"THE SKIN GAME."

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18673, 23 April 1926, Page 12

"THE SKIN GAME."

A POWERFUL DRAMA. CLASH OF CLASSES. John Galsworthy's powerful drama "The hkiu tinme'' was produced at the Theatre Royal last night by a company headed by -Mr Frank Harvey and Mile. Eemy Carpen, with an intensity of treatment that affected the audience profoundly. The drama itself was a demonstration of realism in the development of class conflicts arising from the changing conditions in England as landed interests, and the aristocratic idea carno into competition with enterprise and industrialism, and the claim lor recognition by the new rich. The players were in two camps, one belonging to an ancient county home, whose amenities were threatened by the building activities of the leader of the other canip, a pushing industrialist. Each, camp'was represented by quite an adequate quantum of bitter sentiment and misunderstanding, and although to a colonial audience unaccustomed to the niceties of social life in Britain, the birth and growth of the vendetta may have appeared rather ridiculous, and certainly quite unnecessary, ret the dramatic power was there to make the play a complete success. The burden of the drama was well distributed, and most of the parts were of leading importance. Mr Frank Harvey took what he says himself to be his best part, that of Hornblower, the new-rich industrialist, who, as the result of a social slight administered to> a member of his family, sought to drive the offending aristocratic partv out of their home and county. Hornblower, as played by Mr Harvey, was certainly a rough shod character, at times rather too much so. No man not nn utter savage would plant on his hat in a lady's drawingroom, and lill up and smoke a belching pipe, no matter what his provocation. One did not gather the impression that Hornblower was intended to be an uncouth savage. He was a hard and pushing business man, anxious to live in amity with his neighbours, but resentful of the studied insults passed on to him, and so incited to a policy of reprisal. Mr Harvey developed the part splendidly through its many phases. The scene wherein Hornblower is confronted by a staggering domestic scandal, and as the price of, silence, is compelled to accept defeat, was supremely impressive. Mile, ilemy Carpen as Jill, the daughter of the aristocratic Englishman, Hillcrist, was responsible for most of the humour, and much of the pathos in the play. She has an engaging personality, and a quaint and unaffected manner of working, aDd her performance throughout was full of charm. In the scenes wherein she acted the part of the peacemaker and the comforter, she rose to great heights. Mr Gerald Kay Souper was Hillcrist, the gentleman, and lie did well in a part always difficult to portray. Miss Mildred Cottell, as Amy, his wife, gave an excellent representation of the unbending haughtiness of a grand dame and the mentality of a character that would stick at nothing to ruin an upstart family. Miss Owen Burroughs as Chloe, Hornblower's daughter -in-law, carried through a part full of heavy tragedy. Faced with exposure and tormented by what were really blackmailers, the poor lady suffered long periods of terrible agony. The part is ono to make a sovero demand upon any emotional actress, and Miss Burroughs handled it with great power. Mr George Blunt as Dawker, Hillcrist'* agent, Mr John Fernside as an auctioneer, Mr Mayne- Lynton as Hornblower's elder son, Mr Fred Conyngham as the younger son, Mr Hedge Carey aa a solicitor, and Miss Nancyo Stewart as a maid, all made the moßt of their respective parts, and were by no .means unimportant figures in the course of tho play. "The Skin Game' 1 ' will he repeated to-night.