User:RebeccaGreen/sandbox12

Selected stage performances
"The best play of the bill is Anton Chekov's "The Bear", produced by Jack E. Barrett, a name already familiar to Rochdale audiences. Here is a piece relying almost entirely on its dialogue for effect, built up into a completely satisfying spectacle by the intelligent application of speed and movement. Placed as it was on the programme after a thriller and a satirical drama, this delightfully robust little comedy released all the latent tension in the audience, and made sure of every laugh. Special credit must be given here both to the producer and [to the actors in] the chief parts."

"John Barrett, a guest artiste, as the Duke, gives a rather colourless reading of the part."

"The resident producer of the Burnley Company will be John Barrett, an artiste experienced in every line in Repertory. He has been in many West End productions and has worked with Ralph Lynn, Lupino Lane, Douglas Montgomery, Bill Owen, Claude Hulbert, Wilfred Lawson, etc. In 1945 he appeared at the Vic with David Horne and David Markham in the "Land of Promise"."

"A large proportion of the credit for the success of the play here must be due to producer John Barrett, and so it seems almost uncharitable to suggest that one thought he might have brought a shade more gaiety and lightness to the part of James Winter; but then it was only Monday (when the cares of a producer-player weigh heaviest)."

"Excellent blending with the sleek Bassani is provided by Moris Parsons, John Barrett, ..."

"John Barrett, the producer, is going all out to ensure that this production equals all his others."

"the Babes' [] captors, the robbers (played by John Barrett and Michael Ely) are a riot of fun."

"John Barrett as the butler, who, while never going beyond the bounds of correctness, can express his views of his employers with the twitch of an eyebrow or the set of a shoulder."

"that fine actor John Barrett" (playing a yokel in It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet)

"a cast of 19 headed by Mary Miller, Michael Gough, John Barrett and Brian Glover double their roles ... with zest and a comfortable control of rural speech."

"John Barrett as the gravedigger with two wardrobes of skulls brings a touch of human warmth to the chilly and prolonged proceedings which are very odd in his case because Ophelia's corpse is placed on a shelf in one of the wardrobes."

"The casting is good. ... John Barrett makes a good Smellie" With the other four Dustbinmen, Barrett appeared at a British Radio Equipment Manufacturers Association colour TV exhibition in Stockport, where they met visitors and were presented with an award for reaching the top of the JICTAR ratings in every week the series was aired.

"John Barrett as Joey managed his day-dreams and disgruntlement, relieved from time to time by toothless smiles, with complete conviction."