Compton Players had full houses on Thursday and Friday when they presented Rene Fachois’ play The Late Christopher Bean, adapted by Emlyn Wiliams.

Sandy Wilson gave an excellent performance as Dr Haggett, the country practitioner whose busy but comparatively dull life is suddenly disrupted by the posthumous recognition of the artistic abilities of one of his late patients, Christopher Bean. Edith Hill, who played his money-loving wife, portrayed well the anguish felt by a good mother who has great marital ambitions for her daughters which, partly through her failure to recognise people’s true worth, can never be realised.

Susan Meakins and Beryl Braidley, as the daughters, showed a good understanding of their parts, while Colin Bracewell as Bruce McRae, an artistic follower of Chris Bean, showed all the loveable swagger of those north of the border.

Isa Dolan, as Gwenny the Welsh maid, carried the play through its most sensitive scenes with a skilful naiveté and earnestness. Tallent and Rosen (Frank Meakins and Peter Monger respectively) showed the opposites in underhand art dealers, one suave the other bluff, while as Davenport, Ernest Golby produced a gentleness and true appreciation of work by the now lamented artist who died unloved by all but Gwenny.

Production was by Sandy Walton.