“TEN-MINUTE ALIBI”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22518, 12 March 1935, Page 5

“TEN-MINUTE ALIBI”

This morning at the D-LC. intending patrons of the ordinary stalls for tomorrow night's opening performance of " Ten-Minute Alibi" may reserve their seats, which will avoid the necessity of having to wait in the queue at the theatre. This is the first time playgoers have been given • this privilege by the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management. There was a large demand for seats yesterday for both " Ten-Minute Alibi," of which three evening performances will be given, and " The Wind and the Rain," which is to be staged on Saturday night and the three following evenings and on Wednesday afternoon, March 20. The J. C. Williamson, Ltd., Dramatic Company which is to present the two productions has been acclaimed the best organisation since the late Dion Boucicault's company toured New Zealand.

" Ten-Minute Alibi " is something different in thrillers. All are familiar with that irritating type of mystery play intending only to hoax an audience by leading up to a completely illogical denouement. Anthony Armstrong's play reverses that stock formula by inviting the audience to become, in effect, the murderer. Thus, instead of lending our wits to Detective Inspector Pember and Detective Sergeant Brace, who arc called in to investigate the murder of Philip Servilla, the audience becomes the murderer, sharing his mental anguish while the keen-minded Scotland Yard men test his alibi. At some time or other most people speculate upon the possibility of committing a crime. The real murderer usually is careless in his technique because in nine times out of 10 murder is a passionate act. And when it comes to murder, theory and action are not the same, but the stage, with a few colourable concessions to probability, can present the problem intellectually; and Mr Armstrong's play is first-class entertainment because he works out in detail an interesting hypothetical problem. The Edgar Wallace school of "thriller" playwrights creates suspense by concealing the identity of the murderer until the final curtain. There are many genuine laughs in " Ten-Minute Alibi," and there is romance also in the story. The J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management was evidently very fortunate in procuring Mr George Thirlwell for the leading role, as he has been acclaimed as one of the most brilliant young actors who has visited New Zealand. Miss Jocelyn Howarth, since she appeai-ed in the screen production of "The Squatter's Daughter," has made rapid progress in her profession, and she has scored an outstanding success in the role of Betty Findon. Mr Arundel Nixon, who plays the.role of the Philip Servilla, comes with a good reputation from England, and so does Mr Harold B. Meade, who takes the part of Sir Miles Standing. That fine actor Mr Frank Bradley has scored one of his best successes as Inspector Detective Pember, and in his dramatic and humorous scenes he is ably assisted by Mr Tommy Jay, a young detective sergeant. Mr R. L. Afholwood is said to be particularly good in his role of Servilla's valet, and the cast, also includes Mr Richard Fair and other notable artists. The scenery, stage and lighting effects are outstanding features of the production.