"YOUNG WOODLEY."

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19675, 19 July 1929, Page 9

"YOUNG WOODLEY."

♦ THEATRE ROYAL, TO-NIGHT. To-night, at the Theatre Royal, J. C. Williamson, Ltd., present for the first time to playgoers John van Druten's story of college life, "Young Woodley." The play is still running in London after twelve month 3 of continuous success, and in Australia was immediately acclaimed by critics as a brilliantly artistic production. The writer of the "Sun," Melbourne, says: "A wonderful reception was accorded on Saturday night at the Comedy Theatre to 'Young Woodley,' the play that aroused enormous interest in that it was banned by the Lord Chamberlain, but has now been licensed for production. It is a fine work, written of a oublic school as the author knows it. He has inspired the story with the very spirit of youth, and has treated of matters that make or max a boy's life with great delicacy and tact. John van Druten's picture of a shy, lonely boy's ideal, and his pitiful disillusionment, is as fine a piece of craftsmanship as this town has seen for a long time. Beautiful acting and sincerity are the players' contribution. The seven-teen-year-old Lewis Shaw's poignant portrayal of young Woodley, who falls in love with his housemaster's wife, was brilliant. Always he was shy, fumbling for knowledge, resenting furtive obscenities from less idealistic school friends. His work will remain long in one's memory. Natalie Moya, as the wife, plays naturally and with a charming shyness, giving -a vivid and cleanrut cameo study. As the schoolmaster. Frank Royde was responsible for much of the success of 'Young Woodley,' for which also he is the producer. Michael Macowan, George Preston, Edward Ashley. Guy Hastings, and Clara Jenkins were well in the pictura, and that small boy Trevor Brogan a gem." The box plans are at The Bristol, and the day sales at the theatre confectionery.