Arnold Bennett, the novel’s author, was born in the Potteries area so understood perfectly what ‘a life in clay’ meant and the dreams of escaping from that world. Take a short trip up the M6 to Stoke and you can still find rows of terraced houses just like the one in which Denry Machin was born. In the affluent areas you can also find grand and spacious residences which inspired Denry’s ambitions and at least one stately home sounds like the author’s description of Chell Hall.

Bennett originally wrote the adventures of Denry Machin as a weekly serial for the Sunday Times. Subsequently these episodes were collected together, edited and became “THE CARD”, one of his best-selling works.

A 1940’s film starred Alec Guiness as the ‘Card’ and Petula Clark as ‘Nelly’. Even when I first saw the film as a young boy I thought the story was a ‘natural’ for a stage musical.

In 1972 I visited Arnold Bennett’s widow Dorothy to persuade her to let us have the rights to adapt the novel. She was very co-operative but sweet and innocent. After playing her a few song ideas she said, “Can you get Frank Sinatra to play Denry? I like him!” I, too, liked Sinatra but not playing a Potteries lad!

The musical, produced by Cameron Mackintosh, opened in 1973 at The Queens Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue. It starred Jim Dale, Millicent Martin, Marti Webb and Eleanor Bron. It was a wonderful cast but although the first version was very popular we always knew we could do better so, in 1993, we all got together again, brought in lyricist Anthony Drew, reworked the script, improved existing songs, wrote new ones and dropped a few. The show enjoyed a successful 1994 season at Regents Park Open Air Theatre then toured nationally for six months.

I know you will enjoy rehearsing and performing the show as much as we all enjoyed writing it and watching it come to life.

Best wishes and thanks again for choosing “THE CARD”.

TONY HATCH

Show Synopsis

The show begins when "Edward Henry Machin first saw the smoke on the 27th May 1867" -- the very day of Bennett's own birth. At age 12, Denry begins his career by altering his grade in a class enough to earn him a scholarship to grammar school. At 16, he leaves school to work for Mr. Duncalf, the town clerk and a solicitor. Duncalf is responsible for organizing an exclusive ball; Denry "invites" himself and a few others in exchange for favors, among them Ruth Earp, a dance instructor. On a bet, he audaciously asks the energetic, beautiful Countess of Chell (of whom everyone, including Machin, is in awe) to dance, thus earning himself the reputation of a "card" (a "character", someone able to set tongues wagging) - a reputation he is determined to cement.

Later, when Duncalf treats a disgruntled client brusquely, Denry leaves his employ after persuading the client to hire him as a rent collector. When some of the tenants fall behind, he begins loaning them money (at a highly profitable interest rate). Ruth herself is several months in arrears and tries to sneak away in the middle of the night. Denry catches her by accident, but rather than being angry, he admires her audacity and starts courting her.

While on vacation at the seaside resort town of Llandudno with Ruth and her friend Nellie Cotterill, he witnesses a shipwreck and the rescue of the sailors. Noting the interest generated, he buys a lifeboat, hires some of the stranded mariners as rowers, and conducts tours of the picturesque wreck. However, Ruth's spendthrift nature becomes alarmingly apparent during the trip and they break up.

By the end of the summer, Denry has made a substantial profit from the sightseers, which he uses to finance his boldest venture. He starts up the Five Towns Universal Thrift Club. Members deposit money little by little; once they have accumulated half the sum they need to purchase whatever it is they want, the club allows them to buy on credit, but only from stores associated with the club. Denry makes money by getting a discount from the vendors in return for access to his large customer base. When his capital starts to run out, he arranges an "accident" for the Countess's coach. He drives conveniently by and gives her a lift to an urgent appointment. On the way there, he talks her into becoming the club's sponsor, ensuring easy financing. This proves to be the making of Denry's fortune.

With his great success, he is appointed a town councillor. He also backs a new daily newspaper (to be bought out at a profit by its established rival anxious to keep its monopoly) and tricks his obstinate mother into moving into a luxurious new house. At this point, Ruth reappears in Denry's life, now the widow of a rich older man. He considers renewing their relationship, but at the last moment, realizes that Nellie is the one for him and marries her.

The crowning achievement comes when Denry decides to become the youngest mayor in the history of Bursley. To sway the voters, he purchases the rights to native son Callear, the "greatest centre forward in England", for the failing local football club.

His antics are regarded with affection and admiration by most others, as shown by the book's final exchange:

"What a card!" said one, laughing joyously. "He's a rare 'un, no mistake."

"Of course, this'll make him more popular than ever," said another. "We've never had a man to touch him for that."

"And yet," demanded Councillor Barlow, "what's he done? Has he ever done a day's work in his life? What great cause is he identified with?"

"He's identified," said the speaker, "with the great cause of cheering us all up."