Current society's attitude to morality may have broadened but Hindle Wakes, Stanley Houghton's comedy of 1912, does not show its age.

By KEITH CUTLER

Current society's attitude to morality may have broadened but Hindle Wakes, Stanley Houghton's comedy of 1912, does not show its age.

This was demonstrated in the excellent production by the Bridge Theatre Repertory Company, enjoying its 11th successive season at Sheringham Little Theatre.

The play depicts family reactions after mill worker Fanny Hawthorn's (Susan Earnshaw) “dirty weekend” with Alan Jeffcote (Oliver Hume) is discovered by her parents (Richard Benbow and Elizabeth Williams).

Jeffcote senior (Derek Wright), a self-made man, decides that despite Alan's engagement to Beatrice (Karen Worth), daughter of his old friend Sir Timothy Farrar, Alan will have to make an honest woman of Fanny, regardless of her feelings. The play, with a deal of humour provided mainly by Sir Timothy and Alan's mother (Judi Daykin) explores moral attitudes.

Having endured in silence the arrangements made on her behalf, Fanny reveals in a conversation with Alan that she is level headed and quite capable of controlling her own destiny.

The sombre Edwardian stage set and incidental brass band music enhance this play with its clearly-defined characters, brilliantly portrayed by the whole company, though honours must go to Derek Wright as the dictatorial Jeffcote senior and David Gilbrook as the larger-than- life Sir Timothy.

t The play is directed by Christopher Birvin and runs until Saturday August 25 and again from September 3-5.