Hilda McSporran: an appreciation
The word legend is probably bandied about too often these days but, in drama circles, in Hilda McSporran we really did have someone who deserved to be considered a legend. Hilda sadly passed away on Monday October 14, aged 86.
To be part of the very first Kintyre festival in 1949, playing the part of Bella Crewe in Machrihanish Dramatic Club’s performance of Dark Brown, and still be able to play a major role in the 70th festival earlier this year was some achievement and something of which I know Hilda was very proud.
Many will have memories of Hilda throughout the years with her involvement with various clubs but as a club member for the past 26 years she has played a huge part in Peninver Players.
Hilda stepped in very late in the day to take the part of Lena Sheehy in the play Lena after Mary McCrank was unable to continue in the role due to illness.
Club producer Donald McCallum knew there was only one person who could come in and make the part their own and learn the lines at such short notice and that was Hilda. It was only supposed to be for that one performance but I would like to think that she felt at home with Peninver and so stayed on for the next 26 years.
Hilda played many and diverse parts during the years and our club members will have their own favourites. Here are some of mine: As Lady Alice in Hallow’een, going from the straight-laced lady to trying to de-frock the Abbott after mistakenly taking the love potion; as Mrs Wilson, the minister’s wife, in Match of the Day – nobody in the cast will ever forget the way Hilda acted more and more inebriated as she drank cup after cup of what she thought was tea but was in fact whisky that had been poured into the teapot. ‘This is a lovely flavoured tea, what’s it called? Oh yes, The Famous Mouse ...’; and the wonderful portrayal of the all-knowing Aunt Olive in The Eagle Eye.
Hilda had said that one part she always wanted to play but never had was a French maid so in 2009 there was a part in A Pain in the Neck for such a character. Hilda, with a French maid outfit of fishnet tights and high heels, played the part of Esmeralda to perfection despite not feeling well at all. During that winter at rehearsals, Hilda indicated that she was ready to step down from acting and said she could not have been happier with the part she had in A Pain in the Neck being her final performance.
However, three years later the club was short of one player for the small part of an office receptionist – Miss Nomer in Our James – and Hilda immediately offered to do it, putting on a wonderful performance at both the Campbeltown and Ardrishaig festivals.
When Anne Leith got a junior team up and running in 2010, Hilda was there to offer help, advice and experience to the young actors who I know really appreciated the advice given to them.
The support Hilda has given the club over all of the 26 years has been invaluable and I am sure anyone who had the good fortune to work with her throughout these years will feel that they have learned a huge amount from someone who was a master at what she did.
Although her health was not great over the last few years, Hilda was still keen and able to come to see rehearsals whenever she could.
I will miss her greatly, as will Peninver as club. This really is the end of an era.