IDEAS IN CONFLICT

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 260, 29 July 1932, Page 12

IDEAS IN CONFLICT

/ St. John Ervine Play COLLEGE DRAMA CLUB “The Ship,” a drama in three acts by St. John Ervine. Cast Old Mrs. Thurlow .... Miss Sinclair Breen Janet Thurlow Miss Zena Jupp Hester Thurlow Miss Joan Anderson Maid Miss Shirley Roberts Jack Thurlow ......j.. Mr. D. G. Edwards John Thurlow' Mr, C. N. Watson George Norwood Mr. D. G. Steele Captain Cornelius Mr. M. Risks In presenting at the Blue Triangle IJall last evening Mr. St. John Ervine’s interesting drama, “The Ship,” the Victoria University College'Dramatic Club showed, among other things, plenty of courage. “The Ship” is far from being a play of the kind that can be relied upon to do its own presentation, either with the help of a cast, or in spite of it. Such plays certainly exist, but “The Ship” is not one of them. If it is to be at all significant, it calls almost throughout for a high degree of understanding among those who interpret it. Not satisfied with that large demand, it requires also great acting ability from almost the whole cast. Nd one would appreciate those facts more keenly than a engaged in producing it —in this case' the College Dramatic Club—and for that reason a company of amateurs who tackle it, whatever else, they may be'accused of, cannot be accused of lacking courage. The club came through last evening very creditably, If not always convincingly, and the significance of Mr. Ervine’s play was made abundantly clear. In essence it is a critique of certain typical schemes of values In post-war England, not comprehensive, perhaps, but none the less satisfying.' No one could ‘mistake its period by more than a year or two. It was produced' first in 1922. Two of Mr. Ervine’s principal characters, John Thurlow, the great shipbuilder, and Jaqk Thurlow, his dif-> ferently-thinking sou, could, without undue strain or any major changes of detail, have existed earlier or later. But two others, old Mrs. Thurlow (John’s mother) and Captain Cornelius, young war veteran, could, have existed at no other time than in the immediate post-war years. Mr. Ervine sets these different typical characters in high relief as the principal figures in a dramatic story that is theatrical in almost the best sense of the word. The father’s creed of work and power, his mothers mature wisdom, the reactionary son’s; revolt against the tyranny of the machine, and the restless, contradictory. attitude of the retired soldier, are all finely demonstrated. Through' it all, Mr. Ervine’s philosophy comes in curious, rich gleams. The tragedy at the end, and the remarkable last scene are immensely impressive. Of last evening’s actors the best were undoubtedly Miss Breen and Miss Jupp, particularly Miss Breen, to whom alone a great deal of the success of the performance was due. Her voice and whole appearance rang true, and she sustained a difficult part without a slip. Mr. Riske was sometimes extremely good in his own style, but at other times did not appear to be at home in his role. Mr. Watson rather lacked the force and conviction that his part required in such large measure. The play was produced by Miss Mary Cooley,’ and will be repeated this evening and to-morrow evening.