REPERTORY PLAYERS

Evening Star, Issue 19613, 20 July 1927, Page 3

REPERTORY PLAYERS

The box plan already hears evidence of two excellent houses tor the premier of two world-famed plays to he presented at His Majesty’s Theatre on Friday and Saturday evenings next by the "now-fully-c.stablishcd Repertory Players. Tlio prido of place on tbe bill is, of course, given to Gordon Bnttomley’s historical and romantic drama, ‘ Grnacli,’ the principal role in which will he essayed by Miss Bessie Thomson, who made an unqualified success of the part in London. The London ‘Times,’ in its criticism of its first appearance at the Hnymarket Theatre, says: “If ‘ Macbeth ’ wove to bo erased from knowledge ‘ Gruach ’ might contimio its virtue of its own power of characterisation, its supple and masculine poetry, its sense of the heating of dark wings. . . . Mr Bottomlcy has assuredly taught u.s that he is callable of tho Elizabethan quality. Of whom else would it not be a folly and a heartbreaking to ask it? Tn ‘Gruach’ wc have an unforgettable creation. In the handling of such situations and of tho supernatural clement. Mr Bottomley’s skill is very sure. There is no intrusion or artifice, hut both servo to heighten the reality of an atmosphere in which the forces of Nature are functioning so intensely ns to ho in themselves supernatural. They stand in flic great lino of succession from Elizabethan days because they reflect life seen in its essence rather than in its incidents. ” ‘ Op-o-mo Thumb,’ the associate piece, is » comedy .seething over with delightful situations, through which a pathetic ante is struck. Madge Yhit.cs will nppeifr in tho name part. An orchestra, under the direction of Mrs W. Haggitt, with Mr .1. A. Wallace as leader, will render the music incidental to the plays.