“ MADAM: PLAYS NAP.”

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18876, 21 February 1933, Page 6

“ MADAM: PLAYS NAP.”

ROMANTIC COSTUME COMEDY. DAME SYBIL THORNDIKE’S ART. Waikato playgoers were fortunate in having an opportunity of seeing one of the foremost English actresses of the day, Dame Sybil Thorndike, supported by London players of distinction. That the importance of the occasion was recognised was proved by the size of the audience last night, the Theatre Royal being practically filled despite the difficult times. “Madame Plays Nap’’ is a colourful and romantic costume comedy of the Napoleonic period, by Brenda Girvan and Monica Cozens. It opens with a battle of wits between Madam de 'Beauvais (played by Dame Sybil Thorndike) and Hie revolutionary soldiers, in which the latter are circumvented in very diverting fashion, and goes on to tlie outwitting of tlie intriguing ladies and chamberlain of the court of the Emperor. The comedy is unusual in that tlie first act is really a complete and intensely interesting play in itself, and could be played as a one-act production. The following acts arc not, perhaps, as well written, but they are very entertaining and keep the audience interested and amused. Dame Sybil Thorndike is best known to the world as a tragedienne, but by her performance last night she proved that she is equally successful in comedy. Her Madam de Beauvais was a thoroughly convincing piece or work and an exquisite exposition of comedy at its best. Her finesse as she defeated Chamberlain Ferrier and the Princess Pauline at the game in which they had dealt the cards, and apparently held all tlie tricks, was superb, and the lightness •and grace of her acting was a joy to see. All the shades of tlie character, ranging from mischievous glee to dramatic indignation, were fully expressed by the beauty of her voice and her gifts as an actress, while her gurgling giggle was surely one of the most infectious heard on tlie local stage. The audience would probably have preferred lo see Dame Sybil in ■a “heavier” play, but there was no doubt that her comedy was greatly enjoyed. Mr Lewis Casson was the Napoleon of one’s imagining, walking on lo the stage as if he had just stepped from the frame of his most lifelike portrait. From the “parchment complexion” to the stocky figure, from the wisps of hair drooping over the forehead to the piercing eyes under their busy brows, from the perfect manner of a great commander to the very stance always associated with Napoleon, Lewis Casson was complete. His one failing was that some of his lines were spoken too rapidly. The rest of the company gave excellent support. Mr Bruce Winston was suitably suave and hypocritical as the Court Chamberlain, his facial expression in the more tense scenes being strikingly realistic. Mr Albert Chevalier was polished and sincere as tire sometimes perplexed hilt always devoted husband of Madam de Beauvais, and Mr Michael Martinjlarvey provided some dramatic moments as the poet Lnvalle. Mr Norman Shelley gave a good study as the conceited ami drunken Captain Venaticr. Miss Liilah Carter was impressive as Ihe plotting Princess Pauline, ami oilier roles were filled with success by Misses Kathleen Robinson, Phyllis Best, Hilda Davies and Sylvia Morse, ami Mr Christopher Casson. the latter being the son of Dame Sybil and Mr Casson.

Delightful music was provided by an instrumental trio, in which the pianist of Ihe company, Mr Howard Moody, had Ihe assistance of Mrs K. R. Greenfield (violinist) anil Miss Helen Heywood ('cellist;, of Hamilton.