THE BEAUTY CONTEST
Written by L Roe & G A C Sawtell
Directed by L Roe
Ian McKellen in the role of Rosie
Hopefield Miniature Theatre
17 December 1953
Words from Ian McKellen
Our keen director was Hopefield's founder, George Sawtell, who co-wrote with our English master. The one-act farce exposed the shenanigans amongst two beauty contestants and their contrasting mothers. I was the virtuous Rosie, who outwitted her rival. We must have been a hit, because we gave a repeat performance at a local Sunday School. Alas no-one photographed the cast. Duncan Sculthorpe grew up to be a botany scholar and died in his early 30's. — Ian McKellen, December 2006