AMATEURS IN COMEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19932, 28 April 1928, Page 13

AMATEURS IN COMEDY.

" LILIES OF THE FIELD." KING'S COLLEGE TO BENEFIT. The first of two performances of J. Hastings Turner's comedy, "Lilies of the Field," was given in the Town Hall concert chamber last evening in the presence of a large audience. The local amateurs who take part in t.he production are devoting the proceeds to the fund to provide swimming-baths at King's College. There are many reasons why this bright and clever comedy has its amusing qualities, besides the presence of a well-drawn comic vicar. It contains lines of shrewd and ironical commentary, an occasional touch of the whimsical and a little mild satire on advanced society circles that find stimulation in pioneering freak fashions. The lilies in the field of the Rev. John Head, of the parish of Wideleete, are his twin daughters, Katherine and Elizabeth. Their grandmother, stubborn woman, offers one of tbem on her birthday 10 yards of crepe de chine, the other a trip to London, but which is to have which? In her domineering way she decides that the girl who first takes the eye of an expected stranger will have the trip to London. Thu3 the train is started of a minor conflagration that spreads with amusing effect through the vicar's household. Miss Una Buddie, who recently returned from a series of successes on the English stage, produced the play with a fine sense of its humorous possibilities. In an admirably chosen cast,- Mr. W. H. Graham was conspicuously -pod as thiS unoffending vicar, battling hopelessly against the terrific odds presented by his Amazonian mother-in-law and the shocking modernity of his young offspring. His excessive honesty, his constant appeal to his stricken conscience, were conveyed by word and gesture in delightful manner—an amusing picture of the man who is not quite master in his own home. Mrs. McCallum, too, was superbly managerial as the mother-in-law, never relaxing the severity of her countenance for a moment. Joy Bartley and Margot Finlavson gave splendidly natural performances as the twins; Miss Bartley wore several de.mure Victorian frocks with becoming charm and acted with an earnestness that ciirried complete conviction, particularly in the scenu in which she confessed her love to her sister. Constance Clark found tha necessary for the vicar's wife, while Ysolinde McVeagh gave a vivid performance as Lady Rocker. The sterling qualities of a manly man were fittingly portrayed by Montagues Steele as Barnaby Haddon, smaller roles being adequately filled by Cecilv Russell, Ruth Roburton and Hamish Henderson. Finally there was J. N. Gordon in a fine comedy study. At the conclusion of the plav Canon H. K. Archdall, headmaster of King's College. congratulated the performers, Miss Buddie, Miss Peggy Fovey, stage manageress, Mr. F. E. McCallum, business organiser, and the orchestra on tho saccess of their efforts.