“BUNTY PULLS THE STRINGS”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22911, 19 June 1936, Page 14

“BUNTY PULLS THE STRINGS”

COMEDY AT LITTLE THEATRE

AN INTERESTING VENTURE One of the penalties of hit'll ideals is the danger of falling below them, a risk which the Little Theatre [Society, by the very nature and scope of its work, must always be subjected to. With respect to the society's latest venture, Mr Graham Moffett's throe-act comedy, “Bunty Pulls the Strings,” soaring aspirations are not represented by the play as much as by the continued determination of the Production Committee to admit as many people an possible into the active work of the organisation. “ Bunty ” is a delightful play, bristling with all the diflicullies of a dialect piece, and, therefore, no easy task for amateurs, particularly bona fide novice performer# such as those who took the boards for the opening performance last evening. It has many qualities, particularly its fine character drawing and the wit of its dialogue, which fre.quently takes on an appropriate weight and dourness reminiscent of lumpy porridge of which someone i« heard complaining even at the kirk door. But if has something more—a certain elusive atmospheric brilliance which amounts almost to a fascinating unreality, or at least as near to it as anything so essentially Scotch could do. In fact, one can be excuapd for thinking that it would be next to impossible to transfer that particular ouality to the amateur stage. But the co-producers, Mr F. H. Lampen and Mr S. G. Lock, have clone it, capturin'* the spirit of the play to an extraordinary degree, and making excellent comedy, for the second and third act especially, nut of the carefully-differentiated little community which, ha# its storm centre in the shadow of the stone-porchcd church. The cast did exceptionally well, everything considered, their errors being due more to a very noticeable stage fright, which amounted almost to an epidemic in the first act, rather than to any actual inability to sustain their respective roles. The somewhat grim background of the Biggar home was neatly handled by the producers and was never allowed to become too apparent, and the brittle artificiality of the story was manipulated very delicately in a series of brief and amusing scenes which welded the eccentricities, conventions and absurdities of the characters into distinctly pleasing comedy. Yes. The production was admirably contrived, and very obviously a collaboration affair. The cast worked well, particularly after they found their stage legs, and by the time the third act was reached they were giving u fine display of team work. Miss Bene M’Neill pulled the strings very effectively and made a charming Bunty. A neat stage style combined with unquestionable poise and a delightful speaking voice helped her through a part that included many difficult moments tor a beginner. She knows how to claim and keep her stage, and also how to use it, and should, after her first night fluttcrings. have something genuinely impressive to show her audiences for the rest of the season. It is a little difficult to understand Tammas Biggar, with his strictures on whistling, or even going out into the garden on the Sabbath, tolerating «"e 1 an obviously synthetic complexion oven on a weekday, but that is a small matter that can easily he rectified. Miss M Keiii, however, has good reason to be proud of an excellent piece of work. She and Mi Harry Bell, ns Tammas. are. m fact, the foundations on which everything cbo is built. . . ~ Mr Bell was convincing with an unmistakable Presbyterian forcefnlnesa, and carried his Sabbath habiliments quite as effectively as his Rghbath maimer Ills humiliation first at the hands of Lclci and then by the calculating Susie was well portrayed, and his stern paternal ndmon - tions and menaces were pleasingly real. Weelum. as presented by Mr Lloyd Maitin was indeed a queer fish—sort ot asking to be managed by sonieoiie. hut he was not Scotch- He looked, the pai t. but it was not until the managing B began to manage too fast for him that he achieved real character. I'rom then on he was dcligl.tl.illy _ g um and do oiouslv funny. Miss Mum Kenned} s Susie was a finely etched portrait in ’ na 'WU.P' spccts. thanks to a nicely regulated style of speech and a complete repertoire ot grimaces and gestures, hut when you bine been chuckling for the major part ot a plav at someone's delicious vinclictu enoss and selfishness it is too sudden a plunge below the surface to «ec her coUapht like n pricked balloon at the first mi*picion of Bunty’* rather doubtful attack. That, however, is mostly Kennedy o author’s fault. . . . There was a curiously attractive naivete about Mr Claude Grey’s Rah, especially when he seemed to he facing a thrashing, and seeing that that was generally his plight, his study was on the whole good. Like one or two others in the east, lie could do with a little more conviction. Mrs E. H Caliler proved a very falterin'* Eeelen in the first net, but sue improved rapidly until in the third act she produced a polish that was most acceptable. She never quite knew what to do with her umbrella, but she contrived to get her “digs” in at Tammas in the approved dry Scottish style. Miss Kgaire Glue illumined the part of Teeme with many brightly deft touches, and made a very good impression. Mr William Oudney brought a lot ot rugged good humour into lie second act, and Mrs W. Oudney’e momentary study of the “biggest gossip in three parishes” was well done. Others who filled minor roles were Mr Dick Poynter, Miss E. Lam*. Mrs E. M'Kejizie. Miss W. Paterson.""Miss K. Farrell, Mrs MThail, Miss Shirley Vernon, and P. L. Mote. An excellent musical programme was supplied by the Little Theatre Orchestra, under the direction of Mr L. 0. Asten. Before the curtain went up Mr E. Jones (Postmaster-general) tendered the best wishes o? (tie public fo the society in its latest venture.

“Bnnly Pulls the Strings” will bo presented to-night and to-mo Tow night and algo on Monday and Tuesday nights.