"A SCRAPE O' THE PEN."

Observer, Volume XXXV, Issue 46, 24 July 1915, Page 19

"A SCRAPE O' THE PEN."

PLAYS that are windows in the hearts of folks are rare enough. "A Scrape o' the Pen" is a, window through which one gazes into the souls of the Soots people. Played by Scottish folk, led by the author, Mr Graham Moffat, ""A Scrape o' the Pen" is, by any metliod of comparison, the most artistic because the most natural and homely play I have seen in three years and a-half. Mr Grraham Moffat's play is a simple story, beautifully developed. It has to do with the wild son of a Calvinistic Soot, a son who by mutual agreement under Scots law became the huebandi of Jean Lowther. Jean ultimately happily marries , Hugh. Menzies, the husband turns up from Central Afrca, and claims his right to Jean by "the scrape o' the pen." Jean ■has in the years mothered the little daughter of the wanderer andl a girl who was deserted! and , dead, and the scene in which the child is introduced to her father and the burning of "the scrape o' the pen" is of heart-searching poignancy.

But it is less in the tailing of the charming story than in the wonderful drawing of character that the play is so "arresting. ,, Mr Graham Moffat, as Mattha Inglie, the old Scots farmer, is on sound ground—.a dour auld lioht Oaledomilani with an iron sense of justice and a rare warmth and humour underlying the cast-iron philosophy of his school. There is no line, no gesture and no action in the work of Mr Graham Moffat that does not ring true. He

is the Scot at his am firesidle, the peppery, hard-arguing anld 1 kiltie with a heart of gold. Mrs Graham Moffatt, ac the auld wife, has the admiration of all who saw amd heard her tinfoldi the sweet character. There is a quiet, natural power, both in the character and the characterisation, that is really genius. It is remarkable that in no sense does the effect of the play rest in any single character. The "fat" has been generously distributed, and the whole design pieced accurately, effectively amd appealingly. The Jean Lowther of Mies Mafctie Maclellan is wonderfully attractive. Not only is the lady beautiful—she plays beauti fully and with a quiet natural dignity that makes one forget these events do not take place in a Scottish farm kitchen. The most artistic thing in the play is mi the hands of Miss MacleHan, and it touches the audience profoundly. The auld folk and Jean are sitting by the "ingle neuk." Jean is nursing the wee one. Without acoompaniiinen.t she sings. "Wee Willie Winkie" as it ishoukl be sung. The by-play is exquisite—by natural gesture she tells the auld folk when the bairn is sleeping, the old man tip-toe© away for a "plaidie" to cover the bairn with, and the amdience is hushed, so ■as not to waive the woe one! It is quite the simplest, mosit natural thing in the play. Jean sings, too, "The Auld , Hoose."

Mr Abie Barker as "Geordie Pow," the ploughman, has ray eincerest congratulations. He is perhaps "just himself" and' his humour is fine. Mam, but he never forgets to roll an "r!" He's the bridegroom, ye ken, and Beenie Scott (Jean Clyde) is the bride with a bunch of "Family Heralds" for a "bustle"—for those were "crinolette" diays. Mr David TJ-rquhart is Peter Dalgleith, a professional mourner and the peculiarly pungent Scots wit given to David illuminates the whole discourse, his profes&ional solemnity being no less amusing than his Hogmanay levity caused by whisky and: cakes. Mr Alec G. Hunter, as the husband of Jean, is the beau-ideal Scot of the open-heart-ed variety—a hearty bit of work, too. There aire many other people—all Soots bar one. The wee Eppie of little Jean McGoll is done finely. Aβ a friend observed to me: "My word! —even the kidldie talks Scotch!" And little Jean is excellent, indeed, in the lullaby scene, which will remain so long in the memory. Throughout this charming folk play the customs of Hogmanay and of Scots weddings are scattered. There are few things better in the play than the Flora MeGilp of Miss Margaret Noble—a sonsie lassie indeed, and with the true Highland accent. One is not sure that the audiences recognise that Mr Graham Moffatt, who .plays so splendidly, is the author too, but one does know that the audiences are immensely pleased with a pjlay that is charming in every particular.