SHAW’S “SAINT JOAN.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 660, 13 January 1933, Page 3

SHAW’S “SAINT JOAN.”

Dame Sybil Thorndike Gives Great Performance.

Ranking as one of the greatest theatrical performances that Christchurch has ever witnessed, George Bernard Shaw's play, “ Saint Joan ”, was repeated at the Theatre Royal last evening by Dame Sybil Thorndike and her company. The play will be repeated tonight for the last time. The first change of programme will be to-morrow at the matinee, when Shakespeare’s “ Macbeth will be staged, with Dame Sybil as Lady Macbeth and Lewis Casson as Macbeth. On Monday she will be seen in her first comedy role in “ Captain Brassbound’s Conversion.” There was a packed house for the performance of “ Saint Joan ” last evening. There was no weakness in the cast nor in the production. The personality of the famous actress dominated the play, and in her performance she gave the real Joan. She was supported by a cast of rare excellence. In Lewis and Christopher Casson, Michael MartinHarvey, Bruce Winston, Norman Shelley, Donald Eccles, Albert Chevalier and several others, there was ample quality. The scenic effects were magnificent, never falling in the necessity of conveying the atmosphere both of the period and of the action of the piece, and were carried out with a restrained delicacy that never diverted the attention, but rather directed it to the central figures and intensified their work. “ Macbeth. ” To-morrow. To-morrow afternoon and evening, there will be two performances of Shakespeare’s immortal tragedy, “ Macbeth.” Only two performances can be given, on account of the shortness of the season, and it is the wish of Dame Sybil Thorndike to appear in as many of her plays as time will permit.