“The Strange Case Of Blondie White”

Te Puke Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 48, 28 June 1949, Page 2

“The Strange Case Of Blondie White”

CLEVER PRESENTATION APPRECIATED TAURANGA REPERTORY SOCIETY AT PAENGAROA A large and appreciative audience in the Paengaroa Hall on Thursday evening last, witnessed a presentation of “The. Strange Case of Blondie White,” bv the Tauranga Repertory Society. A cleverly-written three-act comedymystery by Bernard Merrivale and Jeffrey Dell, this play was a wise choice for an amateur company, being fairly reasonable in its demands upon scenery and costumes. The plot revolves round the activties of Frank Warren, a somewhat eccentric crime novelist (very ably played by Keith Bracey) whose serials of the more sensational “Whodunit” type appear regularly in the London daily papers. What happens when he finds himself in a situation which could easily be one of his own thrillers come to life, forms the plot of a witty and exciting play. \ As the novelist’s wife, Nancy Hare gave a fine performance, and as the thick-headed chief of Scotland Yard’s murder squad, John Lobley was also very good. The versatile Keith Gifford again proved his undoubted acting ability as The disreputable and excitable little Harper, porter of a block of flats; and in less capable hands than those of Basil Hartman, the fairly difficult role of Jackson, a high-pressure cockney salesman, would not have been the success it was.

In the minor part of a young plainclothes policeman, Allan Mcßride was excellently cast. His naturalness and quiet underplaying, bearing the stamp of the true actor. The part of Edgar Davis, “demon dentist,” was most capably handled by Stewart Knowles; and John Crawford was convincing at the police surgeon. Enid Waldegrove as the very sophisticated mannequin was also good. Others in the cast were Lylla Gifford as Frank Warren’s secretary, Joan Clark as the Warrens’ maid-servant, and Mary Mann as an Italian restaurant proprietress, all of whom showed evidence of acting ability. The costuming was very good and all the sound effects were excellently done. At Paengaroa, lack'd space both on. the stage and off, presents a serious problem in a production of this kind. Therefore, credit is due in no small measure to the stage manager and his assistants that the lack of facilities was not allowed to interfere with the smooth running of the play.