Separate Tables

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Spring 2009 Production

Separate Tables by Terence Rattigan

Synopsis, Poster, Cast List, Character Description, Publicity Photos

Rehearsals & Performances

Director: Marie Huggins

	Rehearsals will be on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from early January.
	Performances 26-28 March in the Commemoration Hall.

Separate Tables was probably Rattigan’s finest work and demonstrates his art of characterisation. It consists of two plays set in the dining-room and lounge of a private genteel hotel in Bournemouth, in which the residents are obliged to take meals at individual tables, symbolising the isolation of the individuals. All characters apart from 3 transients live permanently at the hotel. Except for the two leads in each, the same characters appear in both.

In Table No. 1, a down-at-heels journalist is confronted by his ex-wife, a former model who provoked him to a violent act that sent him to prison and ruined him. Still loving each other, they nevertheless go through another terrible scene and it is the hotel manager, Miss Cooper, who finds a way to repair their broken lives.

In Table No. 2, a bogus army Major without the background and education he claims and a neurotic girl with a ruthless domineering mother are attracted to each other. A sordid scandal threatens to drive them apart, but when all seems lost Miss Cooper comes to the rescue

In the original stage drama, the lewd incident which acted as a catalyst for the blossoming of human relationships involved another man. In the screen adaptation, the producers, aware of public sensibilities, changed the script to make it a woman, the notion of homosexuality being considered too much for 1950’s taste. Ironically, a play about the petty attitudes of society was perversely altered by the same mind-set, which was the subject of the play itself, and so another layer of satire was added to the text.

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Character Description

	Mrs Railton-Bell Snob. Dominates her daughter. Well dressed. Nasty. Ring leader to get the Major out. Mother of Sybil Railton-Bell.
	Miss Sybil Railton-Bell Timid, mousy, plain, scared of everyone. Ruled by her mother. Very emotional. Daughter of Mrs Maude Railton-Bell. Cares very much for the Major.
	Lady Gladys Matheson Poorest of all residents. Sweet and inoffensive. Level headed but follows Mrs Railton-Bell. Friends with Mrs Railton-Bell.
	Mrs Anne Shankland Was a fashion model from Mayfair, London. Well dressed – elegant. Was married to John Malcolm. She needs him as she is scared of being alone and getting old although she can’t show him real love. On tablets. Vain and spoilt but very scared of being alone. Fools John into taking her back. Was married to John Malcolm 8 years ago.
	Miss Pat Cooper Young masculine looking, handsome woman who runs the hotel. In love with John Malcolm. Strong, no nonsense character. In love with John Malcolm whom she has sheltered for several years.
	Waiter rude
	Doreen Waitress – cheeky
	Miss Meacham Manly loner. Reads about horse racing. Likes to bet. Has no bonds with anyone. Alliances with no one.
	Miss Jean Tanner/Mrs Jean Stratton Trendy young woman, wears trousers which was a no no then – does her own thing. Initially against marriage and convention but marries and has baby in second play. Girlfriend/wife of Charles Stratton
	Mr John Malcolm Ex Hull docker. – now a journalist. Shabby appearance. Still in love with ex wife of 8 years ago whom he tried to kill. Spent time in prison. Hiding out at the hotel as doesn’t want anyone to know his history as he was once a promising young government minister. Drinks to forget. Still in love with ex wife – Anne Shankland but having relationship with Miss Cooper.
	Major Pollock Fake Major. Sad character. Bullied at school. Scared of life and people so makes up the major to hide behind. Lived in hotel for 4 years. Is arrested for lewd behaviour in a cinema. Cares for Sibyl as feels they are kindred spirits.
	Mr Fowler Ex public school teacher.
	Mr Charles Stratton Training to be a surgeon. Young, trendy. Boyfriend/husband of Jean Tanner

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Publicity Photos

by Marie Huggins

NB The club first performed this play in the Autumn of 1969.
We do not have a copy of the programme, or any other information from the production.
If you do, please contact me.

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Spring 2009 Production

Separate Tables by Terence Rattigan

Rehearsals & Performances

Cast List

Synopsis

Character Description

Publicity Photos

Huntingdon Drama Club