SPARKLING COMEDY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 47, 8 November 1946, Page 5

SPARKLING COMEDY

“LOVE IN IDLENESS”

OVATION FROM AUDIENCE

“Whenever you see that it is a Whitehall production, you can depend upon it—4he play will be a good one, ami is presented to metropolitan audiences as well as to those in the smaller towns. I know it has often been said that because a stage presentation visits the smaller districts, it cannot be therefore any good, but I can assure you all that these plays are exactly as portrayed to audiences in Auckland and Sydney.” In this way Mr Ronald Walton one of the main leads in ‘Love In Idleness’ prefaced his thanks to the audience in the Grand Theatre last Wednesday evening following one of the longest ovations we have yet heard in this town.

The play itself was a breezy comedy with a modern background which made time fly as far as the audience was concerned. Sequences were good but it was the brilliant repartee and the splendid acting ability of the two main leads Miss Kathleen Robinson and Ronald Walton which made such a telling impression upon the house. Their complete naturalness and composure showed at once that they were of the first water as far as their profession was concerned. From the very outset they fairly clinched the interest of their audience and led them from development to startling development with a liveliness and aplomb which was most intriguing, and left everyone in a state of happy anticipation at the conclusion of each act.

The story . definitely belongs to the war period, and with its London setting has given its writer (Terence Rattigan) wide 1 scope for expression and illustrating the extreme viewpoints of youth with regard to things marital. Throughout, however a silver thread of humour successfully ✓ relieves the near-awkward situations which occasionally arise and makes them utterly ridiculous. The traditional happy ending is naturally included and the last curtain finds the trio of hitherto violently opposed natures happily plotting to a mutual end.

As the society aspiring Mrs Olivia Brown, Miss Robinson was really splendid. Her acting was consistent and natural, while her personality conveyed just the correct interpretation of the chai-ming sinner, who had mental qualms about her manner of living.

In the opposite lead, Mr Walton was likewise splendid as Sir John Fletcher. As the tired and frustrated Cabinet Member, responsible for tank production he gave a grand portrayal., A philosopher at all times, if slightly blase, he captivated his audience by his easy handling of a most difficult'and possibly unpopular role of interloper. Much of the humour and most of the situations were due to his clever side acting and smart rejoinders. A, promising' young actor is. Mr Ron Rousell, who portrayed the role ef eighteen year old Michael Brown. As a confident and bumptious young modern ,full of reactionary propaganda and ‘new world’ ideals he was really good. Miss Jessica Noad was distinct as the estranged Lady Diana Fletcher and gave added colour to a fine production.

The minor parts were -taken by Miss Daphne Winslow, as Sir John’s secretary Miss Dell, and by Miss Minnie Love as ‘Polton’ the housemaid. Both were excellent supports.

The play was produced by Richard Parry, and gave Whakatane something of the better class of theatre productions for which this community has been starved in the past. The play merited a better house than that which greeted it but we understand that the company intends returning in the new year, when we can guarantee that its high reputation will learn them a full and enthusiastic audience.