1000 Days on the River Kwai: The Secret Diary of a British Camp Commandant by H C Owtram

Author:H C Owtram [Owtram, H C]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2017-05-31T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

The Stage

Life became a good deal easier towards the end of 1943. The railway had been completed and the ‘speedo’ tactics of the Japanese had ceased. They demanded comparatively few work parties for jobs other than the construction of new huts and local work around the camp, and we benefited greatly in consequence. I encouraged concerts and planned the site for a theatre, and this grew to be one of the great features of our camp. We started with very humble and amateurish entertainments, but once given opportunity and encouragement, talent sprang up quite unexpectedly and we soon had a complete theatre with drop curtains, footlights, dressing rooms, wardrobe masters – and ‘mistresses’. The latter produced wonderful creations for the female impersonators.

Musical instruments of various sorts existed in the hands of individuals who now got together and formed a band; one could hardly call it an orchestra at this stage, though later on under the musical direction of Lieutenants Norman Smith and Eric Cliffe it aspired to performances of a quite astounding standard and variety and which would have astonished musical critics at home, could they have heard them. We were fortunate in having a professional producer in Colonel Leo Britt, who had spent a good many years in London and New York in the theatrical world. He was officially recognized by the Japs after a time as producer and was excused other more menial work in order to train and produce our shows. We did a potted version of ‘Wonder-Bar’ and several light musical shows called ‘Café Colette’, in one of which I took the part of a red-tabbed and elderly colonel with a penchant for the ladies and was to be seen dining at the Café with a ‘vision of loveliness’ in the shape of Bobby Spong, then ending my part of the act with an excerpt from one of the better known musical comedies. Poor Bobby Spong was sent to Japan in 1944 and drowned when the Japanese transport was sunk.

We also did several straight plays, among which was ‘Night Must Fall’, in which I had a part, though in spite of that it was voted the best play done in the camp. Unfortunately, we had great difficulty in putting it on. The theatre was of course an open one, and on three consecutive nights we were rained off during the performance.

The camp loved these shows and used to flock to them in thousands. The Japs also patronized them, and though they couldn’t understand the words they liked the music and got a lot of amusement out of seeing us dressed up in every conceivable costume. The ‘ladies’ especially intrigued them.

One day, I was walking round the cookhouses and one of the cooks asked me if I was taking part in the show that night. I said I was, and he expressed approval, saying, ‘We’ve never had a singing Camp Commandant before!’

By the end of 1944 our theatrical efforts had really attained a remarkably high standard.

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