‘LADIES’ INJUDICIOUS

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33068, 8 November 1972, Page 18

‘LADIES ’ INJUDICIOUS

“The Old Ladies,” by Rodney Ackland. Directed by Yvette Bromley for The Court Theatre. November 7 to 25. Running time: 8 p.m. to 10.10. This 1935 thriller, based on a novel by Hugh Walpole, would seem unusual fare for modem audiences and a marked contrast with The Court’s most recent production, "Old Times.” In fact, there are many similarities: (the small casts, the climactic (final scenes, emphasis on interaction of characters. I Most significantly, the two plays had consistently high standards of acting and ’ direction. The cast, three old ladies, are the sole occupants of a boarding house. The newest arrival, Miss Beringer, is welcomed by Mrs Amorest but ignored "by Mrs Payne—until Miss Beringer produces her prized possession, a piece I of amber (unfortunately insipid and unimpressive in this production). Mrs Payne’s attempts to acquire the amber provide the sub‘stance of the plot. Some

degree of suspense can be achieved, but the attraction of the characters tends to overshadow this.

Although the play creates three credible and interesting characters, includes some admirably crisp and appropriate dialogue, and generally provides satisfying entertainment, one wonders if it was a worth while choice for a group of the calibre of The Court. Indeed, the sparse and strangely unsympathetic audience that were attracted to the opening performance tended to reinforce this suspicion. The most impressive aspect of the production was the fine character portrayals, especially Cynthia Ward as Miss Beringer. Hers was a well-sustained portrayal of a I lovable and vulnerable old woman to whom her only possessions, her memories and her piece of amber, were of inestimable and irreplaceable value. Mrs Ward was entirely involved in her character throughout, always drawing just the right degree of response from the audience.

Isabel Wilkin was relaxed and confident as the gentle and concerned Mrs Amorest. She managed to convey the character’s suppressed concern for her own problems without once detracting from the central action—another convincing performance from this actress.

As the mystical, scheming Mrs Agatha Payne, Kay Scrivener was slow to start but had convincing moments later. This was the least streotyped of the three characters and should develop as the season progresses. The set is necessarily compressed and while this emphasized the enforced closeness of the characters, visually it was unsatisfactory. Props, set and furniture were barely adequate; another factor which suggests that the choice of play was injudicious.

“The Old Ladies” is not quite up to highest Court standards, but bearing in mind the heights that have been attained, this is far from a condemnation. —W.H.C.