The women stayed and talked and laughed with the cast for hours. In fact Mrs. Howatt says that they didn't get home until 2 a.m. "I think that they thought it was the first time the play had been produced (here)," says Mrs. Howatt . "I think we gave them a shock." Asked to compare the two plays, she says, "I think ours was better." Though Mrs. Howatt and her two friends have experienced the rush of performing, they're content to remain in the audience when they go to the theatre these days. "As you get older that doesn't appeal to you quite as much. We're not The Venerables." LOLITA DICKIESON AGNES DICKSON AMY HOWATT 22 ji