“Home At Seven” Presented By B.H.S. Drama Club

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30153, 10 June 1963, Page 13

“Home At Seven” Presented By B.H.S. Drama Club

“Home at Seven,” a threeact play by R. C. Sheriff, gives a good idea of the work being done by the Christchurch Boys’ High School Drama Club The first performance of the play in the school hall on Saturday evening drew a large attendance of parents and friends of the school.

The first difficulty members of the club must face in Home at Seven" is the necessity of providing two female characters. In this performance the difficulty has proved formidable. Cliff Dalzell, it is true, managed to achieve from time to time, a vibrant contralto tone of voice; but he moved awkwardly and hardly suggested an English middle-class housewife. In addition, his make-up produced an effect that would have drawn curious glances anywhere. A: first sight. David Roseveare seemed more convincing; but then he did not know his lines very well, and this slowed the last ac; 1 down considerably. Easily the best performance of the evening was that given by Rodney Greaves as David Preston. The character had obviously been studied; this young actor spoke bis lines Hearty and was very much at home on the stage.

On the other hand, James Hopkins, in the important role of Dr. Sparling, encountered difficulties. The part would be improved if it could be taken quietly and with fewer gestures. The player's own natural ability would be sufficient to carry him through. Christopher Whitta suggested the character of Major Watson very well. He spoke too fast most of the time; but at the actual moment he managed to produce an impassive puff of smoke from the pipe he was carrying. Just how the part of Mr Petherbridge, the solicitor, will be taken in "Home at Seven” seems hard to predict. David Jensen provided another variation; his Petherbridge was so thoughtful and reserved that sometimes he hardly seemed present at all. Anthony prittenden made a cheerful detective; he presented a conventional but interesting cha ac:er, but he too must learn to speak more slowly. The set was a good one •hat showed some originalityin the treatment of space and light. The sound effects nearly always came in well; but the music played before the performance and during the interval is wild, modern and reverberating. —C.E.S.