“STAGE DOOR”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24715, 18 September 1941, Page 8

“STAGE DOOR”

AN AMBITIOUS VENTURE REPERTORY SOCIETY PLAY By presenting " Stage Door." the typically American play by the successful collaborators, Edna Ferber and George Kaufman, the Dunedin Repertory Society in His Majesty's Theatre last night demonstrated that it is not lacking in courage and enterprise. It showed, too, that it possesses a large membership of promising young players, for the play calis for a cast of 30. The Selection Committee of the society is to be commended for choosing a play with such a large cast, because it gives a chance to its younger members to distinguish themselves and provides the audience, with new faces and personalities. But—and with such a play presented by amateurs the conjunction is almost inevitable—last night's presentation fell far short of the society's best efforts and was not an altogether satisfying performance. Certainly, (here were times when satisfactory heights were attained, but the climb to the top was frequently a little tedious and faltering. In the first place, " Stage Door" is not a play with a wide appeal to New Zealand audiences. Neither the story nor the dialogue can commend the play to a people who, fortunately, have not become Hollywood-minded. The story tells of the struggle of a varied collection of American girls to win fame either on the stage or the screen. Often the struggle to reach the top rung of the ladder is tragic; at times it is rich in courage and humour; and sometimes it is merely sordid. The plot defines the division between the legitimate stage and its modern offspring, the screen. But such a story is naturally somewhat disjointed, and it is only at. times that scope is given for individual work. Most of the scenes are taken up with brief dashes across the stage of pairs and trios or with group scenes, all of which are fraught with pitfalls and difficulties for the players. Dialogue, mannerisms, and dressing are essentialiv American, and to keep them true to Broadway must have presented a difficult task to the producer (Miss Bessie Thomson). Taking all these problems into consideration, she is.to be congratulated on achieving, a success of a new venture .for the society and in providing Dunedin audiences with something novel and entertaining in stage fare. In a cast of 30 players. Mrs Lydia Davis as Terry Randall is outstanding. It is she who is called upon to play the part that holds the story together, and she never once falters in her task. ' She has an excellent voice for the part and has a charming stage manner. Her handling of the dramatic scenes, and particularly the last few moments of the play, is highly commendable. She gives the impression that her heart and soul are really in the stage, and her every expression and intonation of voice show what it means to her. Miss Alice Clark has the contrasting role of-Jean Maitland, who forsakes the hard struggle to success on the stage for a meteoric rise at Hollywood. Although Miss Clark is an accomplished actress and possesses a fine speaking voice, she does not appear to be weh cast as a glamorous Hollywood star. Of the other girls who comprise the members of the Footlights Club, the boarding house for girls in the show business, in which the play is set, Mrs Lola Cuddie carries off the honours, and is responsible for a crisp and polished performance. She dresses effectively and is one of the few in the cast who looks as if she really belongs to New York. Mrs Cecile Malthus is effective as Kaye Hamilton—a tragic little figure—but her voice is a little too jerky. Mrs Jessie Ryan is never out of character as Mrs Orcutt, a one-tirne actress, who is proprietress of the club. Mr Bernard Sullivan and Mr Roland Watson, as David Kingsley and Keith Burgess respectively, play the principal male roles with customary efficiency, though they do not have a great deal to do. Miss Gaynor Paape, as an unsuccessful pianist, Mr Anthony Spears, as ut Randall and Mr Bruce .QuenneJ, as Adolf Gretzl, are well cast and distinguish themselves in minor parts, and Miss Sylvia Seelen and Mr James Halies attain considerable success in portraying the negro servants, who are responsible for some amusing interludes. Miss Doreen Harvey and Miss Sybil Henderson are an oddly-assorted nair who are comic in their comradeship and actions. Others in the cast are Mrs Trixie Stevenson. Mrs Billle Patersom .Misses Jocelyn Tapley. Pat McDouall, Joyce Rowley, Kathenne Napier Shirley Williamson, Ptiggy Griffiths, Maisie Ponder. Chris Justin, Annette Kilroy. Mrs Mary Woodhouse, Messrs Lionel Powell. Keith McCulloch. Robert Watkins. and Allan Morris. A feature of the play is the staging, which is at all times artistic, attractive, and most effective. Both the main room and the tasteful bedroom are well carried out. and the. lighting is wellnigh perfect. "Stage Door" will be presented nightly for the remainder .of the week.