QUAINT AND ORIGINAL

Evening Star, Issue 20961, 27 November 1931, Page 9

QUAINT AND ORIGINAL

THE T.O.Y. PLAYERS ‘ COTTAGES AND CASTLES *- Those charming and entertaining Theatre of Youth players Joan and Bettv Rayner frequently ask their audience to use its imagination m ordei to fill up gaps in scenery ancl cast Because of the irresistible naivete of the performers the members of the audience are able to tackle this task in high good humour, and so clear-cut and po - ished are the quaint items submitted for their delectation that the teat or visualising concrete matter is in no way difficult. Probably the most difficult thing that could be asked of any I.u.x. audience would be to imagine a more talented pair of wandering artists than the Misses Rayner. Through the medium of a large Concert Chamber audience last night Runodin once more expressed warm approval of her native daughters, the third programme of the repertoire, entitled 4 Cottages and Castles, was presented with all that extraordinarily good sense of dramatic values, mteimingled with appreciation of humorous effect, which stands out clearly among the many histrionic attributes of these young ladies. There is much atmospheric colour in 4 Cottages and Castles.’ The first portion of the entertainment, which concerns itself with cottages, savours of the clean, fresh air of village and of country lane. It reintroduces simple people whom we have met before only in tho realm of folk songs and old literature, two ot its offerings tracing lor ns various stages in the lives of married couples. Roger’s courtship and the story or the highwayman and tho simple lad wore extremely well done, but there was not one item that failed to win the appreciation of the audience. Each of the players has a very fine voice, both for singing and elocutionary passages, and the fascinating little tricks of gesture indulged in did much to create a happy effect. „ ~ The second part of tho programme opened with 4 The Merrow, a delightful sketch in which an Irish fisherman woos and temporarily wins a mermaid. < Tho Princess and the Gipsies and 4 Tho Wraggle-tagglc Gipsies ’ received tasteful treatment, while two gems from A. A. Milne, 4 King Hilary and tho Beggarman ’ and 4 King John s Christmas,’ completely captivated those who were fortunate enough to be present. 4 The Turkey Factor.’ a fantasy from an old broadside in the British Museum, concluded an entertainment that was full of dainty artistry from start to finish. 4 Cottages and Castles ’ will be repeated to-night and to-morrow afternoon, while to-morrow night_ the Troubadour programme will again be presented..