“THE ADMIRABLE CRICHTON”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 150, 20 March 1936, Page 3

“THE ADMIRABLE CRICHTON”

Repertory Theatre Production Box plans for the Wellington Repertory Theatre Society’s production of Sir James Barrie’s play, “The Admirable Crichton,” will open to the public at the D.I.C. this morning. In view of the growing membership of the society, it has now been decided ’to extend this and future seasons to five performances instead of four as formerly. The season of “The Admirable Crichton” -will start in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Tuesday next at 8 p.m., nud will continue until the following Saturday. “The Admirable Crichton,” if well acted, is perhaps the best “‘theatre” of all Barrie’s plays, because of the realistic drama underlying the fanciful _ theme. The author introduces an aristocratic English household disturbed by Lord Loams’s queer endeavours to establish a common ground between his servants and himself. If Lord Loam is eccentric. Crichton is a perfectly model butler; cool, polite and polished, with a pertinacity for rank and discipline. Lord Loam, his three daughters, two male friends, a maid and Crichton, on a yachting cruise in the Pacific, are wrecked on a desert island. Lord Loam and his party prove themselves utterly useless. It is Crichton who builds a shelter, finds food, and other necessary requirements. And in doing these things he becomes the master. For a time Lord Loam and the. others attempt to assert themselves, but “Nature” ordains that Crichton shall command and the others obey. Two years they are on the island, and Lady Marv has become the affianced wife of the butler, when a cruiser rescues them and takes them back to England, and the status quo. TTiere are 25 characters in the four acts of the play. The production is directed by Mr. Leo du Chateau.