"THE NEW MORALITY."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20560, 10 May 1930, Page 14

"THE NEW MORALITY."

PLAY AT CONCERT CHAMBER. GOOD ACTING IN A COMEDY. To assist the obstetrical appeal, several Auckland amateurs are presenting a comedy by Harold Chapin, "Tho New Morality," in the Town Hall concert chamber. Tho first performance was given last evening in the presence cf Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, and Lady Bledisloo, and the final performance will be given this evening, There was a numerous audience, which was briefly addressed at tho closo of the play by Dr. Hilda Northcroft, who said sho was deeply gratified by the splen. did response of the public to a deserving cause. The play, n delightfully philosophic three-act piece, whose perpetual vein of sly humour breaks out occasionally into brilliant flashes ol wit, has been simply and artistically produced by Mrs. Zoo Hartley Baxter, and is acted in a manner that reflects credit on local methods of dramatic art. The play calls for few heroics, but a great measure of quiet and unassuming efficiency. Mrs. Betty Jones, reclining giacefully on at house-boat on tho Thames, gives vent to her feelings concerning a fashionable neighbour with a round flow of languago (happily spoken off stage) that has a shattering effect on all within hearing and provokes a threat of an action for criminal libel. Her lawyer urges a plea of justification on tho ground that sho lives in the twentieth century in a fashionable house-boat on tho Thames, and that it was an abnormally hot summer! It turns out, however, that the motive for her unconventional outburst was a difference with her husband, and the process of smoothing it over gives the author endless opportunity for tho exorcise of his gift of shrewdly clever dialogue. Chief honours in an enjoyable evening go to Miss Mona Wallbank, whoso picture of woman offended was flawless. She invested the part with a regal dignity, and even in the few brief intervals when fireworks wore let loose sho bore herself with a nico self-possession. Not once did tiio sense of stage desert her. Mr. Lees Bullot scored an equal triumph in a well-thought-out impersonation of the aggrieved lady's excessively nervous husband. With delightful easo and skill he made his man a comic version of a modern Hamlet, engrossed in thoughts about his own indecisive actions. It was part of his business in tho third act to expound the philosophy of tho piece in a semblance of intoxication —a feat which he accomplished to the hugo delight of tho audience. Mr. Fred E. McC'allum, whose work in the Little Theatre Society has lately deserved more than passing notice, contributed a really splendid character sketch of tho middleaged bachelor lawyer. His speech was terse and clearly audible, and dis deportment admirable. Mr. Edward Churchhouse filled the part of Betty's husband. Miss Enid llosking played as Betty's friend, while Miss Audrey Perry and Mr. Alan McElwain had slender opportunities in the roles of maid and' butler respectively. Those who wish to enjoy an evening and at the samo time assist a good cause could not do better than take the last opportunity this evening to attend a performance of a very amusing comedy. A largo and capable orchestra under Mr. Harold Baxter contributed to the evening's enjoyment.