THE ROBOT PLAY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19691, 7 August 1929, Page 6

THE ROBOT PLAY.

REPERTORY SOCIETY'S PERFORMANCE.

Few plays in modern times have stirred such deep interest wherever performed, as "R.U.R.," the famous Robot play, which will be presented by the Canterbury Repertory Theatre Society in the Choral Hall next Saturday evening, and for a short season. The occasion will be dramatically historic as the first New Zealand performance. Jvarel Capek's conception shows the whole work of the world being done by the Robots, the machine-made creatures on which mankind comes wholly to depend, and through doing so degenerates. Pain is the slaves' first gift, given to them by their inventors to stop them from carelessly breaking arms and legs; but with pain and at last with love a soul springs to birth within them. They have exterminated mankind in a terrible revolt; but the Robot becomes man. The audience, as one critic has said, • breathlessly watching the Robots smash the mechanical civilisation that has created them, wonders whether we ourselves are not Robots, in these iron times, bringing about our own wreck, and waiting for our own new birth to humanity. This symbolic play, as produced by Professor Shelley, will be a startling revelation to Christchurch audiences of the modern drama's power. The play has been excellently cast, parts being taken by Mrs Chennells, Miss Lucy Benham, Miss Gladys Ferguson, Miss May Hercus, Mr Roy Twjneham, Professor L. G. Pocock, Mr F. G. Walker, Professor Shelley, Mr Norman Davies, Mr Selwyn Davies. Mr Harold Shaw, Mr Henry Field, Mr Allan Kain, and Mr Paul Shelley. Early booking is advised—plans at The Bristol.