The Wranglers: A Short History
The company was originally formed from the Plympton Townswomen's Guild in the early 1950's, who put on plays (with an all female cast of course as it was a ladies guild!). Some hardy souls suggested it might be a good idea to incorporate men into the society to give them a wider scope and it was loudly turned down by the chairwoman and her committee! It was argued hard and long and eventually a "splinter" group was formed after all the wrangling, hence the name Plympton Wranglers.
John Louis was, we believe, the founder chairman and was in this position for many years. The company performed most of their pantos and plays in the old Harewood House (which has been demolished and re-built) in Plympton. It was a great grounding as all members learned to paint scenery and make props as well as performing. Its quaintness as a village hall type theatre was the fact that if you exited stage right, you climbed out of a low window in the wings, ran round the back of the building and back through the "stage door" stage left. The stage was so small one could not run behind! Vi Louis the chairman's wife would pack 'em all in even sitting on the radiators and windowsills at the back of the hall. Eager kids would rest their elbows on the "footlights" if not restrained. During one matinee a man was seen to unwrap his sandwiches and pour out his flask of tea!
John Louis was, we believe, the founder chairman and was in this position for many years. The company performed most of their pantos and plays in the old Harewood House (which has been demolished and re-built) in Plympton. It was a great grounding as all members learned to paint scenery and make props as well as performing. Its quaintness as a village hall type theatre was the fact that if you exited stage right, you climbed out of a low window in the wings, ran round the back of the building and back through the "stage door" stage left. The stage was so small one could not run behind! Vi Louis the chairman's wife would pack 'em all in even sitting on the radiators and windowsills at the back of the hall. Eager kids would rest their elbows on the "footlights" if not restrained. During one matinee a man was seen to unwrap his sandwiches and pour out his flask of tea!