"YEOMEN" DELIGHTS MARTON AUDIENCE
The Marton Parish Church Operatic and Dramatic Society presented their annual Gilbert and Sullivan opera in the church hall, Preston Old-road, last night, when they delighted the audience with a spirited and polished production of "The Yeomen of the Guard".
  The immortal melodies and lyrics of Gilbert and Sullivan were given a warm interpretation and the setting and costumes were colourful.
  Dorothy Brookfield gave a first rate performance as Phoebe Meryll, the pretty daughter of the gaoler who allowed the hero, Colonel Fairfax, played by Harold Rothwell, to escape from the Tower of London, where he was awaiting execution on a false charge.
  Her father, Sergeant Meryll, was played by Charles G. Kay, and Kenneth Whalley took the part of Lieutenant of the Tower.
  Donald Sheerin was Leonard Meryll, the hero son of Sergeant Meryll who assists in the escape, and Isabel Straughton sang beautifully as Elsie Maynard, the strolling singer who married the dauntless Colonel. 
  William Darbyshire and Kenneth Nicholls took the parts of the gaoler and the strolling jester, and a wonderful job they made of it.   Their comic duet, "Hereupon we're both agreed", was one of the high-spots of the production and was well-appreciated by the audience.
  Margaret Hinton and June Bradley were in good voice as the Tower's housekeeper and her niece.
  A skilful production job was done by Jennifer Straughton (late of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Co), and the orchestra led by Mr P Cumberbatch left nothing to be desired.
  Mr Robert Atherton, musical director, conducted with his accustomed skill.
                                                                                                                           M.E.B.