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Johnny Belinda Great Play, But Crowd Disappointing

December 5, 1973

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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.

See the article in its original context from December 1973.

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The Cayman Drama Society's opening night of Johnny Belinda was successful in one way but not successful in another. The play came off magnificently the best dramatic effort so far by the Society. But the attendance was not as great as it should have been. Considering the first performance (as well as the last one which will be this Saturday) was in aid of the Cayman Islands Hospital Emergency Operating Theatre Fund, the turnout was disappointing. With the high cost to get The Cinema for a week to put the audience in a "cooler" atmosphere, we urge all to attend and and help the Drama Society - and the Rotary Club which is contributing to put on the charity shows. And one should attend the play as the production must rate as one of the best we have seen from the Drama Society. The setting is Prince Edward Island, Canada, and the play deals with the trials and tribulations of Belinda--a deaf and dumb girl. The lead role of Belinda is played by Val Morgan, who also produced and directed it. It comes alive at the outset and carries on in the same manner--a tribute not only to Val's fine direction but also to the considerable talents on show.

It would be easy to call the complete cast "stars"--since all are in their own way--but special mention should be made of Val and Jim McClure. Val, playing the difficult part of a deaf and dumb girl, a part which could fall flat and fail to impress, arouses the audience from pathos to sadness and finally to joy. From a truly effective entrance at the beginning, Jim, as Black McDonald, becomes even more impressive as he gradually changes into the more likeable and sympathetic character one always suspected he was.

Rarely on a Cayman stage, or any other stage for that matter, has an actor gotten into a part so completely. Val and Jim are well supported by the rest of the cast--particularly Jack Dredge, Gale Shaw and Nick Press.

Jack is most effective as the "Angel of Mercy", Gale Shaw as Maggie McDonald is described as "an awful damper on the party" but she is far from being a damper on the play and "Nasty Nick Press" does it again as he shines from the boisterous show-off to the outright villian. Both new and old faces in the Society have put together a truly commendable performance. It's so easy when ta'king about a play to forget the people behind the scenes. In this category, Stage Manager Peter Phillips and his compatriots have erected a masterful setting, which, together with the lighting, contributes to the Drama Society's overall success.