PROPERTY OF MENTAL PATIENT

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21411, 1 March 1935, Page 7

PROPERTY OF MENTAL PATIENT

MAINTENANCE THE FIRST CHARGE ■ PRESS ASSOCIATION TEI.EGBAM.) AUCKLAND, February 28. In giving judgment to-day in favour of a firm of solicitors who claimed £298 costs and disbursements from the Public Trustee (acting in the case of a mental hospital patient), Mr Justice Fair refused an application for a direction to the Public Trustee to pay the amount. His Honour said the estate of a mental patient must first provide for his maintenance, but in this case, the estate was obtained largely as a result of the solicitors' efforts. If the Minister in charge of mental hospitals agreed, the Public Trustee might quite properly pay the solicitors a sum up to £2OO. "TEN MINUTE ALIBI" J. C. WILLIAMSON'S COMPANY To-morrow afternoon at 2, and tomorrow evening at 8, and the two following nights the J. C: Williamson. Ltd.. New London dramatic company will present for the first time here Anthony Armstrong's thrilling dramatic sensation, "Ten Minute Alibi." which is still attracting record audiences in London, where it has been running continuously for close on three years. A large number of seats were booked at the D.I.C. yesterday for the approaching season, and from 3 o'clock this afternoon seats in the ordinary stalls may be booked at three shillings. This will enable patrons of this portion of the theatre to reserve their seats and thus avoid having to form in a queue at the theatre on Saturday. "Ten Minute Alibi" is something different in thrillers. We are all familiar with that irritating type of mystery play intending only to hoax an audience by leading up to a completely illogical denouement. Anthony Armstrong's play reverses that stock formula by inviting the audience to become, in effect, the murderer. Thus instead of lending our wits to Detec-tive-Inspector Pember and DetectiveSergeant Brace, who are called in to investigate the murder of Phillip Servilla, we become the murderer, sharing his mental anguish while the keen-minded Scotland Yard men test his alibi. At some time or other most peoplie speculate upon the possibility of committing a crime. The real murderer usually is careless in his technique because in nine times out of 10 murder is a passionate act. And when it comes to murder theory and action are not the same, but the stage, with a few colourable concessions to probability, can present the problem intellectually; and Mr Armstrong's play is first-class entertainment because he works out in perfect detail a hypothetical problem which cannot fail to interest everybody intensely. The Edgar Wallace school of "thriller" playwrights ; creates suspense by concealing the identity of the murderer until the Anal curtain, and we are so accustomed to the Wallace technique that most of us imagaine that without mystery there can be no suspense. There are many genuine laughs in "Ten Minute Alibi," and there is romance also in the story. The J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management was evidently very fortunate in procuring Mr George Thirlwell for the leading role, as he has been acclaimed as one of the most brilliant young actors who have visited New Zealand. Miss Jocelyn Howarth, since she appeared in tne screen production of "The Squatter's Daughter" has made rapid progress in her profession, and she has scored an outstanding success jn the role of Betty Findon. Mr Arundel Nixon, who plays the role of Philip Servilla, comes with a good reputation from England, and so does Mr Harold B. Meade, who takes the part of Sir Miles Standing. That fine actor. Mr Frank Bradley, has scored one of his best successes as Inspector-Detective Pember, and in his dramatic and humorous scenes he is ably assisted by' Mr Tommy Jay, a young detective-sergeant. Mr R. L. Atholwood is said to be particularly good in his role of Servilla's valet, and the cast also includes Richard Fair, and other notable artists. The scenery, stage effects, and the unique lighting effects are outstanding features of the production. Only three evening performances can be staged of "Ten Minute Alibi" and on Wednesday afternoon and evening and three following nights "The Wind and the Rain" will be produced, for which the plans will be opened on Monday next.