JUBILEE PLAY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 305, 24 November 1937, Page 2

JUBILEE PLAY

“THE PRECIOUS YEARS.” ( \ CORDIAL RECEPTION. . A packed Opera House last evening greeted Palmerston North’s Jubilee play, “The Precious Years,” when it made its initial appearance in a twonights’ season,, according a unique production by two local writers most enthusiastic acclaim. From tlie opening curtain until the final scene applause was frequent and hearty, and the performance proved to be an undoubted success, a great deal of its appeal lying in the fact that it revived in vivid fashion memories of personalities who were intimately connected with the early development of tlie city. Assured of the stimujus of a large and expectant audience, and lacking the dulling necessity to induce a laboured atmosphere, the play was vigorously launched into action from the initial scene and continued to meet with a pleasurable reception. It is something of an . achievement'to encompass in such a short span the highlights of 60 years, hut Messrs H. L. Verry and W. Davis succeeded admirably. and the co-operation of Mrs R. W. Mcßeath, an experienced producer, and a splendid cast spelt abundant success.

Constituting a panorama of, history from the settlement of Palmerston North, and intimately hound up with the fortunes of the Priestley family. “The Precious Years,” enacted by a cast required to portray 36 characters, lacks nothing in the matter of lively and dramatic incidents, and has been skilfully planned to introduce a number of men and women whose record of association with the city’s early days is still bright. From the prologue set in 1877. when a son is horn into the Priestley household, traversing the railway celebrations in 1886, the days of the Boer War at the turn of the century, a scene at the new Opera House in 1910, the Great War period, the depression days, and arriving up to the present, bright with the contemporary spirit of gaiety, the play covers a long period of time, and gives unusual opportunity for appeal to eye and ear. Indeed, from the point of view of costuming and staging alone it is a fine effort. - Tlie rough living-room of 18i7, replete with liob, picture of Queen \ ictoria, and sparse furnishings, harmonises excellently with the costuming of the time, which proves to ho not so unattractive in reality as ridicule would frequently infer. It is a happy time, with a touch of pathos, when a son is born, leading to a splendid scene in the first act portraying the araw-ing-room of the family’s second, home nine years’ later. Here the spirit of the times has been thoroughly, captured both in costuming and staging, ine big table, the musical box, the picturesque frocks of the womenfolk, the little less striking garb of the men—all are replete to the last detail and are enhanced by a perfect aplomb of the part(> cclebrat€ the opening of the Manawatu and West Coast Railway, when Mr.J. E. Nathan, chairman of directors, traces tlie history of tlie undertaking and Mr Priestlev also speaks with customary healing. It is one of tlie most popular scenes of tlie whole play and the characterisation of Mr Nathan is excellent The Boer War brings romance and pathos—there is romance running through the entire . production—and quickly time passes till the Great War is survived and ,tlie present day .is. signalised by the appearance of a modern car leading to • a very 1 modern party. But grandmother Priestley sees it through and discovers a consistent spirit animating all the decades. She speaks very fine lilies—it. is true of all tlie .characters that theirs are indispensable roles with thoroughly worthwhile material —and the climax is a happy one. FINE ACTING. With such a large cast it is difficult to differentiate in assessing the performances, but probably outstanding is that of Miss Babette Rodgers as Mrs Priestley. There is really magnificent work in her characterisation of the pioneer from the days of her youth until: as the curtain falls, she is the embodiment of the indomitable Priestley spirit. It is a heavy task, yet Miss Rodgers has at her command a wealth of experience and gives a capital portrayal that never once weakens. Playing opposite Miss Rodgers for much of the performance is Mr Amos Mclvegg as her husband, and lie makes a very happy reappearance. In liis later characterisations particularly, and especially when speaking at the railway celebrations, lie' makes Robert Priestley live as an example of the noble pioneering spirit and is deserving of approbation for his insight and sincerity. Mr M. H. Oram is Mr J. E. Nathan, and it is apparent that he is intent on recreating the role vividlv; it is one of the most popular in the whole play, and one especially enjoys Mr Oram’s work as lie delivers the speech recounting the difficulties in establishing the railway line from Wellington. Names of lasting association with the city are recalled when Mr H. Palmer and Miss H. Collinson play Mr and Mrs Linton, Mr J. Jones and Miss ,T. Thompson play Mr and Mrs Snelson, Mr A. E. Eising and Miss B. Cooksley nlay Mr and Mrs Ferguson, and Mr N. Mr Nash and Miss J. Cnrruthers enact the parts of Mr and Mrs West. All are happily cast, and the costuming is so thorough as to give evident pleasure to those of the audience who recall the fashions of the day.

Mrs Linda Bennett succeeds in introducing a large measure of hilarity as Chrissie (Mrs Priestley’s help), her breezy role finding an excellent foil in Miss N. Brackenridge, who reduces the house to laughter as Emily, who succeeds Chrissid. A happy portrayal of Mrs Hopkins, a neighbour in '77, is given by Mrs S. Petersen, while .a very large responsibility is shouldered most successfully by Miss M. Penketh as Ann Priestley, a role in which she has the opportunity to use her fine singing voice to effect with Mr Jones. Miss M. Richards makes a short but appealing appearance as Betty Jenkins, who marries Robert Priestley, jump, played by Mr K. Strothers with his accustomed confidence. Misses E. Hall (Vicki Priestley). E. Christian (Crissy Thorenson—daughter of the original Chrissy), .and H. Collinson (Ann Hopkins—daughter of Vicki) all play their parts excellently, while Miss J. Thompson effectivelv portrays a 1937 girl, and Miss J. Camithers a chorus girl of 1910. There is much excellent work by Mr A. G. A. Baigent as < Sebastian Maxwell. brother-in-law of Priestley; Mr T. W. Henderson as the philosophical Dr. Jenkins who has much to do with the family ; Mr D. Roche, as Sam Hopkins. husband of Vicki; Mr G. Crossley as the efficient and faithful lawyer, Mr Dalton; Mr F. McLachlan as bustling Mr James Smith -, and Mr T, O’Hallora.n as a gloomy “Redeemer.” A very happy feature is the juvenile casting, which is excellently performed, with all the naturalness of real life. Margaret Henderson okays Betty Jenkins; Amos McKegg. junr is Robert Priestlev. Dorothy ” McKegs is Ann Priestlev, and Janet Holmes is Vicki Priest)ev—all as children—while' Jack Muir is Sammy Hopkins. Very sweet

is an old-fashioned dance to a “musical box” by Dorothy McKegg. Stan Wright is an efficient callboy. The ladies of the .ballet, who “bring down the house” with a dance of ancient vintage, and are seen in several excellent numbers, are Misses N. Muir, B. Muir, Y. Berryman, D. Young, C. Kneebone, M. Hannan, M. Clark, N. Edwards, M. Edwards and J. Christian. Mr L. P. Haynes conducts a large orchestra in spirited music appropriate to the periods enacted. At the final curtain Messrs Davis and Verry made a brief appearance on the stage to acknowledge the enthusiastic applause which had greeted a most successful play. There should be another large audience for tonight’s performance.