Our audience got their Phil!

WHEN a play is on for several nights, it gives audiences many opportunities to come and see it; often those involved wish their run could be longer.

The international drama that played out last week with the US election was quite different; most people wanted it to be over quicker! By the weekend, all eyes were on a small number of states, particularly Pennsylvania.

We have never focused on the voting in that region, but we have previously told you of The Philadelphia Story. The play was written by New York-born dramatist Philip Barry. Barry always wanted to write and shunned a role in the family’s marble and tile business to pursue his dream. The idea of not fitting in to societal expectations was a theme in his work.

In The Philadelphia Story we meet Tracy Lord, a Philadelphia socialite who is about to marry George Kittredge. George is new money, unlike Tracy’s first husband C.K. Dexter Haven; a yacht designer she divorced for drinking too much and not meeting the family standard. When her ex-husband turns up with a tabloid reporter Macauley Mike’ Connor in tow she is less than impressed by the intrusion. Dexter persuades her to let Mike cover the wedding as his editor has information that could threaten her family’s reputation. As Dexter is welcomed with open arms by Tracy’s mother and sister, and Tracy warms to Mike, the certainty of her marriage is complicated. Who does she want to be with? George, Mike or Dexter?

The play debuted at the Shubert Theatre in March 1939 and ran for a little over a year. It was backed financially by Helen Hope Montgomery Scott, a real-life Philadelphia socialite who inspired the character of Tracy Lord. The play was a great success on Broadway and starred Katherine Hepburn as Tracy.

Hepburn reprised her role as Tracy Lord in the film opposite Cary Grant as Dexter, James Stewart as Mike, with John Howard as George. Reportedly she had wanted Clark Gable as her ex and Spencer Tracy as the reporter, but both had other commitments.

The Southport Dramatic Club presented the show as the season closer for our 80th anniversary in 2001. Our version was directed by the wonderful Robin Hirsch and included Helen Cookson as Tracy Lord, with Giles Davidson as Dexter and Steve Pritchard as George. George may not have got his bride in the play, but life is stranger than fiction and Helen Cookson is now better known as Helen Pritchard! Steve Pritchard has recently had an election success of his own, having recently been voted in as Vice Chair of the Club.

We continue to invite you to share your memories with us. If you have any programmes from SDC shows