THOMAS HARDY DRAMA STAGED AT “LITTLE THEATRE.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18630, 6 December 1928, Page 7

THOMAS HARDY DRAMA STAGED AT “LITTLE THEATRE.”

COLLEGE SOCIETY PLAYS “QUEEN OF CORNWALL.”

However much the movement for amateur theatricals may grow in Christchurch, it is if for sheer beauty of conception and perfection of detail amateurs will produce anything that will transcend recent productions of the Canterbury College Drama Society. The “Little Theatre” has become the home of good drama, with a reputation built on an ideal which permits of the production of only the best in dramatic art. It is pleasing to know that not only have the efforts of the producers been noticed by such leading dramatists as John Masefield, but that the public of Christchurch have given fitting recognition through insistent demands for the revival of plays after the appointed season has been run, and in the present instance, from an artistic point of view, the revival of Thomas Hardy’s “Queen of Cornwall” has been amply justified.

“The Queen of Cornwall” is one of Thomas Hardy’s few dramatic pieces, and the producers have handled the theme in a manner that creates through the scenery, costumes and manner of acting the romantic atmosphere of mediaevalism. No attempt is made at historical realism. Instead the story is presented in the highlyflavoured fashion of the troubadour.

The story is based on the legend of the love of Sir Tristram for Iseult the Fair, whom he has brought over from Ireland to be the wife of King Mark of Cornwall. The scene is set in the great hall of Tintagel Castle, in Lyonnesse, and the difficult part of the old Merlin who acts as chorus throughout the piece is carried off with weird but true artistry by Professor Shelley.. Too great praise cannot be given to Miss V. Tennent, who took the exacting part of Iseult the Fair Queen of Cornwall, who with Sir Tristram unwittingly quaffed a love potion, the effects of which after many years ends in direful tragedy. The part of the other Iseult, the Whitehanded, wife of Sir Tristram, was an exquisite portrayal of pleading love, in the hands of Mrs A. Kain. Mr R. A. Young as Sir Tristram, beloved of two women, had a difficult part to carry off, but his acting did not fall below the high standard of the previous presentation of the play. A change in the cast was made by Mr W. Harris undertaking the part of Sir Andret. -who furthers the threatening King Mark in his vengeful designs. Mr C. W. Collins’s characterisation of the King was very effective. Other changes in the cast were Miss E. Oxford as the Damsel and Mr R. Neale as the messenger. The dramatic force of this dark and tragic play was well sustained throughout, and the company is to be congratulated upon the success with which it has carried off this ambitious effort.