New Zealand Play on London Stage

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23275, 18 February 1939, Page 18 (Supplement)

New Zealand Play on London Stage

" NEEDLE AND THREAD " From Our Own Correspondent LONDON. Jan. 30 "Needle and Thread" is an interesting play, with each character well thought out, and carried out consistentlyto the end—but the end will not be popular with theatre-goers because it is too grim and tragic. Yet if the play did not end in tragedy it would not faithfully depict the unforgiving character of an over-possessive mother.

The very young author is Miss Doreen Lang, formerly of Auckland, and more recently of California. Tho reception which her work had last night at a special Sunday performance at the Phoenix Theatre, under the auspices of "New Plays," was most encouraging. In response to calls for "author, ' Miss Lang went on to the stage and made a few gracious remarks, but she could not persuade the producer, Mr. Jack Minster, to face the footlights. All-American Cast

The All-American cast were: Jean Moncrief (Mrs. Frier, the mother), Basil C. Langton (Pete Frier, the son), Joan Miller (Maria Caley, the girl who married Pete), Jackson Gillis (Harry Lee, a jolly friend), Norma Winslow

(Mrs. Cronander, a somewhat garrulous neighbour), Frank Cady (Paul P. Stevens," an agent for all-silk underwear). and Kay Lewis (Lucille Shaffer, a customer of Mrs. Frier). The mother was a very bitter and over-worked woman, who ; in order to help her student son in his profession as bridgeengineer, continued her dressmaking connection so long that, she could not see a needle if she dropped it, and could not thread a needle when she had it. By chance, a very bright and capable girl, urgently needing work and a roof, happens along—Maria Calev- —and after much persuasion the old lady agrees to employ her as a general help. The home quickly assumes a different appearance, the son immediately falls in love with Maria, and others express appreciation of the changes she has tactfully wrought. But all the time the mother is very jealous, aggrressive and difficult. Secret Marriage The girl is an inspiration to Pete in his studies, and also has become invaluable to the mother's dressmaking. A secret marriage takes place, and when Maria wants to break the news some months later, Pete objects because he knows his mother of old, and urges the time is not propitious. There are high words, and Pete rushes out to his death 011 bridge-construction work. Maria is so misunderstood by Mrs. Frier when trying to explain that she, too, rushes away. When Harry breaks the news of Pete's drowning, Mrs. Frier, by then almost mental, maintains that Maria has been to bin pie, and hor hatred is intensified. Pete has previously related a superstition that a bridge is not a good bridge until there has been some sacrifice of life. The acting throughout was first-class. Miss Lang, it is anticipated, will, before long, write a "much better play. This one just misses being a very fine play.