CLEVER COMEDY

Evening Star, Issue 26029, 18 February 1947, Page 8

CLEVER COMEDY

FINE ACTING BY WHITEHALL

PLAYERS ‘THE LATE CHRISTOPHER BEAN' A- delighted-audience at His Majesty’s- Theatre last night saw the players of Whitehall Productions Ltd., now faVouring Dunedin with a return season; present the clever and entertaining comedy, ‘ The Late Christopher Bean.’ In their presentation the members of the cast adequately maintained the very high standard set by the first group of Whitehall players who intrigued Dunedin play-goers in December last in ‘Love In Idleness and ‘ Dangerous Corner.’ ‘ The' Late Christopher Bean 1 has three outstanding virtues —each part is a distinctly individual character; the element of surprise, common all through the play, is, sustained until the final minute; while the manner in which those greedy for this world s pelf, however dishonestly come by, are left in mid-air is just retribution. There was no doubt about the appreciative ' mood of the audience. With good, clean 'dialogue, plenty of suspense, not too much deep mystery, and _ a splendid climax, the play is a delightful one, and with its family intimacies is much more enjovable on the stage than on the screen. The author has woven round his theme a glorious mixture of temptu’s and temperaments, which keeps the audience bubbliug, with scarcely a break, except for a dash of pretty romance and a savouring" of ■ nicely-measured pathos. The story mocks the ease with which people maintain their smug respectability and honesty until conscience rises 'to the commonest lure of all—money. It concerns a country medical man, Dr Haggett, his wife, their two daughters,' an artist whom they had befriended (an artist whose genius was recognised only years after his death), the efforts of unscrupulous persons to secure works left by the artist with the doctor and his family, and the effect upon the character of the struggling doctor of liis discovery—almost too late -•that the paintings had great value. Above all, there Was the love of the artist for the doctor’s servant, Gwenny, which depended for its revelation upon Miss Meg Jenkins, whose, artistry enabled her to give a splendid picture of a difficult character. In the final scene, when the Haggetts have triumphantly seized upon the pictures and are about to sell them for a fortune, Gwenny shame-facedly admits that she had married Bean, and was therefore his wife and heir to his paintings. . In a fine piece of restrained acting Miss Meg Jenkins was splendidly cast as Gwenny, her work stamping her as an artist of high class. She caught the instant sympathy of her audience, and endowed the character with modest but shining integrity. Though her lines in themselves did not contain many laughs, she drew every ounce of fun ' out of v the situations and gestures she , commanded—aud every atom of sympathy for , the big-hearted dupe of a schemiug family. Miss Nellie Bramley , was happily cast as Mrs Haggett, and deserved her cordial reception as much for her sterling interpretation oh, a, thoroughly nasty, selfish, nagging woman as for old time’s sake. A 6 the rather; dull, over-worked, and nagged; l)r Haggett, Mr Norman Blackler gave a performance that was quite natural and engaging. One felt a little affee- ' - tiouate sympathy for the little hen- " pecked man until the lust for gold changed his nature—a change very -well brought out by the player. Competent acting was required from all the members of the Cast for the smooth running of the piece, and there was much meritorious r work in the other characterisations. The cattish Ada Haggett was made as objection- -. able as the author intended by Miss Cynthia Carroll. Miss June Mendoza had a more congenial role as the sweet-natured Susan Haggett. It was ♦ a straight-forward part, and Miss Mendoza was splendidly cast for it. Capital sketches were also given by Mr Charles , Kilburn as Tallant (a professional forger of pictures); by Mr Victor Lloyd as Rosen, a suave Jewish dealer; by Mr Frederick Hughes as Davenport, ail art critic, who tempered his part so as to be thoroughly convincing and by Mr Donald Bamforth as Bruce Mediae, who, as the suitor of one of the Haggett girls, revealed a pleasing personality. The one scene, the interior of the Haggett home, was a masterly utilisation of the stage space, and the play was well produced by Mr John Hayden. Whimsically written, with all the original rural humour adroitly retained; ‘ The Late Christopher Bean ’ contains a; / world ' of . humour and philosophy. It will be presented again to-night and • for the three following nights. 4 ■' ■