A BARRIE PLAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 190, 13 August 1931, Page 11

A BARRIE PLAY

“THE TWELVE POUND LOOK” A GOOD AMATEUR EFFORT Cast: Sir Harry Sims Mr E. Lind Lady Sims Miss Eunice Worry Kate Miss Nancy McKirdy The Butler Dlr Peter Dickson At the United Bible Classen’ Meeting To bo told freely and frankly by the one person in the world best qualified to undertake the task; that you are of no account, on the very eve of his going to be knighted by his Sovereign, would be a shock which few men would bo able to stand up against scatheless. It “spoiled his evening,” so confessed Sir Harry Sims to his first wife. His self-satisfaction was destroyed, his wretched low-grado religion of “Success” was revealed to him, his philosophy of fat was shown to his outraged eyes for the oleaginous thing it was. But after all, and on top of this, he learned that in spito of all his success, his wealth and his climbings, his wife could not enduro it any longer. Ho thereupon hired a typewriter, and

when she had learned to earn exactly twelve pounds she “bolted.” Sir Harry’s self-conceit, however, was almost sufficient to be proof against such a low assessment of his worth, consoles himself with the fact that he holds tho affections of his second wife, now* Lady Sim, through his “success,” but when he sees “tho twelve pound look” settled definitely on her face too, he is well and truly rocked. The main character in the play is Sir Harry Sims, a philistine of philistines. This part was played with success by Mr E. Lind. It was a well sustained effort which carried conviction. Miss Eunice Werry, as Lady Sims, produced some really good acting. The role is difficult, particularly so for an amateur. Negative characters make greater demands on tho portrayer than do positive characters. It was in this that Miss Werry did so well. She was the listless, disillusioned, subdued wife. Miss Nancy McKirdy’s “Kate” had flair; it reached a good level. This role requires to be balanced between raillery, seriousness and restraint, thus giving oportunities for the display of talent, but it is in truth a big part, requiring a lot of experience to draw upon. Miss McKirdy was, therefore, called upon to undertake a big task, and sho is to be congratulated upon her work. With more experience and, if possible, some training, she should do well. Dlr Peter Dickson, as the butler, sustained the minor role in a suitable way, and minor roles have to be suitably undertaken, otherwise they jar. Dfrs Morris, the producer, is to he congratulated upon the work of her company, which interpreted this little play with merit—a play which has more difficulties in it than is apparent to the casual observe. An essential feature of the production was the elaborate and tasteful stage-setting, for which Dfr Leonard C. Travers w T as responsible. Without good furniture and artistic fittings the set would have been inadequate for such a j lay as this, Tho United Bible Classes’ monthly meeting was indeed fortunate on Tuesday evening in its programme, and it is to bo hoped in of the large audience, comprising both voun<» people and adults, that the same stand* ard as last evening will bo consistently maintained.