LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY

Waikato Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 2644, 6 July 1926, Page 5

LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY

A MOST SUCCESSFUL HEADING. "TILLY OF BLOOMSBURY." "Tilly of Bloo.msbury" is. a play full of human feeling. The autlior, lan Hay, has introduced pathos, comedy, moral courage, snobbishness, and a fine sympathy for the struggles of an illiterate, uneducated mother of a family, married to a gentleman, a college professor, who k> quite unable, through a Weakness in his nature, to provide his home with worldly necessities. The. daughter,' Tilly, falls in love with Richard Mannering, the son of wealthy people, and the theme of the story deals with the meeting and the quite impossible fusion of the two families. Lady Mannering is a very worldly, proud woman, who thinks only of social advanc vii-iit. Her husband, Abel, who is very much under her domination, is much more human —when he is away from his wife—and is clandestinely glad that his son wishes to marry where his heart dictates. The son is a very fine character, and sees only the good in Tilly's relations, and loves Tilly as much for' her devotion to her people, as for her own undoubtedly staunch, brave little heart. r ; Miss Mary Short made a very winsome and sweet Tilly, and sustained her character admirably. Mr Alf. Boyce, as Richard Mannoring, was a most convincing lover. His pourtrayal was .lifelike, and the part was most capably sustained. Lady Mannering, Dick's mother, was taken by Mrs Graeme Taylor, who pourtrayed the dignified, cold, and apparently heartless society woman true to life. The father, Abel Mannering, taken by Mr S. Lewis, is a much more lovable character, and Mr Lewis made the most of his opportunities to show his sympathy for the romance of the young, affianced couple. Mr Klaus upheld' the character of the light-hearted brother, Perce, splendidly. One of the most difficult characters to pourtray in the play was that of Mr Wellyn, Tilly's father. This part was taken by Rev. MortimerJones, who made of the whiskey-drink-ing, weak and pusillanimous husband and father quite a lovable character. As Sylvia,-Dick's sister, Miss K. Brabant sustained her role of ultra-mod-ern society girl excellently. Mr Rowlands, as the curate, Mr Rylands, was comically sedate. Miss Wilton sustained capably though with not quite enough colour, the dual parts of Constance Darner and the little sister Amelia. Constance was a fine character, and required more dash. Miss Brann was excellently cast as Mrs Wellyn, Tilly's mother. It was a difficult part, and might easily have but Miss Brann imbued it wiL just the feeling it required. Miss M(Njar-

rol, as the grandmother, filled her par\ faithfully, as also did Mr Dix Marshall, in the dual characters of Milroy, the butler, and Mr Pumpherson, a lodger. A very promising young reader is Mr Bernard Meyer. His was a small part, as another lodger, Mr Meta Earn, but he made the very most of it. Mr Poijsenniskic was splendid, too, as the bailiff, Samuel Stillbottle, introducing a-great deal of humour, but his voice was too forced, and rather detracted from an otherwise very excellent performance. Altogether, "Tilly of Bloomsbury" was a very creditable performance/ and Mrs Graeme Taylor, who was responsible for the arrangement of the play and the choice of the cast, is to be congratulated on the excellent presentation of a difficult play. It was a very large cast to handle successfully on so small a stage, and rehearsals were interrupted by counterattractions, but there were few inadequacies or faults to be detected. A fortnight hence Eev. Elliott will arrange a programme devoted to the

Irish poets, when recitations and songs will be rendered by members. The society is anxious to encourage the literary side of its programme, and will welcome original contributions of any kind, either written or oral from members for the evening to be held on 2nd August," Contributions can be sent to Mr C. W. Clark, or to the secreary, Mrs W. X Ward. . ,