On the morning of January 10th, Mrs. Violet Irene Dekker (née) Lawley) passed away peacefully at the British Hospital. She was 94. Vi Dekker was one of the founding members of The Suburban Players, in 1963, and directed the club's first play "The Tender Trap". Since then she was actively involved in the club for more than 30 years in many and varied aspects. She was an excellent director of several plays (Find the Lady, Bedroom Farce, Separate Tables, Move Over Mrs Markham). She acted superbly in many varied roles (The Rose & Crown, The Importance of Being Ernest, Hay Fever, Steel Magnolias, Flicker, Travels with my Aunt), was on the Board of Directors for several years and President in 1975. Two of her favourite roles were a tour-de-force as Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest, and when, lingerie-clad, she was carried out on the shoulders of a bevvy of hunky boys in the musical 4 in One. Many will remember her rehearsing or directing with an unlit cigarette dangling from her fingers or the corner of her mouth. She was definitely a PRESENCE in the club, and her love of the theatre was transmitted to everyone she came in contact with. She also liked to party, had a wicked sense of humour, a sharp tongue and a clear idea of how things should be done. Even if one disagreed with her, one couldn't help but be awed by the passion and the verve with which she attacked each project and her true sense of theatre. She always kept in mind that "the show must go on" as was abundantly clear during two incidents: During "Steel Magnolias", when already well into her 80's, towards the end of one of the performances, the 6 characters all came in for the final scene in a sort of slow motion dance. At one point, as she was slowly turning, Vi hit the back of a set of steps and fell backwards, landing on the top step. Everyone in the wings gave a collective gasp and were ready to rush on and carry her off. However, a true theatre animal, Vi didn't miss a beat. She waved her legs in the air and kept waving her arms in slow motion whilst lying on the step, as though it were part of the dance, until the other actresses (also in slow motion) moved over to her and helped her up. The show proceeded smoothly to its conclusion, and no-one in the audience noticed that the fall had not been planned. In her final show with Suburban Players, Flicker, she rang up on the final week-end to say that as her doctor had found out that she was doing the play (she had kept it a secret, as she had been told not to exert herself) and that therefore she was not sure if she would be able to make the performance. She did. Even though in the last few years she had been unable to come to the Playhouse, she always kept up to date on what was going on. She will be greatly missed. Truly a “grande dame”. -------------------------------------------------Note from Anton Dekker - Vi's son Dear Suburban "Band of Brothers",
Spotlights dimmed, Curtains drawn... How empty the stage, with no players on... The silence and darkness pervade all the space, But hark! A soft rumour of repairs to be made Will grow to crescendo in hot summer days. ¡¡The show must go on!! Once again many thanks for your last farewell, and for your wonderful words in the website. I'm guessing she must be reading it and thanking you all for such fond memories (though some might not be too fond!!) True, she set the bar high, for herself and for those around her. Mediocrity was not an option. She made you or broke you. "Tough love" - We, the "survivors" are all thankful.
So kudos to all of you, for keeping the torch of excellence lit, and handing it over to each new generation.
Un fuerte abrazo, Anton
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