'The Real Inspector Hound’

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32665, 22 July 1971, Page 16

'The Real Inspector Hound’

“The Real Inspector Hound,” by Tom Stoppard. Directed by Mervyn Thompson and William Stalker. The Court. Running time: 8.15 to 9.45.

After sitting through a play in which two theatre critics are shot dead (with the comment “Now he has paid his debt to society!”).

one cannot help but feel a certain hesitancy about passing judgment on the quality of play and performance—especially when the critics have given comprehensive commentary which ridicules the whole business of criticism. One hopes, however, that the consequences will not be too dire if one admits that this is the play The

Court has been waiting for, the play which should set it firmly on its feet with a wide popularity. Though earlier productions have been of a respectable standard, one continually sensed that audiences wanted to laugh but were not being allowed to; "Hound” poses a challenge to anyone to sit for 10 minutes without being en-

gulfed in its reckless frivolity.

: Vincent Orange is at his • best when playing the critic i —pedantic, petty-minded, : pompous, and overflowing • with platitudinous bombast. ; As the other critics, Wayne I Bell gives very effective con- • trast with his pragmatic 1 hypocrisy, and seems delight--1 fully unaware when he wanders into the action of the play he is meant to be writing up. Isabel Wilkin is the I servant, a hilarious exercise i in over-acting, and William Hayward the lacrimose inspector. For a new-comer to the stage, John Horrocks is very competent; he always looks good, but lacks assurance at times, especially when he takes over the critic’s seat. Yvonne Mackay is a promising young actress with a remarkably vibrant voice and striking features, both of which she exploits expertly. Judie Douglass is the Lady ■of Muldoon Manor, the I stereotyped object of every- ; one’s passion who unwitt- ; ingly entices the critic into the play and spends the rest , of it groping for cues. James ; Wright shows outstanding ■ virtuosity in driving a wheelchair, but again resorts to an accent which, though indisputably unique (Mid-West Sussex?), is beginning to lose its novelty. On the first night, the final act seemed a little slack and i did not draw the response it 1 deserves. The incidental < television music worked well, 1 but the arrival of the critics, • one felt, could have been ‘ rather more subtle: what surprise there was seemed too gross and without the apprehension that seems latent., One feels confident, though, that once the later episodes , are given the necessary fine , tuning the whole of this play , will give excellent entertainment to those who can appreciate mad, fast-moving fun. —H. D. McN. The picture shows, from left, John Horrocks, William Hayward, Judy Douglass and Yyonne Mackay.