By Sears Eldredge
On 15 December, Records Keeper, Nelson, was required to move to the Officers’ Area outside the Gaol, where that evening, he saw Dover Road in the Coconut Grove Theatre.[i]
The Coconut Grove Theatre did mount a production of The Dover Road from 9 to 16 December. This was a revival of a show which had first been performed in Changi POW Camp by Capt. Wilkinson and others of the 18th Division Concert Party in July, 1942.
Prior to this, there had been a series of shows in the Coconut Grove, including the one act, A Marriage Has Been Arranged, by Alfred Sutro on 6-7 October in which Charles Wilkinson, who was getting back in the swing of things theatrical, also performed:
I played the part of Harrison Crockstead and an RAF. Pilot Officer by name. C. D. Binstead, played the part of Lady Aline [sic., Anne]. The producer was Vere Bartram (Major R.A.V.C.) … Binstead made a first class girl – extremely good looking too. The Jail Theatre fixed us up with clothes. He appeared in a first rate evening dress complete with wig and everything. I was in tails borrowed from Major Hyatt who salvaged some of his peacetime kit. Judging by the applause and remarks since the show, it was a success. We ran for 2 nights and played to an audience of about 1700 officers plus a couple of hundred batmen. We are planning another one Act play “The first and the last” by John Galsworthy but at the moment, the I.J.A. have forbidden all shows, lectures, etc. for at least a week. … Unfortunately, we cannot do more than one act plays in the Officers Theatre, as we have to close down at 21.00 hrs. [9 p.m.] owing to I.J.A. A.R.P. [Air Raid Precautions] arrangements.[ii]
Jack Horner heard about the real reasons for the ban on entertainment:
Have just heard that Takahashi the Camp Commandant has cancelled all entertainment owing to the ‘ribald singing of ‘God Save the King’ in the Hosp. Area – we are to be allowed two shows a week in the main theatre [Playhouse], but nothing else. We are grateful that the ban will be lifted again altho’ there is nothing on which to base this hope unless it is the fact that Takahashi has always showed himself sympathetic and helpful.[iii]
The next day, Horner found out more about the raucous incident. “Singing of ‘God Save the King’ now traced to Indian sentries. Takahashi has approached Gen. Saito with the view to lifting the ban, but it must be kept on until the 21st. Saving face?!!”[iv] When the 21st came, further Japanese orders reduced the activities in the Coconut Grove Theatre to two shows a week with a new closing time of 8 p.m.[v]
The Shows Go On
There had been another of Vere Bertram’s “World Wide Magazine” in the Coconut Grove Theatre on 8 November in which Wilkinson had appeared in a sketch with A.I.F. concert party regular Judy Garland. (At this point, the Playhouse entertainers, it appears, were no longer worried about competition from the Coconut Grove and their star players were lured there when offered a good part.)
Courtesy of the Bettany family.
Also in November, the Other Ranks in the Officers’ Area, had mounted a variety show entitled, Smile And Carry On, produced by Jack Wood with lyrics by Willis Toogood. The last item on the playbill was “Going Home” sung by the whole cast.
On 29 November, Wilkinson attended a concert in The Playhouse of Gill Mitchell’s Serenaders “which has 114 instruments in it now. . . . and saw Autumn Crocus again.”[vi]
Then in early December came the production of The Dover Road mentioned above, which Nelson, who had just moved to the Officers’ Area, thought “a superlative production.”[vii]
Grin and bear it
Grin and bear it, was the Coconut Grove’s Christmas show, produced again by Jack Wood. The star of this show was Willis Toogood, their female impersonator, who appeared in a number of sketches and songs. Included in the show were Dutch/Indonesian performers: a musical group, “The Hawaiian Serenaders,” and “Two Dances” by “Carmelita”—the Javanese soldier, Henri Ecoma.
Desmond Bettany. Courtesy of the Bettany Family.
Nelson and Arneil both saw the production and thought Ecoma something special. Nelson called her “marvelous,”[viii] and Arneil thought her the “highlight” of the show.
Even though he was no longer the main Entertainment Officer, Jack Horner was busy. Besides his tour shows, he was appearing in The Playhouse Christmas pantomime, Twinkletoes, while he was also rehearsing his part for their upcoming production of Noel Coward’s Tonight At 8:30.[ix] On top of this, he had been told that the Brits were to record their shortwave Christmas broadcast to Great Britain very soon, which he was to organize. The recording of the short-wave broadcast took place on December 27th.[x]
[i] Nelson, ?. Diary, 158.
[ii] Wilkinson, ?. Diary, 14 October ’44.
[iii] Horner, Jack. Diary, 135.
[iv] Horner, Jack. Diary, 136.
[v] Horner, Jack. Diary, 137.
[vi] Wilkinson, C. Diary, 30 November ’44.
[vii] Nelson, ?. Diary, 158.
[viii] Nelson, ?. Diary, 159-160.
[ix] Horner, Diary, 142.
[x] Horner, Diary, 143.
RFHG 