"EDEN END"

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 123, 21 November 1945, Page 4

"EDEN END"

HUTT REPERTORY PLAY

Judging by the performance at the opening night in St. James's Hall, Lower Hutt, last night, the Hutt Repertory Theatre's choice of "Eden End" for its last production of the year was too ambitious for the players. The dramatic ability of the cast would have been seen to better advantage in a humorous or .burlesque production rather than in J. B. Priestley's sordid tale of developments in a doctor's household in a quiet, uninteresting English backwater. Except where relieved by occasional bright flashes of true humour, the dialogue of "Eden End" can be heavy and uninteresting, and needs an experienced cast of high dramatic ability to handle it successfully. The plot becomes apparent quite early in the production, the conclusion of which possesses little appeal to the audience. The play centres about the role taken by the experienced actress Mary McKenzie as the doctor's adventurous daughter, Stella, who returns to the family fold after years of hardening by disappointment and disillusionment when she runs away from home to go on the stage. A later arrival is her husband, from whom she has been separated for almost a year. Briton Chadwick acts the role of her vagabond husband, Charles Appleby, with ability and understanding and his performance is one of the most convincing of. the cast, principally because his part is actually t:.e easiest to portray. High dramatic ability is displayed by both daughters of the doctor, Stella, and Lillian, a part taken by Berwyn Gibbons. As Wilfred Kirby, the hesitant yet worldly youngbrother, Keith Clegg acts with convincing atohty. Dora Sanders as-Sarah, J B. Yaldwyn as Dr. Kirby, and Cedric Mmr as Geoffrey Farrant complete the cast.

"Eden End" will show for three more nights this week.