“THE DEVIL WAS SICK”

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29060, 24 November 1959, Page 17

“THE DEVIL WAS SICK”

Elmwood Players’

Production

The main difficulty that confronted the Elmwood Players last evening, when they presented “The Devil Was Sick,” was the smallness of the stage. The play was set in a vicarage livingrooth. It should have been large, but the space available at Jellicoe Hall was scarcely adequate for this.

“The Devil Was Sick” has many bright moments, and the cast made the most of them. As might be expected the playwright, Kenneth Horne, has produced some startling effects of confusion, and Guy Hammond and Taura Henderson, who took the principal parts, cleverly conveyed the comedy of these times of domestic crisis. , Mr Hammond's version of the Rev. Arthur Sexton-Hifflish showed this experienced actor’s versatility. Taura Henderson for her part had a character role of a kind that she may be said to have specialised in. Last evening she had the support of Alex Aitchison as Dr. Silvaine. Mr Aitchison, too, as Christchurch audiences already know, can be depended upon for a careful assured interpretation of a character part. As the vicar’s wife Marion Edwards made all her lines effective, although she appeared to act with a certain exaggeration at times. Wilfred Lauder had undergone a startling transformation to appear as the aged Victor Sexton-Hifflish. For the purpose of the play he was cantankerous, and the audience found him convincing. The comedy of Violet’s role depended on exaggeration, and Suzanne Prendergast managed this very well. The more romantic interest of “The Devil Was Sick” was provided by Dianne McClurg and Jamie Adams. Both these young players gave animated performances. The Elmwood Players are to be commended for their work, which shows once again what talented amateurs can do. It also gives some indication of their possibilities in a larger, more convenient theatre.—C.E.S.