ALLENDALE HOUSE
Miss Suzie Funnell’s School for Young Ladies
Notes made early in the process of devising the play
• Miss Susan Funnell was born circa 1861 in Portsmouth. By 1891 she was living in The Avenue, Wimborne with her mother, a widow. She is described as a school teacher.
CHARACTERS:
Miss Suzie Funnell
Council Employee / Teacher at School / Angry Parent / Pupil/s – could be represented by still images
SCENE:
Council Office where Miss Funnell has come to pay her rates / collect her ration book. On the wall can be seen an image of the room when used as a school. This causes Miss F to recall her life at the school.
1. How she started: advertised, built reputation, attracted boarders from around the county, Verwood, Cranborne, West Moors, Bournemouth, Broadstone etc., all brought to Wimborne by the wonderful (new) railway. SEE PROSPECTUS*
2. War-time: Child’s father interned because of foreign surname.
Ex-pupils who gave their lives for their school and town.
*Child whose brother was killed in the first two weeks of the war
– such a shock to the whole school…
3. Celebrations at the armistice: Children sang (carols?) in front of the Union Jack.
4. Fourteen good years – peaceful retirement in sight – then disaster – *diphtheria broke out – angry parents removed pupils. She had hoped to sell school – had a buyer lined up – now she must find new premises – where could she go?
IMAGES:
Empty desks (as in photo)
Tennis court (as in photo)
Children in front of a Union Jack
Armistice Day
Minster Parade / Thanksgiving Service
SOUNDS OF SCHOOL:
Bell
Children running
Doors banging
Assembly Hymn
Chairs scraping
Chanted Latin / Times Tables
Tennis Game
*Diphtheria – shadow-show of doctor / bed etc. behind screen?
*Trigger = prospectus audio + image of schoolroom
*Great War; dead brother of pupil; internment of Heidi Mannheim’s father
The Railway Scene
OUTLINE
Cast
Mr Charles Castleman
Mrs Frampton, the Housekeeper
Alice, a Maid
1. Porter announcing train arrival – 10 minutes (recorded) “First train to arrive etc.”
2. Mr Castleman – pacing up and down rehearsing speech
Mrs Frampton and Alice – preparing refreshments and getting Mr Castleman ready.
3. Mrs Frampton and Alice – setting scene about who Mr Castleman is and what he’s doing and why it is so important, i.e. the first train arriving in the area and slog to get the railway to Dorset.
4. Interplay between Mr Castleman and servants while getting him dressed.
5. Servants continuing to prepare for celebration in house and Mrs Frampton getting drunk on sherry.
6. Mr Castleman worked up / nervous / demanding / man with a mission
7. Fears and excitement – contrast between 2 servants’ reflections on railway.
8. Railways in Wimborne here to stay.
9. “Battle of gauges” to be referred to (Great Western – wide gauge v. narrow gauge)
10. Porter announcing arrival of train at station Mr Castleman going downstairs to get to the station.
11. Image of train on window.
12. Railway sounds during scene??
*Use info from initial draft speech marked 1 and servants script marked 2 and info on railways (previously circulated).
13. Possible rivalry between brothers.
* 1 Draft Speech
“On behalf of the Board and the South Western shareholders, it gives me great pleasure to be here today, in such illustrious company, to officially open the Westward line to Wimborne. This great achievement has been no easy task but Great Western must concede that the best man won in the end. We salute you for your wisdom. I am specially grateful to ——— ———– for their confidence and support through the many years that this scheme has taken to bring to its fruition. This development will, I hope, transform all our lives. The speed that a gentleman can travel to London is now five hours and not three days.
I cordially invite My Lord Mayor and Lady, the shareholders, who started work on this in May 1844, and our special guest, Captain Morson, to join me in Allendale House for sherry and vittals prior to our inaugural journey to Dorchester upon the Castleman Corkscrew!”
*2 Servants’ Script
Mr Castleman turns away to finish his speech (adjust to fit housekeeper not wife) and Housekeeper turns her attention to the Maid.
Mrs Frampton: Come now, Mary, hurry and finish that up. It‘s a big day for the master and everything must be ready to receive his guests.
Mary: Oh yes, Mrs Frampton, I’m just so excited. I can’t wait to see the train finally arrive here in Wimborne.
Mrs Frampton: What have you got to be excited about? It’s hardly for the likes of us. Besides it’s not healthy to be travelling at such speed, most harmful to the constitution, I’ve heard … if God had intended us to …
Mary: Just think London in five hours not three days, and you’ll be able to get to Dorchester in no time. No more long cart rides to see your sister, an hour and there you’ll be.
Mrs Frampton: Well, yes, that would be nice but these London riff-raff will be down here just as quick with their townie ways. Things just won’t be the same and you, my girl, had better watch your step! Them London fellows know how to turn a simple girl’s head. Don’t want you ending up alongside those poor wretches next door.
Mary: Oh, Mrs Frampton, I’m sure I don’t know what you can mean!
Mrs Frampton: Be that as it may, I have my doubts about all this change. I know Mr Castleman has worked hard in his way but only the other day I heard old Jim Hobbs was struggling. There’s not likely to be much for an honest drayman to do with that noisy, smelly, dirty great engine carting all and sundry up and down the country, and him with six mouths to feed …
Housekeeper hushes as Mr Castleman turns back – recites the end of his speech and projected image of huge London train thunders through scene.
• Laying out sherry – Mrs Frampton helping herself
• Mr Castleman – man with a mission
• Posterity – best railway – always in Wimborne