Cygnet Company "His Return" Cygnet New Theatre Friar's Gate Thursday-Saturday 22-24 November Wednesday-Saturday 28 November-1 December 2018

"HIS RETURN"
Cygnet Theatre
Thursday 22 November - Saturday 1 December
performed by students of Cygnet Theatre:
Thora Pedersen, Oliver Heaton, Roxanne Eastaugh,
Ed Watterson, Harriet Birks

"The Game" Louise Bryant
Youth (Ed Watterson) prepares to jump into the ocean
Life (Thora Pedersen) & Death (Oliver Heaton)
vie for his soul

Cygnet Theatre Director Alistair Ganley has been working with the current students of that wonderful school of drama to prepare a series of one-act plays which are quintessentially apposite to the current mood of remembrance for the suffering of all Europeans during the terrible conflict of The Great War, which reached it's dramatic conclusion one hundred years ago.

In the uncertain years between the end of that war, and beginning of an even more devastating conflagration, three playwrights from England and The United States created a series of short one-act plays exploring the experience of The Great War from varying perspectives.

"The Game" Louise Bryant
Youth (Ed Watterson) meets another suicide
The Girl (Harriet Birks)
watched by Death (Oliver Heaton)

The Cygnet team have chosen six very different plays by John Galsworthy, Louise Bryant and Percival Wilde, which offer very revealing insights into life and popular perception during The War and the ensuing peace (or inter-war years as we would now see them).

They open with Louise Bryant's "The Game", a supernatural take on life and death, where 'Life' (Thora Pedersen) and 'Death' (Oliver Heaton) are characters playing a game of dice for the souls of humans, determining whether they will live or die. This simple construct provides ample scope for trenchant observations about the the value of human life, and the degree to which it is valued.

The case study in question is two young artists 'Youth' (Ed Watterson) and 'The Girl' (Harriet Birks), both suicidal despite their independently promising lives. This piece is beautifully performed and explores the prospect of life and death systematically, in the context of terrible slaughter on the Western Front.

"Defeat" John Galsworthy
The Officer (Ed Watterson)
newly out of hospital
is schooled on the way of war by
The Girl (Harriet Birks)

The second piece, "Defeat" by John Galsworty, takes the audience to the Western Front and a meeting between a young officer and a prostitute. Despite his own injuries and the death of many of his comrades in arms, 'The Officer' (Ed Watterson) retains an idealistic view of war as an opportunity to demonstrate selfless acts of bravery to protect a way of life.

'The Girl' (Harriet Birks) sees things quite differently. Her experience of soldiers has taught her about the more selfish side of human nature. The officer's arguments for the nobility of war and the quality of human altruism are shredded by The Girl's responses.

All actors must be able to sing and dance, as parts often require these skills. In "The Game" Harriet demonstrated her dancing superbly. Now in 'Defeat' she demonstrates a spectacular ability to sing as, during the final denouement, she must express herself in song against a cacophony of extraneous sounds including several men singing a completely different song.

Cygnet veteran Louise Wilde put together this magnificent moment, but Harriet must take all the credit for her stellar on-stage performance.

"The Unseen Host" Percival Wilde

Orderly (Ed Watterson) brings ghostly news to

The Visitor (Roxanne Eastaugh) and

The Surgeon (Oliver Heaton)

Third is "The Unseen Host" by Percival Wilde. Ed Watterson reappears as a wounded 'Orderly' in a military surgical hospital run by 'The Surgeon' (Oliver Heaton). This American doctor is entertaining a compatriot 'The Visitor' (Roxanne Eastaugh), and recounting the spectral visions of one of his patients.

Life, death, and the possibility of life after death, are debated and analysed in detail in this ghostly story. Scepticism and credulity take turns to dominate the discussion, with a shocking and intriguing final outcome.

For all its simplicity, this short one-act is a very deft piece of theatre and quite rightly takes its place among the impressive line-up of works in this production.

"Mothers of Men" Percival Wilde
'The Caller' (Harriet Birks)
presents with a portentous letter to
Mrs Chepstowe (Roxanne Eastaugh)

After the interval, during which the Cygnet volunteers serve drinks and snacks in the foyer, Roxanne Eastaugh and Harriet Birks return as 'Mrs Chepstowe' and a mysterious 'Visitor', also intriguingly called Chepstowe, in "Mothers of Men" by Percival Wilde.

"Mothers of Men" Percival Wilde
'The Caller' (Harriet Birks)
awaits the response of
Mrs Chepstow (Roxanne Eastaugh)

This simple two-hander gives a very clear image of life for women whose sons are absent for long periods on active service.

Not only are they both very anxious about the fate of their offspring, they also come into conflict about the exact explanation of what has happened to them.

The explanation, when it does come (via a courier, Ed Watterson) is worse than either could anticipate.

"Mothers of Men" Percival Wilde
Mrs Chepstow (Roxanne Eastaugh)
receives terrible news, also affecting
'The Caller' (Harriet Birks)

"Mothers of Men" Percival Wilde
Mrs Chepstow (Roxanne Eastaugh)
shares the grief of
'The Caller' (Harriet Birks)

"The Sun" John Galsworthy
The Girl (Thora  Pedersen)
watches apprehensively as
The Man ( Oliver Heaton) escalates
the conflict with The Soldier (Ed Watterson)

And what of boyfriends, whose lovers have found new love in their absence? The two suitors must eventually meet. What then?

"The Sun" John Galsworthy
The Girl (Thora  Pedersen) is anguished
as The Man ( Oliver Heaton) resorts
to fisticuffs with The Soldier (Ed Watterson)

In "The Sun" by John Galsworthy, 'The Girl' (Thora Pederson) anxiously awaits the return of her former (and blissfully ignorant) boyfriend, with her pugnacious new partner 'The Man' (Oliver Heaton).

"The Sun" John Galsworthy
The Girl (Thora  Pedersen) intervenes
as The Man ( Oliver Heaton) launches his
attack against The Soldier (Ed Watterson)

Despite his sudden and unexpected disappointment, The Soldier (Ed Watterson) is quick to recognise the change in his fortunes and make peace. Sadly The Man is not so flexible and sparks soon fly.

The action in this short play is as exciting as the interactions between the characters are engaging. Oliver and Ed make impressive sparring partners, and cleverly pit quite different personalities against each other. Thora, despite her apparently passive rôle is a very significant driving force in the narrative.

"His Return" Percival Wilde
Helen Hartley (Roxanne Eastaugh)
reflects on her three year separation with
Sylvia Best (Thora Pedersen)

Finally in the eponymous "His Return" by Percival Wilde, officer John Hartley returns to his wife slightly earlier than expected creating domestic confusion.


This lovely comic miniature is the perfect end to a selection of works recalling what was a terrible time for everyone in society.

The humour only accentuates the terrible sadness of the situation, which is brought out in small details of the lives of those left behind by men going to war.

"His Return" Percival Wilde
Helen Hartley (Roxanne Eastaugh)
reads her husband's romantic letter to
Sylvia Best (Thora Pedersen)
as she is dressed for his return by
The Maid (Harriet Birks)

Oliver Heaton appears one last time in the title rôle as 'John Hartley', a war-weary survivor with his sense of humour intact. However, the central rôle is 'Helen Hartley' (Roxanne Eastaugh) who gives a detailed discourse on the experience of war for the wife at home, in conversation with her friend and confidante 'Sylvia Best' (Thora Pedersen).

Not insignificant is the supporting character of Helen's servant 'The Maid' (Harriet Birks) who is perhaps the one most closely connected with the unfolding drama.

"His Return" Percival Wilde
John Hartley (Oliver Heaton)
is joyously reunited with his wife
Helen Hartley (Roxanne Eastaugh)

The actual return of the conquering hero is also the close of the evening's entertainment and is perfectly touching and moving. Oliver gets the last word and it is certainly worth waiting for!

Apart from Louise Wilde's amazing musical contributions, Lucy Corley was supremely in control in the sound and lighting room. Stephen Copp is to be commended on his interpretations of voices and text. Hermione Skrine created lavish and superbly authentic costumes. Most importantly Alistair Ganley once again created and directed a spectacular show which is a credit to all involved.

"His Return" continues for several more days, and intermittently until Saturday 1 December. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start, and there is a 3pm matinée on Saturday 24 November.

Cygnet Company
Cygnet Theatre
Thur-Sat 22-24 November
Wed-Sat 28 Nov-1 Dec
7 for 7.30pm (3pm matinée 24th)
"HIS RETURN"
Director: Alistair Ganley
Music: Louise Wilde
Cast: Thora Maria Bisted Pedersen
- Oliver Heaton - Ed Watterson
- Harriet Birks - Roxanne Eastaugh
Tickets £12 (£10)
Box Office: 01392 277189
Exeter TIC: 01392 665885
Online Booking: WeGotTickets