“LIGHT OF HEART”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26747, 16 April 1948, Page 6

“LIGHT OF HEART”

SYMPATHETIC PRESENTATION AN EMLYN WILLIAMS PLAY Gabriel Toyne'need not, in his curtain speech, have told the audience at His Majesty’s last evening that The Light of Heart” was a play regarded with particular affection by the New Zealand Theatre Company—that should have been apparent to anyone with the slightest perception. It is an understandable fact with theatrical companies that in the uncounted repetition of a triviality from which the wit has, for the players, long since evaporated, their acting can become as turgid as a cup of cocoa. And yet, an evening later, with a pie" +o they feel sympathetically attuned and in which they can find something fresh at each performance, me.r aeu..g become grandly effervescent.. This was very evidently the case with the third presentation of the current company's season. It is as obviously absurd to make a comparison between the froth of the earlier plays and the substance of Emlyn Williams’s “ The Light of Heart ” as it would be to make the proverbial chalk and cheese comparison. Suffice it to say that last evening’s show was a far more satisfactory theatrical experience than the two previous opening nights were, and it would be unfortunate if earlier prejudices dissuaded anyone from an inspection of this final offering. “The Light of Heart” is the story of Maddoc Thomas, a once great actor who has, through over-addiction to liquor, descended to a dreary existence in a tenemenCnear Drury Lane. He is cared for by his crippled daughter, a singularly selfless creature who finds belated romance with a young composer. A chance to regain his past glory is wrecked by Thomas by reversion to his old habits, but he makes his atonement in the final dramatic scene. It is. in its essentials, a strw close to several in r«*i ]if~

To say that someone “ stole the show” might mipij . i gained his or her rounds of applause by selfish playing to the audience. That was certainly not the .case with Helen Franklyn, in the role of Cattrin. But she did warrant most attention by her competence, her extremely pleasing stage personality, and her close co-operation with tlm rest of the cast. She made a role which could easily degenerate into maudlin sentimentality convincing and appealing. As her father, the weak-willed old trouper, Gabriel Toyne made the most of a part which he seemed to_enjoy. Hugh Moxey’s Robert was perhaps a little stiff, but it was a part which called for restraint. Dianna Beaumont showed that a character role is well within her scope, while Henry Hepworth made a solid Welsh constable without finding difficulty in sustaining the accent. Molly Raynor made “ Fan.” the garrulous “ good-time girl ” from the second floor, as raucous as the role would stand, but Norman Ettlinger seemed ill at ease as “ Barty.” Miriam Pritchett appeared to have some trouble with her lines in the earlier scenes, but made a good job of the third act. The play was directed by Ronald Fortt.

“The Light of Heart” will be repeated this evening and to-morrow, when the season will end. It is well worth seeing.