So many memories bought to light. Your father sounds divine, Romary!
With a smile I kiss your eyes
Gaynor

When Dad retired, he and Mom moved to Durban and made their home in a lovely Retirement Village in Pinetown. Mom passed away in 1997 and Dad continued living in their cottage. A year or two after Moms’ passing, Dad, who was then about 82 years old, was asked by one of his friends if he would give a hand with the end-of-year, December 31st, entertainment. Dad agreed not thinking to get any details.

Before he had time to change his mind my very quiet and “Gentlemanly’ father, found he had committed himself to taking part in a Pantomime “Red Hot Cinders” aka Cinderella and he was to be the Prince!

We went to the show and what a delightful evening was had by all, both cast and guests! Of course we felt Dad made a perfect Prince!

I might add, thereafter Dad ensured he had all the facts, before agreeing to help with anything.
Childhood memories are so special and thank you Gaynor for reminding me of Garth and my introduction to the Pantomime, and also of my Dad as a Handsome and Hilarious Prince.

Have just read your post “All the World’s a Satge.” Needless to say the t tittle caught my eye. This was my “Proverb in our Matric magazine.

It brings to mind when I was 7 and in Sub B (Class 2) some girls came into class all wearing Chinese laundry boy outfits (but in polka dots) Chinese Hats and carrying sticks with a bundle at the end. I squeeled, “Why are you wearing those, what did you do to get to wear those?” Answer “WWe do speech with Marjorie Gilbey.” (Our school’s seech and drama teacher.) I rushed home and breathlessly told my mother that I HAD TO TAKE SPEECH CLASSES.
She told me that I would start when i was 8 (the same promise for ballet – my first love.) True to her word I started both when I was 8. Marjories left the school and started her own studio. The Marjorie Gilbey School of Speech and Drama. I had my first big role when I was 12 playing Snow White!!!!!I remember wondering what part I would play in the production. I had short hair…brown…not black..so immediately ruled myself out for the title role. Then thought “The Woodcutter…then “No, too short for the Woodcutter.” I know..I will be a page boy! And oh what a HUGE SURPRISE when i was told by some of the other students that it was I who would play Snow White..grew the hair..had it dyed black…
And you are so right about children and theatre. I LOVED playing in Prof Scholtz’s plays up at the University…….the joy…the interaction. I remember standing in the “wings” and Jil was there and we heard the screams of the children and we just grinned with delight at each other.

I was fortunate enough to play Peter pan too…and I remember when Captain Hook was placing posion in my medicine…a lone voice in the theatre cried out “Wake up Peter Pan!”

A film that had a great impact on me…to turn to the theatre as a career was the film with Julie Andrews “A Star is Born.” She played the part of Gertrude lawrence (Famous british actress…great friend of Noel Coward’s) It so inspired me…I took my late mother to see it a second time and came out with that feeling in the tummy that this was what i really wanted to do.

So…you have certainly opened a dorr to many many memories…..

I love seeing your pictures and reading MOST of your posts.

Thank you so much.
Love
Ingride (MOllison)