“CLAUDIA”

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 22992, 8 September 1944, Page 6

“CLAUDIA”

FINE PRESENTATION Comedy-drama of a type probably never before performed in Timaru was presented last night by the J. C. Williamson Company which selected Rose Franken’s “Claudia” to conclude its season in the Theatre Royal. The play, which was distinctly one for adult audiences, was a cleverly conceived psychological study of the freakish and irresponsible young wife who experiments in a flirtation with a neighbour to discover how much she loves her husband. There is little of story m “Claudia,” and the only serious interlude is when the young wife is brought face to face with the tragedy of life and death, in her own case and that ot the mother she adores. The capacity audience appreciated the performance, in the name role, of the young New Zealand actress, Miss Bettina Welch, for whom the part provided an exceptional opportunity to display her versatility. Her Claudia was ingenious. As Claudia’s sadly-tried husband. Mr Lloyd Lamble, with an unusual charm of manner, was most natural, but it was the brief appearance in the second act of Miss Neva Carr-Glyn, as Mac .me Daruschka, an opera singer, that lifted the action of the comedy. In an also too brief appearance Mr John Tait (Jerry Seymour. Claudia's flirtatious neighbour) was impressive, while Miss Lily Moore and Mr Frank Hastings gave faithful character studies of the German couple who And happiness in the service of Claudia and David Naughton. Mrs Brown. Claudia’s mother, whose days are numbered, was given a sincere portrayal by Miss Ethel Gabriel. Miss Ruth Montgomerie made an attractive addition to the cast as Julia Naughton.