"CRADLE SONG"

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 64, 13 September 1945, Page 5

"CRADLE SONG"

PLAYS BY THE THESPIANS

"The Cradle Song," a two-act play by Martinez Sierra, was presented by The Thespians in the Town Hall Concert Chamber last night. It was preceded by the same author's Forty Winters." "Cradle Song" is notable chiefly for the beauty and dignity of its dialogue, a quality which is its most sustaining feature. In this play of the cloisters the author develops an intensely spiritual and reverential atmosphere, pleasantly disturbed at times by flashes of humour and bland .thoughts of things temporal. It is not a play that will appeal to everyone. It has its impressive moments, though, particularly in the rather drawn-out second act where the sisters say good-bye to the foundling they had nurtured for 18 years. In her is mirrored the virtues of these fineselfless women, and her leave-taking is a cleverly-drawn emotional climax. The acting throughout was of a very high standard, and the story unfolded smoothly. Marie Burns was well cast as the prioress, whose gentle tolerance and understanding were nobly portrayed, and Isobel Proban made a notable contribution as the acidulous and rather bigoted vicaress, who introduced a refreshing note of humour at times. Jocelyn Beaumont as Teresa, the foundling grown up, was sincere and natural, and managed her rather difficult lines well. Jay McDonald as Sister Joanna and Rosalind BurtonChadwick as Sister Marcella were very convincing, the latter's occasional lapses from her austere serenity being delightfully done. Sonia Charters, Mollie Cummings, May Lochore, Mary Packwood, and mary Stott gave satisfactory performances. Alfred Farquhar, as the old doctor whose cure for melancholy was matrimony or a cold bath, was excellent, and Alric Toogood as the lover spoke his part well. The producer, Lilliam Miller, deserves full credit.

The opening play, a one-act number, was disappointing. It had rather an absurd sort of theme that could have been made very funny, but somehow or other it just didn't happen that way. It was the tale of a cheesefactoi'y proprietor whose extraordinary devotion to his queen caused him to follow her all over the world, worshipping unseen, and to share a cage with an ape in order that he might see her feed the doves every morning. He was obviously a psychopathic case, but apart from an odd chuckle or two the audience did not react. The players recited their parts rather than played them.

.Appropriate musical interludes were provided by Miss Bessie Pollard Cniano), Rees Maconachy fviplin), and Claude Tanner ('cello). Their rendering of Bach's chorale was exceptionally wpII done.

The plays will be reepated this evening.