CAST Mrs Hardcastle - Sue Rawson Mr Hardcastle - Ian Rattee Tony Lumpkin - Stuart Jarman Kate Hardcastle - Lucy Gradwell Constance Neville - Alissa Reilly Landlord - Stuart Kellet Marlow - Dermot Hill Hastings - Mike Crewe Diggory - Paul Dunstan Sir Charles Marlow - Gavin Smith Maid and Bet Bouncer - Kate Antram Directed by Robin Green

Psst ! Heard the latest? The place is all a' flutter. That silly overgrown schoolboy, T. Lumpkin, has been up to his old tricks again. Guess what he's done this time? There he was drinking and wassailing, as usual, with his chums in the Three Pigeons when he pulled a trick on a couple of innocent travellers and only persuaded them that his step-father's country house was an inn where they could get food, drink and a bed for the night!

"What a giggle" he thought! Well maybe for him. Not for the travellers, nor Lumpkin's step-father nor his mother I can tell you.

But then things took a bit of a turn when two fashionable young girls clapped eyes on the two eligible travellers. Word is, it all got very complicated then.

Not sure how it ended, but I know there's a lot of trickery, silliness, confusion, wheeler-dealing and, - oh yes - lots of wigs, finery and heaving bosoms (if you like that sort of thing).

Maybe the best plan is to cut along to Harrogate Theatre some time between September 27th and 30th and see if young Lampkin can wheedle his way out of the chaos he's caused.

One thing's for certain; you'll get a good laugh. Ecod !

 

Photographs by Lawrence Conyers.

For the 'loan' of such a beautiful setting, grateful thanks to Mr Mr Ian Curteis and Lady Deirdre Curteis of Markenfield Hall, near Ripon.