“PADDLE YOUR OWN CANOE”

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29058, 21 November 1959, Page 15

“PADDLE YOUR OWN CANOE”

Light-hearted Presentation “Paddle Your Own Canoe,” the Repertory Theatre Society’s latest production, which opened at the Repertory Theatre last evening, seems likely to have a most successful season. It is a light-hearted play, and the sharpness of its dialogue and the unpredictable chain of events it offers hold the attention from beginning to end. In France the original play by Max Regnier was a great success in the field of light entertainment, and the English version, an adaptation by Lucienne Hill, recently ended a long season at the Criterion Theatre in London.

The current presentation of "Paddle Your Own Canoe” shows careful casting, although this became more apparent after the opening scene of the first act. Some hesitation there tended to spoil the effect of the interview with the family lawyer; but the two following acts were played in a more confident style, and the audience followed the closely-argued dialogue with keen attention.

The particular flavour of “Paddle Your Own Canoe” comes largely from the way in which the two leading actresses interpret the parts of Martha and Irene, the mother and daughter. The qualities needed include cool effrontery, a great deal of vivacity, and the arts of insinuation. Ir is also an advantage to cover everything with a manner of unrelenting hardness. These, not very agreeable attributes ensure that the roles of Martha and Irene are distinctive, but difficult.

Janet Buckley made the decisive, calculating part of Irene's nature very clear. The play of expression here was eloquent but not overdone, and Miss Buckley proved herself excellent in a demanding comic role.

A certain implacability seemed to mark the high-handed scheming of Martha, wife and mother-in-law; and Doreen Corrick gave a vigorous and consistent performance. She was perhaps best of all in those rapid intimate scenes with Irene in the third act; but Martha’s crushing comments on husbands, indeed on men generally, were always effective.

Pat Bonisch was disappointing as the lawyer, a small part, but, coming where it did, one of some importance. In the role of the suppressed husband, Julian, George McCleary had brought the knack of saying the wrong thing at the wrong moment to something of an art. Several of these remarks were shattering: they lost nothing from Mr McCleary’s - delivery and delighted the audience. In this battle of wills Armand, Irene’s second husband, was as a leaf in the wind. William Scannell gave one of his best performances last evening. From time to time he invested. Armand’s timid persistence with an air of hopeless gallantry that seemed very French as well as very appealing.

As for Daniel, the first husband, who came back so unexpectedly from the Wilds of South America, he had to be a different man in almost every scene. John Partleton»acted very well, particularly in those brief moments of surprise or dismay when Daniel was able to dominate the situation. “Paddle Your Own Canoe” was directed by Frank Newman. This is an even production of a very sophisticated play. It should be popular. —C.E.S.