“WORM’S EYE VIEW”

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26523, 11 September 1951, Page 3

“WORM’S EYE VIEW”

NEW ZEALAND PREMIERE NEXT SATURDAY

The New Zealand premiere of the record-breaking English play “Worm's Eye View” will open in Christchurch next Saturday. The play, which is under the direction of J. C. Williamson Theatres, Ltd., is the first of the company’s productions to have a Christchurch premiere since 1923. “Worm’s Eye View,” is a story of life in the R.A.F., written by R. F. Delderfield, who lived the situations which he recreated in the play with remarkable skill. It deals with London in the blitz period when billeting was the only answer to the problem of accommodating a viast number of troops. Consequently homes in certain areas were forced to register their accommodation, and later householders were told the number of airmen they would have to accommodate. Some houses welcomed their boarders, and others disliked them. It is in one of the latter places that “Worm’s Eye View" men were billeted with a Mrs Bounty and her objectionable son.

The play set a new English performance record on June 26 this year when it passed the number of performances obtained by “Chu Chin Chow” in its original London run of 2238 performances.

Two English players, William Hodge and Harry Moreny, lead the cast, and others who contribute to the action in every way are Gordon Chater, Brandon Cremer, an old favourite with New Zealand audiences, and David Cahill.