HUTT REPERTORY

Hutt News, Volume 18, Issue 43, 16 May 1945, Page 5

HUTT REPERTORY

FOUR ONE-ACT PLAYS (jffuS

SUCCESSFUL SEASON

A varied bill of fare was offered patrons of the Hutt Repertory Theatre last week when four oneact plays were presented for a fournight season.

Acting throughout was of a uniformly high standard while the scenery and lighting effects were excellent. The make-up of one or two characters left room for improvement, but by and large the season must be rated a success and augurs well for future productions.

The programme opened on a sombre note with "Mrs. Adis," a oneact tragedy by Sheila Kaye-Smith and John Hampden. If this lacked appeal it was due more to the authors being out of their depth and was not the fault of the cast, Joyce Beale, in the title part, giving a particularly creditable performance, ably supported by Messrs G. A. Blundell, John Forster, Ron Doig, Peter Grace and E. J. Bentley.

Harold Chapin's "The Philosopher of Butterbuggins," a humorous slice of Scotch family life, scored in comparison with the opening play and saw two really good performances given by Mrs. J. McCallum as "Lizzie" and Mr. Jas. M. Carlson as "David." while the minor roles were happily filled by Dorothy Patterson and Robert Thompson.

"The Ghost of Jerry Bundler," by W. W. Jacobs and C. Rock, saw a uniformly good performance given by an all male cast that included Messrs G. A. Blundell, R. St. J. Pedler, R. Westbury, Britton Chadwiclt, Lewis Jagger, R. A. Leslie and Jas. M. Carlson. With all- characters in this production doing a very workmanlike job, it would be difficult to select any for special mention.

"The Language of Love," by Edward Percy, provided a charmingly romantic climax to a most entertaining evening and was very well received Excellent casting, good acting, plus tasteful froclung and setting gave added appeal to this popular period play which called for an all female cast in which Mrs Sugden, Ruth Andrews and Berwyn Gibbons shared the acting honours, though the performances given by Joan Cowie, Rosalie Leslie and Audrey Fagg were also very good.

With the exception of "The Ghost of Jerry Bundler" which Mr. Jas. M. Carlson produced, all plays were produced by Mrs. Mary Mackenzie.

Scenery and lighting effects were in the capable hands of Messrs Roil Doig and E. J. Bentley, while a well balanced orchestra under the leadership of Mrs. E. F. Rothwell provided the incidental music.

Whilst make-up is a matter that requires a little more attention by members the success attained last week augurs well for the future of the Hutt Repertory Theatre.