DUNEDIN PLAYBOX

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23593, 1 September 1938, Page 20

DUNEDIN PLAYBOX

INTERESTING PLAY PRESENTED The Playbox has recently presented its members with an even greater variety of dramatic fare than usual. The latest production on Tuesday evening was "The Old Ladies." a dramatised version of a novel by Hugh Walpole. As the cast was limited to three, their responsibility was proportionately increased, but each gave a creditable performance, and the production was a pronounced success. Miss Ngata Buswell undertook a difficult role as May Berihger, an elderly spinster, who supplied the comedy element in the play, and was also the central figure in the tragedy. Miss Buswell made the most of her comedy, and in the last act she conveyed a degree of desperation and terror which was most convincing. Mrs Griffiths, as Lucy Amorest, the kindly, sympathetic widow, was well cast, and played her part in quite a satisfactory manner. It required a considerable amount

oi variation, kindliness, pathos and anger in her quarrel with Agatha, all of which were well portrayed. In the part of Agatha, the old gipsy woman, whose inordinate love of beauty and beautiful things was the cause of the tragedy, Mrs Aubrey Stephens probably essayed the most difficult part she has ever attempted Mrs Stephens's make-up and clothing were right in character and must have been of considerable assistance to her. She was not quite convincing in the first act but as the play proceeded, and she became more sinister and menacing, she gave a fine performance. At the conclusion of the reading supper was served, the hostesses being Misses Beth Hazelwood and Trixie Wood.

The last olay for the year is " Candida," by Bernard Shaw. The cast includes Misses Anita Winkel and Edith Clare and Messrs Frank Lawson. Ben White and Tarrant.

An umbrella that has become shabby, but which is not really worn, can be made to look much better by opening it and washing with cold, strained tea