“THE SILVER BOX”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 235, 1 July 1936, Page 6

“THE SILVER BOX”

Wellington Repertory

Production

A GALSWORTHY PLAY “The Silver Box,” a play in three aets, by John Galsworthy. Cast: — Jack Barthwick Ralph Hogg .Tones H. A. Painter Wheeler Hester Nicholls Mrs Jones Coralie Smythson Marlow A. O. Heaney John Barthwick, M.P. Stephen E. Crawford Mrs. Barthwick Florence Penney An Unknown Lady Meryl Daniels Mrs. Seddon Mrs. James Jack Snow ... B. Cahill Ist Coustable J- IL Lindon Roper -A. C. Iveys A Police Magistrate .. Bernard S. Withers Magistrate’s ClerkA. Aslilcy-Jones Theresa Livens Nona Hood Maud Livens J u ne l}? o . l 2nd Constable R ®s’! er Relieving Officer Colin trim Livens Ernest E. Le Grove

“The Silver Box,” presented by the Wellington Repertory Theatre Society at the Town Hall Concert Chamber last night, is no novelty. It may be even better than that,-as. it is one of the earliest and soundest of the many plays written by John Galsworthy, showing a fine perception in diverse character and a neat, workmanlike craftsmanship in construction. If there is one foible which characterises the Galsworthy plays it is a desire not perhaps to champion the under dog exactly, but to present his point of view with an almost judicial fairness and lack of partisanship. That was evident in “Strife” and “The Skin Game”—both strong plays—and it occurs in “The Silver Box.” There is always the suggestion of a defiant. resentment of one law f6r the rich anj another for'"the poor: but ‘though he slates a case with fine clarity he leaves it at that. He never seeks to solve a problem in respect to injustices which may exist as between classes of society in England, and certainly never allows himself to be persuaded into providing that happy ending, so often used as a sop to sentimentality. Those who witnessed the excellent performance of "The Silver Box” last night will agree that he stuck to his colours with a soldier-like austerity. The smoothness of the performance was due to the capable direction of the producer, Mr. Leo du Chateau, and to the marked intelligence of a capable group of players. The plot is simple. Jack Barthwick, son of John Barthwick,. M.P., arrives home “well soused,” waving a handbag which he has in sport snatched from a woman friend of no importance. Out of the bag drops a crimson purse, a-clink with money. He has been assisted to open the door by Jones, a lounger, and one of the unemployed. In his drunken humour he invites Jones to drink, an invitation which is accepted. Jack then sinks to sleep on the sofa, and Jones discovers the purse and a silver cigarette box, with which he decamps. Next morning the owner of the purse arrives to demand pack her purse, when the prosy M.P. discovers his son’s-dereliction from the narrow path, and buys-her off. Then the loss of the silver box is discovered, and at once suspicion rests On the charwoman (the wife of Jones), who is questioned, but asserts her innocence. The police are called in, and discover the box in Jones’s humble abode, but Jones, resenting the action of the police in arresting his wife, admits that he is the culprit, and resists the police. Then follows a scene in court, when Mrs. Jones is acquitted. Jones is given a month’s hard labour, and is so resentful at being treated far more harshly than young Barthwick (who he knows had taken the girls' purse), that he is hustled out of the dock shrieking against this violation of justice. '

» Jones is a strong part, a man driven to drink and semi-savagery through unemployment, and. was vividly sketched by Mr. 11. A. Painter, who is admirably suited~to such parts. His wife, a poor, pathetic, mouse-like creature, beaten to the dust by sheer misfortune, was played with drab humility by Miss Coralie Smythson. Barthwick. M.P., solemn, portentous, and prosy, whose ingrained principles are so shamefully outraged by his scrapegrace son, found .an ideal exponent in Mr. Stephen E. Crawford, who had the proper weight and dignity for this important role. Mr. Ralph Hogg was scarcely so convincing as Jack Barthwick. Mrs. Barthwick, a typical society dame, who can see no wrong in her erring son, was delightfully played by Miss Florence Penney, and Miss Meryl Daniels was vivacious as the unknown lady who owns the purloined purse. In the court scene one of the best sketches was that of Livens, played by Mr. Ernest 1c Grove. Others who as-

aisled successfully in that scene were Mr. B. S. Withers as the magistrate, Mr. A. Ashley-Jones as the clerk, Mr. A. C. Keys as Roper (a lawyer), Mr. B. Cahill as Detective Snow. The stage settings were in artistic keeping with the various scenes.

Music was provided in the intervals by Mrs. Charles McDonald (piano), Miss Orrni Reid (’cello), and Miss Olga Burton (violin). “The Silver Box” will be played each evening for the rest of the week.