REPERTORY SOCIETY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 46, 31 August 1928, Page 5

REPERTORY SOCIETY

"AT MRS. BEAM'S" The comedj', "At Mrs. Beam's," by C. K. Munro, has little to commend it as a play; all the more credit is therefore due to the National Repertory Theatre Society for its presentation last night, when once the initial mistake 01 the choice o£ play is forgiven. A large audieuoe, amongst • whom was His Excellency the Governor-General Sir Charles Fergusson and a party from Government' House, was present at the Mas*onic Hall for the first of the two performances which are to be given. The performers did well with the material chosen and it would be ungracious lo be unduly critical of their efforts which were fully appreciated by those present. The scene of the comedy is laid in Mrs. Beam's boarding-houae, the typical rendezvous of ladies of uncertain age and pedigree, with just that sprinkling of the sterner sex to balance things..-.. Here talks incessantly. the spinster, Miss Shoo, most admirably played by Mrs. Coleridge. Then there is "old" Mies Cheezle, with ear trumpet and knitting, played to the life by Mrs. Evans; Mr. Durrows, "the unsuccessful man," who has always read or beard something about everything, but who is seldom allowed to say what, a character out of which. Mr. A. Morris Dunkley made an outstanding success; Mrs. Bebb, the elaborate Irish lady (Mis. P. , Marshall); and, of course, Mrs. Beam herself, Miss Eva Butts making a splendid and orthodox boarding-housekeeper. A French Bluebeard with his latest "wife" is reported to have crossed to England, Miss Shoe being convinced that they are actually iv the boarding-house inf the person of Mr. Dermott aud Laura Pasquale, parts played by Mr. Lan MacKwan and Miss Marjorie Stat- : ham respectively. In reality these two people are international 'crooks, and how they adapt the circumstances to their own ends makes the substance of the comedy. Quite • the finest characterisation of the evening was given by Miss Statham, who showed herself an actress of uncommon merit. Her performance indeed went far to redeem what might otherwise have been a poor production, .poor from'the point of view of the play but not on the part of the performers. Mr. MacEwan, too, had a difficult (almost impossible) roje, but acquitted himself with honours wnen once in his stride. ' Mr. Jasper Baldwin as Colin, a shy young man, did all that was required of him and did it well, while Miss Hilda Miles, Miss Pauline Shotlander, and Mr. Maurice James filled their comparatively minor roles with distinction. Credit is due to Mr. Harison Oook, who produced the play. During the intervals the Savage Club Orchestra provided much appreciated musical items. "At Mrs.. Beam's" will bo' repeated to-night. _