AN ENTERTAINING COMEDY

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22182, 27 August 1937, Page 4

AN ENTERTAINING COMEDY

REPERTORY SOCIETY PRODUCTION

A. A. MILNE'S "TO HAVE THE

HONOUR"

The plays and poems of A. A. Milne have a quality of whimsical humour which makes them deservedly popular, and "To Have the Honour," which was presented by members of the Canterbury Repertory Theatre Society, at the Radiant Hall last evening, is a highly entertaining comedy in the true Milne tradition. The production was distinguished by particularly able acting on the part of the leading performers, who thoroughly entered into the spirit of the play. Making no pretence to present profundities of human character. "To Have the Honour" is a light and charming study of the behaviour of a number of well-sorted English people, presented in a way that reveals one of their foibles—a liking for the company of the great or the near-great. Only in this case the great man whom thev assemble to meet turns out to be an impostor, although a very likeable one.

The production was carried to a very large extent by the acting skill of Mrs Guy Cotterill as a delightfully blunt young widow, and of Mr Graham Brown-Douglas as Prince Michael of Neo-Slavonia. Mrs Cotterill had a pleasantly straight-forward and informal manner, so that whatever she did or said appeared entirely natural. Mr Brown-Douglas gave the scapegrace prince an air that made him convincingly appealing to the ladies, and in fact to everybody he met. The play reveals the excitement that develops among a small group of friends in an English village when they are invited to meet Prince Michael at dinner. Angela Battersby is to be the hostess, and everybody speculates about how well she knows the Prince. Mrs Faithful brings her blushing daughter in the vague hope that possibly something may come of the meeting. Mrs Bulger, widow of General Bulger, is also eager to make an impression, and Dr. Ainslie is determined not to let his republican ideas be corrupted, but he is not at all unwilling to meet the Prince. When the Prince arrives it is obvious that Mrs Bulger has met him before. The others show various reactions according to character —all favourable to the Prince, of course. Then Mrs Bulger and the Prince are left alone and their discussion reveals a great deal about both of them. This scene is the first climax of the play, and is highly entertaining in its unexpected developments. The rest of the story is the further development of a kind of sparring match between these two. Miss Nancy Buchanan, as Angela I Battersby, was perpetually bored and ] languid—succeeding in a very difficult ] part. Mr Lionel Stephens, as the re-publican-minded doctor, maintained the right casual air in voice and movement, and Major R. F. W. Ashworth as Angela Battersby's artist father," j was pleasantly fumbling and solicitous. I Mr Harold Taylor Smith blustered loudly as Captain Holt and Miss Frona King, as his wife, avoided trouble by agreeing with whatever he said. Mrs D. C. Crozier was the type of oversolicitous mother with a daughter on her hands, and Miss Marion Smail simpered-, to good effect as the daughter. Others in the cast were Miss Valerie Campbell and Mr John Dunford. Credit for the production of "To Have the Honour," the setting of which was particularly well contrived, is due to Mr Bernard Beeby. It will be performed again at the Radiant Hall tonight and to-morrow evening. '