Not Now, Darling
Terry Scott, originally cast as Arnold Crouch, required a brain operation and left during rehearsals. The role was played during previews by Ray Cooney, with the press night pushed back from 7th to 15th November to enable Andrew Sachs to take over on a permanent basis. (‘Theatre News’, The Stage 1st November 1979, page 2 / ‘Savoy first night postponed’, The Stage 8th November 1979, page 10.)
Cast & Crew
Cast
Arnold Crouch | Andrew Sachs |
---|---|
Arnold Crouch (previews) | Ray Cooney |
Commander Frencham | Derek Bond |
Gilbert Bodley | Leslie Phillips |
Harry McMichael | Tony Anholt |
Janie McMichael | Helen Gill |
Maude Bodley | Sylvia Syms |
Miss Tipdale | June Whitfield |
Miss Whittington | Amanda Holmes |
Mr Lawson | Nicholas Field |
Mrs Frencham | Monica Grey |
Sue Lawson | Serretta Wilson |
Arnold Crouch (temporary replacement) | Mansel David
(February 1980) |
Arnold Crouch (replacement) | Ray Cooney
(started May 1980) |
Maude Bodley (replacement) | Rona Anderson
(started May 1980) |
Miss Tipdale (replacement) | Diana Coupland
(started May 1980) |
Crew | |
Designer | Alan Tagg |
Director | Ray Cooney |
Lighting | Mick Hughes |
Costumes | Jennifer Westcott |
Presented by | Ray Cooney |
Press Representative | Nina Curtis |
- Observations (2)
- Source: University of Bristol Theatre Collection
- Last modified by Jared William.
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Observations
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The original casting for ‘Arnold Crouch’ was Terry Scott (opposite June Whitfield,of course), but at the end of the first week of rehearsal he was rushed into hospital for an emergency brain operation, from which he later recovered. This led to the last-minute replacement of Andrew Sachs, who was busy promoting a ‘Manuel’ Record at the time, and joined the Cast for the third (and final) week of rehearsal, before opening direct at the Savoy Theatre. Understudy, Mansel David, rehearsed with the Cast for the whole of the second week of the three-week rehearsal period, which paid dividends later when he had to play some performances the following February, after Andrew Sachs succumbed to the inevitable exhaustion of the busy schedule brought about by the circumstances.
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As an eleven year old at Howarth Cross Middle School, Lancashire, we were booked to see Robert Lindsay in The Cherry Orchard, but the show, or his appearance was cancelled. Instead we were taken to see this production. I recall a single set depicting an apartment and balcony to the rear of the stage, a fur coat, no knickers and typical farce like performing. If I only knew of the tremendous actors performing that evening. Quite a cast, though possibly lost upon me and my working class, literally great unwashed, classmates.
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