The Governor’s Lady

This strange and elusive short play, which premiered in London in 1965, is about governors, gorillas and colonialism.
In a bungalow in Africa, Harriet is talking to her friend Charmian about her husband Gilbert as if he were still alive. She refuses to accept that he died of pneumonia six months ago, that he is no longer the Governor, and that the colony has become independent. Following Charmian’s visit, Harriet spends several days with a gorilla under the impression that it is her dead husband, who is smashing tea cups, eating only bananas, climbing on to the wardrobe, killing the one remaining servant, thus behaving in a manner which is rather more ape-like than his wife is accustomed to. For the reactionary Harriet, the impossibility of accepting the prevailing political and social reality leads to her breakdown into this astonishing fantasy.

Cast

Gallows Humour

The play is divided in two loosely connected acts, of which only the first was performed by the drama group.
Walter, a former attorney, is about to be executed for murder. While he waits for his turn at the gallows he is allowed to spend time with Lucy – but instead of using his time with her in the way intended by the authorities he tells her all about his life and how it went wrong.

Cast

Crew (both plays)