Stage Dragon: This Happy Breed At The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

Published on: 20 Oct, 2016
Updated on: 20 Oct, 2016

Noel Coward’s play, This Happy Breed, spans the period between the First and Second World Wars.  Written on the eve of the second, but not performed until 1942, Coward brilliance shows us a family’s reaction to various events over that period, both within and without the family circle.

The set is designed so that the audience follow the actors as they go about daily life. Who, after all, has not stood at the door of a sitting room and bellowed for someone to come downstairs, instead of traipsing up the stairs and getting them?

A tender moment between Frank (played by Mark Elstob) and Ethel (by Helen Logan) in This Happy Breed at The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.

Removing the walls allows us to see emotions which would have otherwise been hidden. Smoke drifting out of the chimneys and period costumes, while I am not an expert, (I have seen a lot of old movies), perfectly set the pre-war scene.

But it isn’t just the costumes that change – the actors age before our eyes – and the house goes through changes as well.

The backstage crew deserve a large round of applause for the way they made the transition between scenes look easy.

Frank and Bob having a merry time after a regimental reunion.

Mark Elstob (as Frank Gibbons) and Helen Logan (as Ethel, his wife) gave a gritty performance to show us the ups and downs of married life over a long period. Frank had obviously had a bad time during the First iorld War. Just as obviously, he does not understand that Ethel had also.

When we meet the family, they are moving into a new house with all the unpacking that entails. The neighbour drops by to offer assistance and Frank recognises him for a soldier he served with, Bob Mitchell (played by Owen Aaronovitch).

Then we find out that there is an extended family as Ethel’s mother, Mrs Flint (Margaret Preece) and Frank’s sister Sylvia (Stepanie Wilson) are also coming to live in the house. With three children as well, the house would be very lively as Mrs Flint and Sylvia love to argue!

This Happy Breed.

We didn’t meet the children for a few years, but they turned out to be adults when we did. Anna McGarahan, Hannah Howie, and John Winchester gave us believable performances as the Gibbons siblings, Vi, Queenie, and Reg. We met their friends Sam (George Arvidson) and Phyllis (Gemma McElhinney) and followed their lives as they entwined with the Gibbons. The boy next door, Billy Mitchell (Lee Dillon-Stuart), popped in and out as befits a man who is in the navy!

There were high points throughout the evening, Reg’s wedding to Phyllis is one,  but there were low points too, and the emotions of each were beautifully portrayed by the cast.

The Pitlochry Festival Theatre is to be greatly commended for presenting such a good production of This Happy Breed. Definitely four stars!

This Happy Breed is on at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre until Saturday, October 22. Friday and Saturday at 8pm with a Saturday matinee at 2:30pm. You can book tickets online or by telephoning 01483 440000.

Share This Post