Enthusiastic Acting

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31235, 6 December 1966, Page 20

Enthusiastic Acting

All the verve and confidence of young actors was displayed last night at the Stage Door when The Group presented as their end-of-year production four modern one-act plays. “The Leader” by Eugene lonesco, produced by James Steele, is a frighteningly funny little piece which seems to deal with the blindness of a mob following a leader, the similar blindness of love and their inevitable awakening. The cast of six worked well together as a team with plenty of raw vitality and some

talent. Although this was a fairly rough-hewn presentation it was gripping. “A Slight Ache” by Harold Pinter was a rather more ambitious attempt. Russell Fisk as Edward, the hearty husband with skeletons in several of his cupboards, played with vigour and sustained his character well. Margaret McArthur as Flora his wife, whose outer listlessness hides some good oldfashioned sexual frustration, was not quite as convincing but had some nice moments. lan Munro as the Match-

seller, whom they both needed for different reasons, was terrifyingly convincing. He was a quiet dribbling, senile, all-knowing old man. Because of his statuesque stillness throughout the beginning of the play his controlled and subtle movements towards the end of it were electrifying. Chris Blackman’s production was too slow and one felt that, emotionally, the play was beyond these talented youngsters, but in spite of that they reached some surprisingly high peaks. “Out of the Flying Pan,” by David Campton, produced by Grant Boyd, is a clever and disturbing piece of satirical, political gibberish, which makes sickeningly good sense. This was a good, pacy production although one felt that it could have taken even more pace. Nigel Williams as A and John Stonyer as B presented a lively picture of politicians and peace and war and . . .? Lighting, sound and mime were used with startling effect. With “Hello Out There,” by William Saroyan, one felt again that The Group had waded out of their emotional depth. This is a play which can be either a rough but tender little tale or a great big melodrama. This production landed somewhere in the middle. The Group is to be congratulated on presenting such an adventurous selection of plays with such heartening enthusiasm. They will continue until Thursday. -pJ.M.F.