“JOURNEY’S END”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23884, 11 August 1939, Page 13

“JOURNEY’S END”

A SINCERE INTERPRETATION CHANGED SIGNIFICANCE OF PLAY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE The revival of R. C. Sherriff’s play “ Journey’s End ” by the Otago University Dramatic Society is a particularly interesting and timely one in view of the ominous looming of war clouds once more over the world, but .the impression which this presentation of the reaction of the stress of war’s realities upon a small group of m?n is different from that which it produced several years ago, when it was first presented in Dunedin by a touring company, and later on the screen. The play is still pregnant with- significance—disturbingly so—but the mood of the times has changed. The expression of the futility, of war has lost some of the bitterness of the early disillusionment, and in its place there is a spirit of fatalism. “Militant nationalism and pride in achievement ” —other facets of the play’s meaninghave also a changed significance, giving way to a sort of international feeling and a deeper, sterner sense of preparation to\do something which it was thought had been done, but which time has shown was tragically mishandled or ignorantly left undone. For these reasons one. finds it neces-. sary to readjust oneself to the play, but even so one cannot put back the hands of the clock, and the play as a play has lost something of its quality. But. for the presentation of the play. It may be said at once that it was a sincere interpretation and a most creditable attempt. True, there were most of the weaknesses which are found at first-night amateur performances, and some of them were most obvious in the stiffness and selfconsciousness of the players in the first act. As the action progressed the actors gained in confidence and did themselves more justice: the work which must have been put in at rehearsals stood them in good stead after the awareness of the presence of an audience had been overcome. The action of the drama has a , quality of inevitableness and. with the simple bareness of the one setting, and the sound effects—rather like a Greek chorus offstage—pointing and emphasising the climaxes, the play to a certain extent carries itself, and the producer; Miss Joy Rae, had appreciated this and made full use of it. The completed'impression which was built up is a satisfying one. r - Of the actors themselves those who give the most pleasing impression were those who had to portray a character rather than a individual. The roles of Lieut. Osborne and ' Lieut. Trotter, for instance, were both straightforward studies, but the tasks of those playing the leading characters, Captain Stanhope and the young Raleigh, were much greater. The falling short of complete success by these latter players is, therefore, only such if two different types of dramatics are to be compared. Mr E. R. Duncan, as Stanhope, was,not at ease in the first act, but he warmed up excellently arid his climaxes in the second and third acts gained in brilliance. In his outbursts of near hysteria, however, he was not wholly convincing. His mover ments were not in keeping with those of a man whose nerves were strained to the breaking , point arid his voice control , was not up to the demands, placed upon it. But in his scenes with the wretched Hibbert and with Osborne he was most effective and. m the memorable scene of the censorship of Raleigh’s letter, he reached thejseak of his performance. Mr S. S. Scon, was similarly ill at ease, in the first, act and he made all too little use of the stage. The effect of Stanhope’s first entrance was spoiled by the fact that, at that moment. Raleigh.remained with his back to the newcomer and was concerned with the irrelevant detail of the safe disposal of,a cigarette butt There were, other; difficulties of this nature in the perfrifiriarice. and Mr Scott was not the drily offender, but the assurance gained from _ the first night’s experience will probably -remove a number of these blemishes. The youthfulness of the character, hi* hero-worship, sensitivenessjmdTundamental decency were all weU indicated, but there was misSirig something of its eagerness and those qualities which caused him to be sent on, the raidmg party. The scenes between Stanhope and Raleigh after the -raid were well handled, and the final dimax wasachieved without a single false touch. An excellent balance ■to the whole play was given by the contrasted-cha-racters of Osborne and Trotter. Played by Mr N. S. Mclvor and Mr T. McKinney respectively, these 'parts were completely satisfying. There was the maturity, dignity and controlled sensibility of the older man and the solid reality and good humour of the other; As Mason, the officers’ cook. Mr A. C. Bailey was quite effective and his speech was always in keeping with the type be was playing. Mr N. Gilklson as Hibbert had an important part and a difficult one. though not a large one, and. although his opening did not convey much of his character, when his time came he was equal to his task. His breakdown was good. The minor roles were sufficiently played by Messrs W. D. U. Fraser. W. D. Dawson. Colin Oliver and J. Begg. The play will again be presented tonight and to-morrow night m the Allen Hall. ’