FINE PERFORMANCE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 852, 28 August 1933, Page 3

FINE PERFORMANCE.

Professor Shelley as “ Socrates.” The debt owed to Professor James Shelley by lovers of drama generally in Christchurch and the Canterbury Repertory Theatre Society in particular was greatly increased on Saturday night by his splendid characterisation of the part of Socrates in Clifford Bax’s famous play. Professor Shelley’s outstanding histrionic and artistic ability has been the main driving force in the Rittle Theatre movement in Christchurch from its inception and the effect of his work is seen, not only in his appearance on the stage, but also in his gift for organisation and attention to detail. Stage sets and properties have always interested him and the remarkable effects obtained by the society in period productions owe much to his inspiration. With Miss Kiore King as producer, the society has the aid of a great combination in achieving the splendid results acclaimed by audiences during the last five years. It was generally agreed that Professor Shelley had reached the ultimate heights of repertory art with his interpretation of the blind beggar in Masefield’s “Good Friday,” but, as ' the greatest of Greek philosophers, he held his audience entranced. There are twenty-five other characters in the play, but they were nothing more than a colourful background to the principal figure. Plato in his dialogue shows the wisdom and inspiration of his friend and with his illustration of the great man’s methods of instruction, provided most of the material for this play. From his writings are culled the second and sixth scenes almost in their entirety and they show Socrates as he was—a wise, upright and good man whose main interests in life were the search for truth and beauty and the instruction of his young disciples to the better employment of their lives. Professor Shelley was Socrates in appearance and as we should expect him to be from Plato’s writings. His make-up was a triumph. He seemed as a piece of fine old statuary come to life. Listening to the words of Socrates as transcribed by Plato, arranged by Clifford Bax and given to the audience by* Professor Shelley, one could appreciate and understand the love of his disciples for their master. Perhaps the highest appreciation of the characterisation one can give is to say that it was Professor Shelley’s masterpiece. One cannot distinguish in the performances of the other members of the cast. All acquitted themselves well and there was never a jarring note. They rose to heights Christchurch has not previously seen in repertory and each shared in the triumph of the night. Those taking part were—H. M’D. Vincent (Archilochus and Anytus), Roy Twyneham (Meletus), N. H. W. Harrison (Agathon), G. S. Salter (Aclibiades), Harold Show (Cebes), M. T. Denham (Simmias), Bernard Beeby (Aristophanes), W. J. Hunter (Eryximachus), S. W. Collins (Lycon), Robinson Hall (Crito), R. M. Young (Phaedo), P. L. Mansell (officers of the court),. Mervyn Bull (soldier and jailor), Miles Greenwood (soldier), S. L. Davies. J. H. M'Glinchy and H. C. W. Preston (citizens), E. L. Cordery (faun), Misses Edna Gill (dryad), Nome Enright (Xantippe), Valerie Tennent (Ethenoe), Gretchen Marsden and Peggie Patterson (slave girls).