HAVELOCK NORTH.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 186, 24 July 1923, Page 7

HAVELOCK NORTH.

The Woodford House teaching stat gave an excellent presentation in the assembly hall at the school on Saturday night of J. M. Barrie’s famous play •‘The Admiral Crichton.” A fairly large, and certainly very appreciative, audience was present. Miss Champion excelled anything yet done locally on the axiateur stage in her wonderfully true interpretation of “Crichton,” both both as the servile butler at Loam House and as the strong and -masterful leader on the island, Miss Wilkins, as Ereaest Woolley, cleverly portrayed a ; youthful personality, clothed in male attire, frequently met with in English social circles Miss Padbury. as Mary, appeared as a very fascinating English maid of lovable character, while Mary’s less enterprising sisters Agatha and Catherine were charmingly represented bv Miss Sparling and Miss Hurst Smythe. To Miss Dawson and Miss Anderson were given the difficult parts of Lord Loam and Lord Brocklehurst, which both interpreted faultlessly. As Tweeney. the kitchen maid—the young person upon whom Crichton cast a favouring eye—Miss Tyreman displayed remarkable histrionic art. and by her clever acting made herself a strong favourite with the audience. Miss Julia Scott also delighted the house with her interpretation of the dignified Lady Brocklehurst, who is naturally eager to learn what happened during the two years’ sojourn on the island. The minor parts were ably represented as followsM Fleury (Miss Mackenzie). Tompsett (Miss B. Giles). Fisher (Miss .M. Russell). Jane (Miss Chennells), stable boy (Miss J. Barker), and page (Miss A. Wililams), all of whom gave splendid support to the principals. The staging of the four acts, “At* Loam House, Mayfair,” “The Inland,” “The Happy Home,” and “The Other Island” was wonderfully realistic, and the variety of costume, especially on th© Island, lent added enchantment to the scene.

The ladies of the teaching staff are deserving of great commendation for the work they cheerfully gave to help the funds of the Havelock Church School, to which the proceeds from the sale or tickets is to be given.