | Paula Young |
Lily Holmes | Nova Pilbeam |
Mr Holmes | Cameron Miller |
Mrs Holmes | Renee Heath |
Mrs Shadwell | Margot Boyd |
Shirley Holmes | Suzanne Wilde |
Sid | Donald Ewer |
Stan Roberts | Barry Morse |
Crew | |
Director | John Oxford |
Setting by | George Paddon Foster |
Presented by | Frederick Piffard |
- Added by Michael Hope, last modified by Chris D.
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Play description
“The authoress, a Southend-on-Sea schoolmistress, has dealt with the problem of the slum-bred ATS girl [Lily Holmes], who, after six years of decent living conditions in the Services [during the war], finds herself on demobilisation back where she began. We meet the girl after her return home, when revolt against cramped living conditions, a drunken father, and rotten neighbours has become he most important thing in her life.” – ‘Chit Chat’, The Stage 1st January 1948 (page 8)
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