"R.U.R."

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19690, 6 August 1929, Page 14

"R.U.R."

FIBST N.Z. PERFORMANCE. "R.U.i;.," tiio Robot play, has held tli® UritMh, European, and American etago lor mora than aix years. Yet there haa been no parfortanaoa in New Zealand, and probably never would have been, but for tho repertory movement. The Canterbury Repertory ThttiUe ywety «w formed last year -- "K.U.K.' i« ita third public production, and ita moat important, 'the Caetih playwright's vision ol society overwhelmed by tho Robots, the machino-m«n invented to »<rve its induatrial purpoaea, ima a great and eymbolic meaning. 'L*o what end i» industrial civiliaation moving', aa it uiechanisos more and u.ore of life? Will it bo deen, too late, that worship of "jyatctn" and the time-table baa killed what alone can justify life and .tavs it/ Such are the disturbing quesliona ill atna tic ally named by Capek's great play. Tbo action takes plac« in 1050, in th« factory whence "Kossuui'a Universal Robots" are anpphcj to the world. They have made children unnecessary, and the h'iman race is facing alow auicide, when the Robots are ordtued by their leaders to revolt. Tht<v murder all human liciiitja but one, Alquiat, the clerk of the works. They count l>m; as one uf thauiselvcs; for lie still works with hi* hunds. But the formula for their >v<! manufacture has Ixjen destroyed by Mvl-na <i!ory, who had hoix-il to savo muMi.d; and the Kobota themselves face extinction. But tho last a-ct lifts this dooin and shows thi> tirht i:npulae, among tha Robots, of a force that is spiritual, not mnrhauical. Mr Kov Twyneham plays the part of Marrv Domain, general manager of "R.L.R.," Mrs Chennelis plays Helena Glory, urd <r Shelley, who produces the play, has the part of Alquist. The stage niMtiiiga have 1.c.-n specially designed to expres* eymbolic force of the producfii«> first perfoniiaru-o will !j« given at I»- Choral Hall next. .Saturday August 10th, and Will 1.0 repi'tttfd on August V2l.h, ;lth, i.nd Mill. Tho plan* .ire at Thr Bristol.