Halfway Up The Tree
Written by Peter Ustinov
Directed by Walter Cornforth
19 – 22 April 1972
This timely satire on the everlasting generation gap is not content to dally with the problem, but boldly thrusts on by having the older generation beat the younger at its own game. It begins with the return from middle east duty of a general who finds he hardly recognizes his children. His son has embraced the new cult of the moment and his daughter is enceinte by persons unknown. Rather than rant and rave, the general looks into the matter. And, by george, he even adapts to it. The children protest that he is aping them and trying to shame them into going back into society; but no, he is in earnest as he climbs a tree and elevates the cult to new realms. Soon, everybody wants a tree to climb into.
Cast
Lady Fitzbuttress – Moira Darby
Helga – Judy Chance
General Sir Malleieu Fitzbuttress – Peter Janes
Robert – Willis Edmondson
Lesley – Christine Giles
Judy – Melba Rutherford
Basil Utterwood – Alan Lord
Brigadier Gilliatt-Brown – Robert Lindley
Vicar – Alex Baird
Crew
Stage Managers – Martin Howe, Cliff May
Assistant Stage Manager – Chris Giles
Properties – Elizabeth Arnaud, Jane Francis, Valerie Higley and Julie Johnson
Lighting – John Parrish
Sound – Keith Jarman