A BARRIE PLAY

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23482, 10 November 1941, Page 9

A BARRIE PLAY

•—♦ — «DEAR BRUTUS” PRODUCED BY REPERTORY SOCIETY

Seeing a performance of Barries “Dear Brutus” now. in the third year of this war, it is difficult to realise that it was first produced in the third year of the last war. Those very qualities that made Barrie’s work so popular 25 years ago, and through most of the twenties—the “puckishness” of so many of his characters, and the vision of that other world into which they escaped, arc almost the least part of their appeal now. Those fantastic old men, Lob and Mr Pym. and sweet Mary Rose —even Peter Pan —belong to another time altogether, and it is not only the bitter vision of war that has changed them for us. Because it is good to look back on former favourites, the Repertory Society’s production of "Dear Brutus” at the Radiant Hall on Saturday evening was very welcome. The performance was skilfully done, and selling his fantasy on one side, it was possible to admire the sure touches of the dramatist in the dialogue and in cleverly contrived situations. As Lob, apparently Shakespeare s Puck surviving to modern times and leading people into a magic wood 6n Midsummer Evc>T. W. C. Tolhill handled a difficult job very well. He had the real Barrie quality about him. Margaret Brinkman revealed overtones of strength as Alice Dearth, and Guy Cotterill was just as good when argumentatively tipsy as when being Will Dearth's other self in the wood. Mavis Ritchie. Trudy Crozier. and lan Ainsley played an excellent triangle, and provided some of the best moments of the plav at\the beginning of the third act. Sylvia Mclntosh and Douglas Dali made a good pair of “elderlies.” S. L. Jones was effective both as the butler and as the vulgar financier, and Edna Milne was one of those longforgotten lisping debutantes. Dawn Kincaid handled a demanding task as one of'Barrie’s elfin young girls. "Dear Brytus.” which was produced by Deuglas Dali. will be presented again at the Radiant Hall to-night, tomorrow, and Wednesday evening.