Habeas Corpus

A Bear Pit Theatre Company Production

Written by Alan Bennett

Directed by Vanessa Comer

The antics at the Wicksteed home are a satirical merry-go-round. Family, friends and the sexual satisfaction of the “corpus” (body) are the ruling passions in this farcical comedy of ill-manners. Through a dance of mistaken identities and carnal encounters, one motto holds fast: “He whose lust lasts, lasts longest.”

Cast

Arthur Wicksteed, a General Practitioner – Peter Ward

Muriel Wicksteed, his wife – Pamela Hickson

Dennis Wicksteed, their son – Nathan Brown

Constance Wicksteed, the doctor’s sister – Kathy Buckingham Underhill

Mrs Swabb, a cleaning lady – Niki Baldwin

Canon Throbbing, a celibate – Richard Ball

Lady Rumpers, a white settler – Margot McCleary

Felicity Rumpers, her daughter – Abi Deehan

Mr Shanks, a sales representative – Graham Buckingham Underhill

Sir Percy Shorter, a leading light in the medical profession – David Draper

Mr Purdue, a sick man – Adrian McCarthy