NEW SHAW PLAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21793, 7 May 1934, Page 12

NEW SHAW PLAY

LITTLE THEATRE SUCCESS A COMEDY OF POLITICS MR. FISHER'S GREAT PART The most courageous effort in the history of tho Auckland Little Theatre Society, the production of G. B. Shaw's political extravaganza, "Tho Apple Cart," at tin Town Hall concert chamber on Saturday night, was a brilliant success, ft was a repertory performance which, in many respects, measured up to professional standards. Mr. A. J. C. Fisher, for his interpretation of one of the most colossal parts in modern English drama, and Mr. Frederic McCallum. for his smooth and intelligent production of a play which is practically all talk, deserve tho thanks and congratulations of all members of tho society and of playgoers generally. "The Apple Cart" is far more a play of words and ideas than was tho last Shaw play seen in Auckland —"Saint Joan," staged professionally by Dame Sybil Thorndike and Mr. Lewis Casson. "Saint Joan" saw Mr. Shaw captured, almost for the first time, by a character rather than an idea. In "The Applo Cart," Mr. Shaw has created his vision of King Magnus of England, a stupendous character part, but the part of a character through whose lips tumble pell-mell floods of Shavian ideas and ideals, parables and paradoxes, facta and fancies. Through him the playwright pokes outrageous fun at the political structures of our day, overturns our own preconceived apple cart of democracy time and again and jests prodigiously on tho true jester's foundation of reasoned argument. A Notable Performance

That is the part in which Mr. Fisher scores one of the outstanding successes ever achieved by an individual member of the society. From the point of view of the actual number of lines, the part constitutes at least half the play. There are numerous speeches, including one magnificent oration of 20 minutes' duration. Its playing constitutes a, prodigious feat of memory, but in Mr. Fisher's hands it was more than that. Power in speech, perfect articulation, phrasing of rare insight and marvellous mobility of expression were all blended to set the seal of brilliance on a notable performance. Magnus is, in fact, the play; Mr. Fisher was the perfect player for the part. lu "The Apple Cart" Mr. Shaw assumes tlio mantlo of a chuckling prophet. He envisions the conflict between a constitutional monarch who sees himself as a soul and a Prime Minister who sees him as a rubber stamp. He envisions an England, basking, self-satisfied, in the record output of Christinas crackers, chocolate creams and parlour maids, almost run by the firm of Breakages, Limited —a giorious Shavian fancy—and careless of a financial system so complicated as to be almost inconceivable. In the second act, when the American Ambassador announces the repeal of the Declaration of Independence, Magnus sees England as just another star on the banner that is spangled. Able Supporting Cast

The play is a play of talk, but it is talk of such typically Shavian brilliance to demand the concentrated attention of both players and audience for over two hours. Supporting Mr. Fisher there is a cast which assists him admirably toward this difficult end. Mr. James MacneiJl, as the Prime Minister —even toward the end of the present century that dignitary is still a Scotsman, satisfied that he is only Prime Minister because he is no good for anything else —is a delightful schemer, and Miss Edna Herrick invests the role of the Powermistress-General with an admirable sincerity. The other members of the cabinet are uniformly satisfactory, Mr. Michael Coleman, Mr. Wilfred Wright, Mr. Allan Leonard, Mr. Knight and Miss Helen Seabrook making light of many difficulties. Mr. Knight, as the Colonial Secretary, is made up as a living caricature of Shaw, almost unbelievably life-like, and at the entrance of members of the cabinet, with the white-bearded figure among them, eyebrows and intellectual brow complete, the audience rocked with laughter. It was an excellent pieco of stagecraft. Mr. Edward Newling gave a robust interpretation of the part of the new Labour Minister, the stalwart of democracy; Miss Althea Parker knitted regally' as Queen Gemima; Mr. J. E. Mackle wag in great form with the expressive idiom of the American Ambassador; and Mr. George Boyle and Mr. Hamish Henderson were an excellent couple of talkative secretaries. M.iss Lorna Bevburn made a brief but capable appearance as the Princess Royal. ,Tho play was greeted by a packed audience. Three more performances will bo given, the season ending on Wednesday.