WAIMATE SEASON ENDS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21186, 5 November 1938, Page 5

WAIMATE SEASON ENDS

Repertory Society “Laburnum Grove” Presented The culminating effort of their first season’s activities, the Waimate Repertory Society presented J. B. Priestley’s three-act comedy, “Laburnum Grove,” in the Olympia Hall on Thursday night before a packed audience. Although it was an ambitious project for so young a society, the performance was of a high standard, and reflected great credit on the players and particularly on the producer, Mr W. P. Black. The action of the play took place in the living room of the Radfern’s house, “Ferndale,” Laburnum Grove, Shooters Green, a suburb of North London The plot centres around the plaints of the younger set that “nothing ever happens” in the humdrum life of suburban respectibility and the startling confession of George Radfern, the innocuous domesticated husband, that he is an active member of an international gang of counterfeiters and forgers. The consternation and apprehension of the members of the family, in-laws and intended in-laws and their revealing reactions to subsequent developments carries the play on amusingly to a problem climax. The light domestic comedy with a full measure of dramatic subtlety and sudden changes of emotion made heavy demands on the dramatic talents of the players, who showed the results of thorough rehearsing and careful coaching, and rose to the occasion magnificently, earning well the rounds of applause which greeted the conclusion of each act, and the spontaneous ovation which marked the conclusion. The cast was:— George Radfern, Mr D. Newall. Mrs Radfern, Mrs N. A. Rattray. Bernard Baxley, Mr A. Sawell. Mrs Baxley, Mrs R. C. Morgan. Inspector Stack, Dr R. G. Shackelton Harold Russ, Mr G. Aitken Elsie Radfern, Miss M. Leonard Joe Fletten, Rev. H. L. Richards Sergeant Morris, Mr J. C. Winning The first to appear on the stage were Miss Leonard and Mrs Morgan. As the daughter heartlessly deserted by her worthless and self-seeking lover, Miss Leonard had a difficult part to play, and the bulk of the emotional acting fell on her. This she handled with the poise which might be expect!ed of a more experienced player. Mrs Morgan’s acting was animated and in keeping with the role of a temperamental, domineering wife, with a ne'er-do-well husband. Her appearances tended to brighten up the action, and kept the play going happily. Mr Sawell as the sponging, Micawber-like husband who had been out East and done things, acted his part so well that it looked easy. His was the comedy part; but he did not strive for his laughs. They just came. Mr Newall, who needed no introduction to a Waimate audience, was seen in a new role as a suave selfpossessed and apparently respectable suburban resident. He acted with unusual composure and effortlessly held the centre of interest in all his appearances. His work, when he made his startling revelations to an incredulous family circle at the supper table, and his tense interview with the detective, were exceptionally well done. Convincing Acting The Rev. Richards was not allocated a very heavy part but his interpretation of Redfern’s unsavoury partner in crime was convincing and well in character. Mr G. Aitken as Harold Russ, the mercenary lover, had an exacting part, particularly in one or two duo scenes of some dramatic intensity, in which he made good use of facial expression. Mrs Rattray, Redfern’s wife, did not share in the confessions of her husband, and her composure on the stage was in marked contrast to the agitation of the other members of the family circle. The naturalness of her acting served to assure the audience that nothing was wrong at all, and enabled the play to work up to a more dramatic denouement. Although not apparently playing a vital part she left her mark on the action. Dr Shackleton pleased in his impersonation of a Scotland Yard detective, and showed his versatility in his handling of the contrasted interviews with Radfern and with his wife. Mr Winning had a minor part but handled well the slight dramatic touch just before the conclusion. The setting of the stage and the arrangement of the lighting was excellent, and the provision of a stairway at the back of the stage must have solved many problems for the producer. Music played by an augmented Savage Club orchestra was well appreciated by the audience. Society Congratulated At the conclusion of the performance, Mr M. L. Leadbetter, president of the Waimate Repertory Society, called on the Mayor (Mr G. Dash) and Mr A. E. Lawrence, acting-president of the South Canterbury Drama League, to speak. Both speakers congratulated the society on the success of its effort in staging so ambitious a play and congratulated the players on the high standard of their performance. Mr Lawrence also thanked the Waimate Society for its participation in the South Canterbury Drama League’s festival. Mr Leadbetter thanked all who had in any way assisted the Society in the presentation, and paid tribute to the work of the producer. On behalf of the Society he made a presentation to Mr Black of a bedroom clock. Mr Black suitably replied.