Habeas Corpus

Habeas Corpus is a play set in about 1973 and explores the lives of a doctor and his family, friends and colleagues - and a suicidal patient. It was written in a similar vein to the “Carry On” films which were very popular at the time. They still give much pleasure to many people so many years later and so it was with this production.

The narrator was the housekeeper Mrs Swabb (Marlene Tincknell), who  introduced us the various people involved. They were all well cast and played their characters very convincingly. All the elements for a good plot were present. The lecherous Doctor Wicksteed (Martin Sworn), his frustrated wife, Muriel (Sara Spencer), their gawky and hypochondriac son, Dennis (Benjamin Roorda) and their flat-chested daughter, Constance (Danielle Roorda). The doctor was hoping for an unprofessional relationship with his patient, Felicity Rumpers (Josie Wenham) but she was engaged to the sex-starved Canon Throbbing (Jamie Griffiths). Felicity’s mother, Lady Rumpers (Viv Culton) then turned up and so with the arrival of the BMA.president, Sir Percy Shorter (Mark Pattenden) and the breast-enhancing specialist Mr Shanks (Harry Rippon) life became very complicated for all. A lovely cameo part of suicidal Mr Perdue (Lewis Bentley) added some more humour to the plot.

The scenery consisted of a backdrop of Brighton Pier and props were minimal - 3 chairs, a case, a telephone and a noose - but with the acting abilities of the cast, no more were required. The director had put so much movement into the scenario that we were looking for and trying to anticipate what would go wrong next in the lives of this interesting mix of characters or, should I say, bed-fellows. We were not disappointed at all and congratulations and well-deserved compliments go to all both on stage and the “behind the scenes” crew.    

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