Risingholme Drama Group Presents Shaw Plays

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29897, 10 August 1962, Page 13

Risingholme Drama Group Presents Shaw Plays

The latest enterprise of the Risingholme Drama Group is an evening of one-act plays by George Bernard Shaw. The performance was given at the Risingholme Community Centre last evening. Two fairly short items made up the first part of the programme. “The Dark Lady of the Sonnets” was attractively staged; an interesting silhouette effect against the background of a night skyhad been contrived. The best performance was that given by Rita O’Neil, as the Queen. Kirsten Leek was the Dark Lady and Les White William Shakespeare; their work would be improved by further rehearsal. The first scene of "Village Wooing.” which followed, gave evidence of sustained effort by the players. Bob le Fevre worked up to a convincing state of exasperation as the man who was constantly interrupted in the throes of literary composition; and Susan Kirkwood I was the talkative girl. She

kept up. in a convincing and interested manner, the flow of monologue the playwright has put together for the part. It should be added that the scene is not all conversation: light relief is provided by the constant coming and going of fellow passengers. These small incidents were acted with some understanding of their humorous possibilities. The second half of the programme was taken up with something more ambitious — “The Man of Destiny,” as presented by the Canterbury Repertory Theatre Society Active Members’ Group. This play has already been noticed; for it was acted with success during die recent British Drama League Festival.

Last night, however, the actor entrusted with the role of the lieutenant was unable to appear. The part was read by a substitute; and as a re. suit this version of the play must be considered rather as a practice than a performance.—C.E.S. '