"A DOLL'S HOUSE"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21466, 13 April 1933, Page 14

"A DOLL'S HOUSE"

NOTABLE PIECE OF ACTING The newly-formed Garrick Dramatic Society made its bow to the public at the Lewis Eady Hall last evening with a, production of Ibsen's famous drama, "A Doll's House," and a second performance of the play will be given this evening. Apart from the interest attached to the work of an author who has been sadly neglected by the repertory movement in Auckland, the play is noteworthy for the acting of a remarkably clever young woman, Miss Joan Airey, whose sparkling performance as Nora, a part favoured by many of the world's greatest actresses, deserves to make the Garrick Society's production talked about. For an untried girl's first stage appearance her effort is notable, speech, expression and deportment containing elements of great promise. A tendency toward over-emphasis is not so serious a fault in days when the prevailing custom is to under-act, and Miss Airey showed she can tone down in the famous finale, when Nora has her heart-to-heart talk with Torvald across the table and bangs the door on home, husband and children The slammed door, now part of dramatic history, seemed still as effective as when it shocked our grandmothers in the eighties, and Torvald, to whom it was more vitally significant than to anyone else, had a worthy interpreter in Mr. Rex Sayors, who gave a lifelike performance. Miss Antonia Martinengo spoke and acted with understanding, and Mr. J. Howard Newcombe was darkly sinister as the blackmailing Krogstad. Mr. Terence Barton played Dr. Rank, Miss Rona Speed was the nurse, and a brief but cheerful appearance was made by tho three children, Doreen Preston-Thomas, Rekanui Simeon and Jaqueline Robertson. The play was produced by Miss Maie Robinson.