‘LADY PRECIOUS STREAM’

Evening Star, Issue 22685, 26 June 1937, Page 10

‘LADY PRECIOUS STREAM ’

QUAINT CHINESE ROMANCE ENTERPRISE OF UNIVERSITY SOCIETY The odd Orientalism of S. I. Hsiung’s ‘ Lady Precious Stream ’ intrigued and confused the occidental minds of those who saw the play presented in the traditional manner of the Chinese theatre by the Otago University Dramatic Society in the Allen Hall last night. That more than a handful fully appreciated or pretended to understand the Oriental romance is questionable, but the novelty of the play was captivating, and its production was successful. The society eschewed - conservatism in its selection, and in attempting an individualistic Chinese play, ungarnished with the frills, effects, and orthodoxy of the Western plays, it deserves commendation. The originality of the society is refreshing, but if it presents a play so quaint and strangely away from our -world it must Append for support from the more cultured and academic people, mostly to be found in the purlieus of the University. A glance at the audience in the Allen Hall last night was sufficient to note that the students, particularly of the Arts Faculty, had not given the patronage the plav commanded—and deserved. * Lady Precious Stream is a dramatic experience. No other play ot its singular type, so uncommon and so disingenuous, has been presented previously in Dunedin. Its quaintness is appealing. The ways of the Chinese are strange, and the oddity of their theatrical presentation is illustrated in Lady Precious Stream.’ The players are the thing with them. They ignore stage effects, properties, and scenes, leaymg to the actors the painting of imageries of the scenes and action by their words and movements. The imagination is hard pressed to conjure up, as the audience is asked to do, glamorous pictures of rich silken canopies, ebony furniture, dainty kiosks, soft snowpadded gardens, and rugged mountain passes, when through four acts the setting is drab and unornamented. the players drink imaginary cups of tea amt wine, and mount invisible horses. It is all mime in the primitive form. Throughout the play two phlegmatic property men wander about with oddments taken from boxes and handed to the plavers, nonchalantly flicked cigarette butts and matches over the bare scene and doze complacently while the drama of filial devotion and-ahe romance of Lady Precious Stream and the beggar move jerkily along between the comings and goings, the doleful wailing of a one-stringed violin, and the reediest of flutes continue monotonously. The Chinese play is neither colourful nor acbonful, and the society’s players weakened it by not giving the peculiar intoned precision and resonance to the ornate and mellifluous lines of the English translation. Chines© phraseology, as translated, is errandoise to Knglish ears, and the P ayers, though word perfect, could have presented it with more emphasis. Alter all they were branching into an nnusual realm of stage, effect, and any failing in recitation did not detract in anv measurable way from the merit of" a distinctive performance, as fascinatingly odd to an English audience as would be, say, ‘Peter Pan’ presented to a native crowd in 1 ekm Miss Doris Craig gave a delightful picture of Lady Precious Stream, with lust enough. reserve and spirit to suit the romantic character. Mr Henry Williams’s Hsich Ping-Kuie was insufficiently forceful in many of the grandiloquent passages which the author had given him, and the moods could have been more strongly defined. As Wang Yun, Mr Eric Chartens was only moderate, his voice being without the resonance that one should have heard in a venerable and ageing Prime Minister. Miss Ngaire Glue s Madam Chen was a pretty study, well shaded for the various emotions, and Miss Lydia Henderson was also very effective as Silver Stream, giving a vitality to her part that was frequently missing in others. Miss Moya Ripley was decorative as Golden Stream, whose husband, the Dragon General, was well played by Mr .Tack Allen. Mr Ernest Duncan had more to do, and did it well, as the Tiger General. Miss Norma Bain’s- Princess of the Winter Regions was sound and energetic. Mr Ernest Moller, as the honourable reader, introduced the host of players in good style.

‘ Lady Precious Stream ’ was smoothly produced by Mrs O. C. Stephens, who is to be congratulated on attempting something new in amateur theatricals. It is pleasant to see a producer with originality and courage and who is interested in drama for art’s sake, not for the box office returns alone. ' .

The play will be presented again tonight.