‘Blood of the Lamb’

Press, 25 November 1981, Page 6

‘Blood of the Lamb’

“Blood of the Lamb” by Bruce Mason, directed by Eric Hooper for the Court Theatre. Tuesday, November 24 to December 12. Running time; 8.15 p.m. to 10.15 p.m. Reviewed by Gerrit Bahlman. \ “Blood of the Lamb” returns from its Australian tour, a powerful, fluent exponent of the best in New Zealand theatre. The . tour, the first for New Zealand community theatres, has no’t been an overwhelming success, but this certainly does not lie with the calibre of the production. . The play, whole essentially static and narrative, has considerable dynamics, both vocally and theatrically. , The plot concerns the gradual unravelling ;bf the

background ot one, Victoria Higginson, daughter of Eliza Higginson, a flower seller, and Henry Higginson. The mysterious past of this family proves to be contradictory, compelling, and brilliant theatre. The flavour of the script is undeniably indigenous and accusations of insularity by an Australian audience might be understood, but the richness of the ferious metaphors' and imagery can only delight. The performances of the three returnees were fluent, well, timed, and cleverly controlled. Elizabeth Moody’s Henry was played with' a disquieting conviction The apparent theatrical convention of a woman playing the role of a a source of tension ?. which

added much to the denoument. Judie Douglass, as Eliza Higginson, withholds her characterisation in such a way that a latent energy of caring permeates her performance. Thomascita Edgerton, as Victoria, completely con vinces and provides an en.. tirely believable subject for the tortuous tale which un folds. .The simple set by Simon Allison used a Somerset Maugham design which enhanced the parody of the life styles of Henry qnd Eliza The return of the prodigal play was greeted by an enthusiastic, if somewhat' small, audience and will be. treasured by those lucky . enough to see it. .