THESPIAN SEASON OF “FAMILY AFFAIR”

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 264, 4 August 1937, Page 5

THESPIAN SEASON OF “FAMILY AFFAIR”

Gertrude Jenning’s play, “Family Affairs,” which had a great success in London with a brilliant cast headed by Lilian Braithwaite and Athene Sayler. will be produced by The Thespians in the Wellington Town Hall Concert Chamber for a short season, beginning to-night. “Family Affairs” is drawing-room comedy that deals with a most amusing and erratic family. There is Lady "Madehurst, a loveable tyrant round whom the play centres; her sister, Amy Wigmore, a delightfully “dithery” character; Lady Madehurst’s daughter, Sarah; her sons, Harvey, a writer of children’s books, Herbert, a self-opinionated, pompous, success, ful stockbroker, and Sydney—well, things are far from right with Sydney. Then there is Nevil, the old lady’s grandson, and hie 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 has more than a secretarial interest in him. The household would not be complete without Hannah, the old faithful servant.

The Thespian cast consists of Misses Hardinge Maltby, Olive Dixon. Coralie Smyfhson, Lola Kelly, Susie Painter, Joan Stevens, Angus Elliot, Janet Stirling, and Messrs. Peter Palmer, Fred Lovall Maurice Hawkins, and John Pike. The producer is Miss Elsie Lloyd, the stage manager Mr. Evan Harrowell, and the property mistresses the Misses Peggy Lucas and Isohel Burton.