“HOME AND BEAUTY”

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20892, 25 August 1939, Page 9

“HOME AND BEAUTY”

THE HAMILTON PLAYBOX VERY FINE PRODUCTION The production of Somerset Maugham's entertaining play, “Home and Beauty,” by the Hamilton Playbox last night, was a great success. Not only was the Civic Theatre crowded, but the play ran very smoothly, and was keenly enjoyed by the audience. A particularly good feature was that every word could be heard, which is rather rare in amateur productions. Every possible laugh—and the witty comedy provides many—was obtained by the players. There were faults—one of the worst was that the characters got In a straight line across the front of the stage too often, while more movement would have improved things at times, and the play dropped considerably In the last act—but, taken altogether, it was an excellent production, and a credit alike to the producer and the players. The story of “Home and Beauty” Is very funny. It is founded on a dramatic theme—the return of a husband from the war, to find his wife married to his best friend—but it is developed on comedy lines. The two men do their utmost to solve the problem, not by getting her back, but by foisting her on the other! For, charming as she is, Victoria is rather trying to live with. The methods adopted to undo the tangle provided plenty of amusement for tne audience. A Good Cast Mrs Aileen Parkhouse, as the charming Victoria, skimming lightly from husband to husband, talking glibly of war “duty” well done, but with a gift for getting the best out of life, was rarely off the stage, and despite a tendency at times to over-emphasise her words she played the heavy part very well. Messrs John llarcourt and Graham Absolurn, as the worried husbands —the former embarrassed, the latter more blustering—also had a lot to do and did it very well. They were always convincing, and though their final scene in the play seemed to lack “punch” that was to some extent the fault of the dramatist, for it was something in the nature of an anti-climax. The other characters were very well taken—Myra Booth, as the worried mother-in-law; Elizabeth Cook, as the professional co-respondent; Charlotte Edmunds, as a low-comedy cook; Joy Sullivan, as a mannequin; Merlyn Hecrdigan, the maid; Kenneth Fade, as the war profiteer who became Victoria's third husband; Malcolm Thomas, as a lawyer with a decidedly modern way of arranging divorces; and John Ferris, as a bellboy. The settings were charming, the lighting effective, and (a rare thing with amateur productions) the intervals were short. Delightful incidental music was provided by the Hamilton Trio—Mrs A. English (piano), Miss Margaret Roe (violin) and Miss Helen Ileywood (’cello). Presentations to Producer After the performance a happy social gathering was held at the Centreway Tearooms. Pleased with the success of the production, members of the Playbox and their friends were in the mood for a jollification. After supper Mr W. Blakeway, vicepresident of the Playbox, paid tribute to the work of the producer (Mrs Zelda Fahey), the cast, and others concerned in the success of the production, and on behalf of the club asked Mrs Fahey to accept a beautiful plaque. Mr Thomas, on behalf of the cast, handed Mrs Fahey a fountain pen, suitably Inscribed. Mrs Fahey, m acknowledging the gifts, said her work had been lightened by the co-operation she had received from the cast and others. Mr D. Reid gave some amusing sketches, and a happy night closed with community singing, with Mr VV. Whitehead at ihe piano.