THE REPERTORY SOCIETY

Southland Times, Issue 23181, 23 April 1937, Page 3

THE REPERTORY SOCIETY

PLAYS PRESENTED NEW ZEALAND WRITER FEATURED H. and J. Smith’s tea rooms were filled by an audience to see the production of two one-act plays by members of the Invercargill Repertory Society. The first was “Flickering lights” by a New Zealand writer, Ethel M. Madeley, of Masterton. The producer was Miss B. Manson. As its name implies this play presented difficulties of lighting which were ingeniously overcome by Mr Colbran. The cast was as follows: Mollie Davies (part owner of the flat), Miss P. Northe; Mary Spence, Miss K. Macpherson; Mrs Golightly, Miss M. Fitzgerald; Roberta Devizes, Miss J. Moffett; Sergeant Crumpton (an officer of the police force), Mr W. A. Springford. This play develops a powerful situation which was well handled by the cast, in spite of the stilted and artificial dialogue the author has given her characters. Miss Mary Fitzgerald gave a sound interpretation of the fortunetelling Mrs Golightly, arid Miss P. Northe showed by her facial expression and variety of intonation that she has ability worth cultivating. Miss June Moffett, as the “girl with a past,” was sitting for a considerable time in shadow too deep to show any facial reaction and this handicapped an otherwise good performance. The second play, produced by Miss Mary Thomson, was “Twentieth Century Lullaby” by Cedric Maint. The cast was as follows:—Mary Smith, Miss M. Thomson; the school master, Mr G. Williams; the clergyman, Mr D. A. Highet; the announcer Mr R. Poole; the business man, Mr C. L. Stubbs; the bride, Miss P. McCarthy; the politician, Mr J. E. Allan; the Madonna. Miss V. G. Henshaw

This play, a powerful piece of antiwar propaganda, presents a challenge to the producer. There is little or no dramatic action, the characters merely spout their words, and without intelligent handling and careful rehearsal coherence would be impossible. Miss Thomson and her cast succeeded in putting over a unity, culminating in the climax of derisive laughter that precedes the entry of the Madonna, beautifully played by Miss Henshaw. The rest of the cast was splendidly in character. Mr Highet gave the type of clergyman intended in his first six words and kept on that level. Mr Williams gave an excellent portrayal of a certain kind of school master, now happily almost extinct; Mr Poole’s announcer was a very efficient piece of work, the business man of Mr Stubbs was sufficiently blustering without being overdone, and the politician of Mr Allan skilfully blended. Miss P. McCarthy was as bewitching a bride' as later she was shrewish Miss Thomson herself played the part of the mother with delicacy And tenderness.