J. M. SYNGE’S “PLAYBOY”

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29278, 9 August 1960, Page 15

J. M. SYNGE’S “PLAYBOY”

University Drama Society

A small audience at the Repertory Theatre last evening saw a lively performance ot J. M. Synge’s “Playboy of the Western World.” The play was acted’ by members of the Canterbury University Drama Society. Julian Royds has designed an Interesting set, at once intimate and disorderly, but with plenty of colour. In the first act the players tended to move towards the back of the stage, and this made the dialogue appear to come from a distance. As a result it Was sometimes hard to follow what was being said. During the rest of the play, however, the action and the grouping were more varied, and this difficulty did not arise. Jim Laurenson’s Playboy was full of animation. It was an attractive performance, in which the engaging simplicity of the Irish country boy was cleverly brought out. Mr Laurenson combined bashfulness of expression with great awkwardness of manner, and in this way worked up some of his best moments of comedy. Irvine Lindsay. as Pegeen Mike, acted very well with Mr Laurenson. She suggested the vivacity of the character, particularly at those times when a certain sharpness of temper was apparent. Nevertheless, the softer contrast provided by the dialogue in the last act, where Pegeen Mike and -Christie were exchanging confidences and plighting their troth, was also very effective. A third interesting performance was that given by Martyn Sanderson as Shawn. From his costume if was clear that a certain gentility clung to Shawn; but beyond this his outstanding characteristic was his cowardice. This was revealed by a flood of picturesque eloquence, and it need hardly be said that Mr Sanderson spoke his lines with gusto His voice and his manner lit up the part of Shawn in an unexpected way and set him in strong contrast with all the other characters in the comedy. Old Mahon, too, was convincing in age and expression. His entrance, “to be killed the third time," was one of the best moments, in the lively final act. which is saying a good deal. The part Was played by Philip Th whites. .Another carefully thought oitt role was that of the insinuating Widow Quinn, acted by Margaret Gorton. Smaller parts, equally well done, were filled by Mervyn Thompson, Michael Buckland and Neyille Laurence. ■ “The Playing of the Western World” was produced by Martyn Sanderson. —C.E.S.