Dame Sybil Thorndike

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7070, 1 February 1933, Page 10

Dame Sybil Thorndike

AS “SAINT JOAN”

TO-MOBBOW NIGHT

In view of tho visit of Dame Sybil Thorndike and her new London company who are announced by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., to give one performance of Bernard Shaw’s masterpiece, “St. Joan,” in the Palmerston North Opera House to-morrow night commencing at 7.50, it may be interesting to read the following extract from a Wellington critique: — “For tho first time iu its theatrical aistory New Zealand has the pleasure and privilege of hearing Mr. Shaw express his opinions and state his convictions, through the medium of Joan of Arc, that character being assumed by Dame Sybil Thorndike, supported by her talented husband (Mr. Lewi3 Casson). Tho play was produced at the Grr.rd Opera House. From tho beginning of the play, with its brief but appropriate musical introduction, before S o’clock, until past eleven, the audience sat iu almost total silence. But when the curtain fell it gave full rein to its feelings and cheered again and again and applauded with hands and feet and stood up from its seats to give greater forco to its expression of approval of the play and (presumably) its endorsement of its sentiments. Coming to tho acting and production of ‘felt. Joan,’ it can bo said without reservation of any sort that Dame Thorndike has mado it difficult for any successor to sustain the role. It is reassuring to learn that the play as lirst produced by her principal associates receives tho hall mark of approval of Mr. Shaw himself, and no doubt there was no departure on Saturday night from tho excellence of the production that had the advantage oi his personal attention. Dame Thorndike imparted the impression that she was unconscious of the existence of any onlooker across tho footlights. She displayed fine artistic restraint iu her method and endeavoured with conspicuous art to givo force and expression to Mr. Shaw’s indictments of insincerity and cant and at the same time compel sympathy with Joan in her desperate efforts to enlighten those w’ho obstinately refused to be delivered from the darkness and confusion of their own making. She rose to lofty dramatic heights when she knelt alone in prayer in the great ambulatory of Rheims Cathedral; she attained heights above Everest in the epilogue , when she cried, also in prayer, ‘How long, O Lord, how long!’ ” Tho box plan is rapidly filling at the Central Booking Office and a right royal welcome should be assured for this distinguished artist and her new London company.