Thespians' Production of "Family Affairs"

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 260, 30 July 1937, Page 16

Thespians' Production of "Family Affairs"

'THE THESPIANS’ next production, Gertrude Jenning’s play, “Family Affairs,” had great success in London with a brilliant east headed by Lilian Braithwaite and Athene Saylor.

“Family Affairs” is drawing-room comedy that deals wit h a most amusing and erratic family. There is Lady Madeburst, a lovable tyrant around whom the play centres; her sister, Amy Wigmore, a delightfully "dithery" character; Lady Madeburst’s daughter, Sarah; her sons, Harvey, a writer of children’s book*, Herbert, a selfopinionated, pompous, successful stockbroker, and Sydney — well, things are far from right with Sydney. Then there is Nevil, the old lady’s grandson, and his pretty wife, Rose, who is thinking far too much about a barber in Folkestone. Herbert’s

wife has risen in the world, and is

rather keen on the social ladder. Outsiders who are

closely connected with the family are Helena Warwick, who has designs on Harvey but unfortunately already' has a husband, and Margaret Hamilton. Harvey’s secretary, who lias more than secretarial interest in him. The household would not be complete without Hannah, the old faithful servant.

The players taking part are as follows: —Miss Ilardinge-Maltby (beloved! by 'Wellington audiences for her work in “Ambrose Applejolm’s Adventure” and “Sport of Kings”), playing Lady Madehurst; Coralie Smythson (another popular Wellington player), as Amy Wigmore; Lola Kelly (remembered in “Call It a Day”), Janet Stirling (who played the housekeeper in “ T bird Tiin e >Lucky”), Agues Elliot, Olive

Dixon, Susie Painfer, Joan Stevens, Teter Palmer, Fred Lovatt, Maurice Hawken and John Pike. The producer Is Elsie Lloyd, stage manager Evan Harrowell, property

mistresses Peggy Lucas and Isohel Burton. The play lias a Victorian setting.