BRIGHT COMEDY

Chronicle (Levin), 16 July 1948, Page 4

BRIGHT COMEDY

Successful Production By Playreaders . v"--The general standard, df the -presenlations this year hy the uevm Piayreaders has been on a mgh piane,. out Wednesday night's perrormance . was exceptionally goOd. " it was a-'pr&y that tne cold vy'earner kept many people in ' their •- nomes for the • cas& of "ForCed nancUng," 'the pomedy chosen this viioncn, was dese'r'ving of ' a much .arger audience. » ' Tnere was little in the reading whicn could oe criticiged, the mani faults being in rthe play.itself. Tne meniDers oi the'cast were ah good, but if tnere are any "bouquecs" to oe passed round •. one shouid go to ivirs. Enzabetn Hunt for her char-. • actensauon of Miss Julia V/hiutingnam. Those of the audience who saw Mrs. Hunr as the young, agiie and saucy Miss Crumo of a previous reading, "While The Sun Snines," scarceiy repognised her as the aged and loyeable great aunt of "Forced Landing." Her bearing, make up _ and toice control were perfecf and* she did full justice to the part. Her dramatic entrances and exits, how- ■ ever,- were a littie too frequent and one Degah to tire of even siich good acting. Tnis, however, was the faulc of ihe play and not 'the player. Tne play, which was written by Wilfred Massey, was in • three acts, • with two scenes in the final act. ic told the story of ' a widower whose only tangible assets are his two daughters and a' charming "Old Worid" courtesy. His continuous experimenis on the stock exchange" have led him to a life of mobility — dodging iandladies and the law. As his daughter Bobby said of him: "They don't bother to summons you now, Daddy. They just send yoti a postcard, 'See you Monday.'" Into the picture steps a true fairy godmofher, who extends to her godchildren and their father an invitation to take up residence in a bungalow in Kent, and it is here ' that the first scene opens. W-hat ■ she'negiects to tell them, however," is that her two great nephews, a young artist and an equally youthful author of lofty ideals, and a , common hatf.ed of all f emininity, have been living in the cottage, I Bohemian style, for some time. During the turmoil which follows tfte uniting of -these opposite forces, .the great aunt herself arrives and reveals that her plan is to f Drce * 'the ' daughters and 'yoiiths ' 'to ' marrj, thinking that- by this- means 1 they 1 Will become useful' eitizens and - cdrry on the nam£ of her-' hoiisehold. With the plan, o.f course, •goes guaranteed future security and wealth. Human nature being what it is, however, her plan 'did not work out as she ha'd willed, but > she does gain.her.objective eventually and in a more natural way, the father completing the matter by falling* -in love with "the great aunt's companion-help.*- Of pourse, there must be£Mvihain in the piece and he turns up in the-form of an uricle of the two youths, whp has successfully "managed" the financial affairs of , the old lady to, his own financial betterment: "'Ih'the final scene, however, his activities are uncovered and he is made to disgorge his ill-goften gains and all ends. happily. The Players As the father (Christopher Brandon), Mr. A. A. Savell was quite convincing but pould haVe made more jof the part. His -reading .would have been improved by bet^ fcer intonation. Otherwise hp lived up to the person he was characteri ising. In the daughters (Shirley and Bobbie Brandon) , Misses tfoan „ Clough and Marie Pescini were most suited to their parts. In Miss Pescini the playreaders have found a natural young aptress who should go a long way. She gives the impression of being quite at home on the stage and has a natural flair for the "impish" manner she was required to adopt. Miss Clough was also convincing and possesses an easy manner. Messrs. John Norton and Peter Nichol, as the two nephews (George and Nick Whitingham), played their parts exceptionally well, though perhaps at times a little over zealous. A little more practice at working as a pair in their synchronised utterances and expressions might have made for improvement, As.an eccentric spinster, with an eye on Christopher Brandon as a prospective husband, Mrs. J. Black (Mrs, Bannister) was excellent. As George and Nick's aunt (Marion Craddock), Miss Gladys Rowley was good, but she failed to get the tone pne would expect from the womaii she was portraying, into her voice. Miss Joan 'Cockrell, as the great aunt's companion (Helen), did not have as prominent a par't as the other players, but 'she filled her role well. ; > - Mr. H. H. Baumber, a-s- the uncle (Andrew Beamish), did not utilise the full scope th^t his part allowed, with- the result that he was not al~ ways convincing. Generally, however, -his acting » and reading was good. Most of the faults in the play were of a nature that copld be eliminated with more practices, but this of course is impossible in readings, and the Levin Playreaders are doing well in bringing readfngs almost up to the standard of productions, This month's producer, Mns. A. A, Savell, is to be cpngratulated. The stage settings were attended to in "detail and there were no lengthy waits betweem acts. "The dresses were good and we^e chqnged when necessary between apts with commendable promptitiide. The play generally was good and the audience appreciative.