American Premiere
On Tuesday, March 9, 2010, for one evening only, the Grolier Club of New York is pleased to host the American premiere of “My Wife Did a Bit of Scribbling.” The occasion is the current exhibition Mary Webb: Neglected Genius at the Grolier Club (47 East 60th Street, New York, New York 10022) from January 28 through March 13, 2010.
“My Wife Did a Bit of Scribbling” dramatizes the tragic literary life of the early-twentieth century British novelist and poet Mary Webbwarmly human, deeply compassionate, and with insights relevant to our lives today. Carol Snape-Barker, incorporating passages from Webb’s writings, created this play for the 1981 centenary of Mary Webb’s birth. After performance at England’s Ludlow Festival, the drama became a BBC Radio production.
Carol Snape-Barker (playwright) lives in Shropshire, on the border between England and Wales. Carol studied at the Webber Douglas Academy, and has performed as Madam Acarti in “Blithe Spirit,” Queen Margaret in “Richard III,” and Carmen in Genet’s “The Balcony.” Carol in 1980 adapted Mary Webb’s most famous novel, Precious Bane, for BBC Radio.
The title of Carol’s play comes from an off-hand comment by Webb’s husband Henry. He had leased Mary’s beloved Spring Cottage in Shropshire to a tenant. When the renter offered to purchase the property, Henry initially refused, saying “This was where my wife did her bit of scribbling.”
More about Mary Webb’s life and writing can be found on the “Webb-site,” http://www.marywebb.org, or in the two-volume catalogue accompanying the exhibition and available at the Grolier Club or online through University Press of New England (UPNE), exclusive distributors of Grolier Club publications ( http://www.upne.com/distributeddist_GRO.html).
Rebecca Rainsford (role of Mary Webb) has toured internationally, performing in works by (among others) Shakespeare, Wilde, and Shaw. Rebecca has played leads in London’s West End and other British theatre productions, including Clara in Richard Taylor’s “Whistle Down the Wind.” Rebecca has also been cast in leading parts in Shaw’s “Major Barbara” and in the award-winning “Tales of Beatrix Potter.” She is a gifted actress, singer and Celtic harpist, and has performed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Although she is currently limiting her acting to smaller parts and voice-overs in order to spend more time with her two young daughters, Rebecca is pleased to perform the role of Mary Webb in this American premiere of her mother-in-law’s play.
Jack Milner (role of Henry Webb) has pursued many simultaneous careers in theatre, television, film and radio. Jack is the founder of the celebrated and award-winning London Comedy Writer's Group, which has spawned many of Britain’s top new comedy writers. As a writer, he has dozens of TV and radio credits. Jack recently directed “Snow White” at the Bristol Hippodrome, one of the largest theatres in Europe, which was seen by 66,000 people over a four-week run. Jack has also directed for the West End, and is known as one of Britain’s top comedy facilitators, having worked with BBC TV, Channel 4, ITV, and the National Theatre. Jack grew up in Shropshire with the writings of Mary Webb, and is delighted to play the part of Henry Webb in tribute to his mother and for the Grolier Club.
While there is no cost to attend the American premiere of “My Wife Did a Bit of Scribbling,” please send an email to mbrennan@grolierclub.org to place your name on the guest list, as seating is limited.
Carol Snape-Barker (playwright) lives in Shropshire, on the border between England and Wales. Carol studied at the Webber Douglas Academy, and has performed as Madam Acarti in “Blithe Spirit,” Queen Margaret in “Richard III,” and Carmen in Genet’s “The Balcony.” Carol in 1980 adapted Mary Webb’s most famous novel, Precious Bane, for BBC Radio.
The title of Carol’s play comes from an off-hand comment by Webb’s husband Henry. He had leased Mary’s beloved Spring Cottage in Shropshire to a tenant. When the renter offered to purchase the property, Henry initially refused, saying “This was where my wife did her bit of scribbling.”
More about Mary Webb’s life and writing can be found on the “Webb-site,” http://www.marywebb.org, or in the two-volume catalogue accompanying the exhibition and available at the Grolier Club or online through University Press of New England (UPNE), exclusive distributors of Grolier Club publications ( http://www.upne.com/distributeddist_GRO.html).
Rebecca Rainsford (role of Mary Webb) has toured internationally, performing in works by (among others) Shakespeare, Wilde, and Shaw. Rebecca has played leads in London’s West End and other British theatre productions, including Clara in Richard Taylor’s “Whistle Down the Wind.” Rebecca has also been cast in leading parts in Shaw’s “Major Barbara” and in the award-winning “Tales of Beatrix Potter.” She is a gifted actress, singer and Celtic harpist, and has performed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Although she is currently limiting her acting to smaller parts and voice-overs in order to spend more time with her two young daughters, Rebecca is pleased to perform the role of Mary Webb in this American premiere of her mother-in-law’s play.
Jack Milner (role of Henry Webb) has pursued many simultaneous careers in theatre, television, film and radio. Jack is the founder of the celebrated and award-winning London Comedy Writer's Group, which has spawned many of Britain’s top new comedy writers. As a writer, he has dozens of TV and radio credits. Jack recently directed “Snow White” at the Bristol Hippodrome, one of the largest theatres in Europe, which was seen by 66,000 people over a four-week run. Jack has also directed for the West End, and is known as one of Britain’s top comedy facilitators, having worked with BBC TV, Channel 4, ITV, and the National Theatre. Jack grew up in Shropshire with the writings of Mary Webb, and is delighted to play the part of Henry Webb in tribute to his mother and for the Grolier Club.
While there is no cost to attend the American premiere of “My Wife Did a Bit of Scribbling,” please send an email to mbrennan@grolierclub.org to place your name on the guest list, as seating is limited.
