“LABURNUM GROVE”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 225, 19 June 1936, Page 6

“LABURNUM GROVE”

A J. B. Priestley Comedy

THESPIANS’ PRODUCTION

“Laburnum Grove,’’ a comedy in three acts, by J. B. Priestley. Cast:

Elsie Radfern Bettie Wilson, Mrs. (Lucy) Baxley .. Dorothy lans ey. Bernard Baxley A. D. I rU'Btlev. George Radfern s’ Harold Russ •Joo Fletten -K* • L«irKin« Mrs. (Dorothy) Radfern .... Vera Horton. Inspector Stack J', va 2 , lla li™Sn' Sergeant Morris .... L. Al. Schneldcman.

Mr. J. B. Priestley, who endeared himself to the reading public by his “Good Companions” and “Angel Pavement a. few years ago, came to learn early m his meteoric rise to fame that there was more money in successful plays than in books, and so. with commendable mental elasticity, turned his attention to that medium not without a certain success, as witness his "Dangerous Corner” and "Laburnum Grove ” The latter play was presented by the Thespians at the Town Hail Concert Chamber last night, and proved to be an intriguing little comedy ot London suburban life, with a puzzling twist in its design which keeps the audience busily guessing in assessing the character of the central figure. All British audiences love a clear definition of the human worth of each character in a play, and, as a rule, the first act is usually devoted to the “placing” of most of the people concerned. The mystery murder type of sliuddersome melodrama, favoured by the late Edgar Wallace, gave that tradition a jolt when it deliberately, and often most ingeniously, led the audience to suspect everyone in the cast, at different .times, as being the guilty party. Mr. Priestley applies this element of suspense in a different way in drawing the character ot George Radfern, a typical peace-loving pipe-smoking tomato-growing resident ot Shooter’s Green. But dear good-natured old George gets tired of his wife s cadging relatives and a designing would-be son-in-law, and tells them (in strict confidence) over the supper table that actually be is a “crook” —a forger of bank-notes. While George continues to munch Ins salad as though the revelation were nothing very extraordinary, his .auditors become panic-stricken. Young Harold Russ bolts without apology, and the bumptious banana-eating ' Bernard Baxley and his acidulated Lucy (who is Mrs. Radfern s sister) turn pale, aud retire to a restless bed. Next morning poor distracted little Elsie Radfern receives a letter from Harold, breaking off the engagement. Mi th Monday comes common sense. When Mrs. Radfern 'learns what is disturbing the household, she simply laughs at George’s ruse to get rid of some importunate people, and assures her sister that it was all a joke. But was it? Inspector Stack, from Scotland Yard, calls, and once more everyone is filled with suspicion (including the - audience) that George really may be what he confesses himself io be over the supper table. It would spoil sport to tell any more. Sufficient to say that there is good entertainment right up to the fall of the curtain. The role of George Radfern was played on quiet, easy-going, natural lines by Mr. O. N. Gillespie. So free is he from any suspicion of eelf-consciousness that Mr. Giliespie (who plays himself rather than essaying a character study) is inclined to under-act. He was very amusing in the excellent supper scene, but in the interview with the Inspector was a little too quiet and nonchalant. There are places where he could "lift the scene a little, and still be the “dear old George" of the author’s imagining. Miss Vera Horton spoke the lines of Mrs. Radfern admirably, and radiated a sweet nature, while Miss Dorothy Tansley was quite as successful and even more vital as the tongue-lashing Lucy Baxley. Bernard Baxley, who consumes enough bananas to furnish a shop, found an exact type in Mr. A. D. Priestley. Elsie Radfern as played by Miss Bettie Wilson, and Harold Russ enacted by Mr. W. M. Willis, were not very interesting lovers, but Mr. Evan Harrowell did well as Inspector Stack, and Joe Fletton (George’s crony) was capitally characterised by Mr. R. J. Larkin. A roomy interior in the Radfern home, set on the angle, made an.appropriate setting for the play, which was produced by Mr. Victor Lloyd. “Laburnum Grove” will be played again this and to-morrow evenings, and on Saturday week the Thespians will journey to Wanganui to present the play there.