LOCAL TALENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 30 November 1940, Page 8

LOCAL TALENT

“HAY FEVER” Prominent in Australian talk to-day is Noel Coward, the great English j author-actor and dancer-singer who has attracted considerable attention by his stirring appeals on behalf of the Australian Red Cross. “Hay Fever” is the creation of this outstanding playwright and as his first comedy will no doubt arouse considerable interest when it is staged by the Nelson Repertory Club at the Theatre Royal next Tuesday and Wednesday. As a show it is wonderfully amusing, being swift in its action and full of intriguing situations. The play itself is somewhat of a social satire on a certain section of society: it unmasks in a few rapier thrusts the eccentricities of the Bliss family who are extraordinarily artistic and who absolutely surrender themselves to all the theatrical effects it is possible to imagine. Very proficient in all this is Judith Bliss, a retired actress, who still continues to act through every phase of her life and her family suffer in consequence.

Mrs A. Le G. Campbell who is so well known for her acting in “Full House,” “Busman’s Honeymoon” and “Nine-till-Six,” very ably and confi-. dently leads the cast as Judith. Here sh again shows her versatility and stage craft being the veritable actress ; j from start to finish; and always she! adds to it a personality and a charm that is both refreshing and stimulating. J Myra Arundeil, a very sophisticated ! lady of the day is Simon’s guest for j the week-end. Though much too old i for the youthful would-be artist, he is | her avenue of approach to David Bliss. As Myra Mrs A. S. G. Adam brings to the part all that assurance and sympathetic understanding that has characterised Mrs Adam’s former acting in “Aren’t We All,” "Spring Meeting,” and “Nine-till-Six.’* She not only understands the spirit of the play but also interprets it with convincing abil- 1

In Simon Bliss, the young and hopeful artist, Judith’s son, Maitland Gard’ner portrays the infatuated lover of Myra in a very natural way. Right throughout the play his acting is spontaneous and genuine; undoubtedly he inherits talent from his mother who has cleverly filled important 'roles in most of the club’s former productions. At a find the public will be more than pleased with his delineation of the enthusiast, Simon Bliss.

There are still good seats available at “Snapshots” and no doubt the public of Nelson will give this perform-1 ance, staged as it is for patriotic pur-1 poses, the greatest support a local play, l has yet received.