Levin Playreaders Present "April In August"

Chronicle (Levin), 20 August 1948, Page 4

Levin Playreaders Present "April In August"

The August reading of the Leyin Playreaders, "April In Augustf' was presented in the Horo whenua CoK lege hall on Wednesday night. The play Was very capably produced ..by Mr. James Todd, who had assembled a strong cast to portray% the characters of the story. Credit is due, top, to pro'dpcer and piayers for the high standard that was enjoyed e6ns.ide.ring they had stepped in at short nqtice, and with little rehearsing beforehand. The play itself takes place in the couptry home of a Dr. Walter Dale (Mr, H, Baumber) and his wife Agatha (Mrs. P. Rathbone) ,.and ihe story is woven primarily armmd the romance of Martin Kingsford (Mr. G, Wilkinson) and Rosalind Cowley (Mrs. N. Thornley) , who are visiting the, ' Dales. Difficulties in the romance have. arisen through the' uncertainty of Rosalind's husbaud agreeing to a divorce and this upsets. Martin's plan of buying Apple Tree Farm, which is on the market and already sought after by a neighbQuring farmer. Also staying ip the house are Tony Dale (Mr. A. Couzins), the doctor's son, and his Wife, Muriel (Mrs. A. Hereus) , who, after three months of married lil'e, have just reached the difficult period when each wants ta assert his own rights. Muriel insists en the justice qf complete equality between. men and women even if she does not intend-to act on it, while^ the more old-fashioned Tony rt-* fused to see it her way. Futher complications oceur when a strange young 19-year-old in the person of Olga Van Der Linde (Miss M. Walker) arrives in a most- unconventional manner, while Rosalind is away for the night conferring with her solicitors. Olga f alls in love with Martin . at first signt and he, for a moment, forgets he is over forty'and matches her adoration with a sudden feeling of spring in the summer of his fife. When Rosalind returns, however, with her divorce suit arranged, Martin quickly realised the foolishriess of his dreams and the impossible situation that has arisen. Qthers in the family are not -slow to inform Rosalind of Martin's behaviour but h'is careful explanation to her about the many parts that go to make up a man, together with the sudden disappearance of Olga, rounds off the story in a happy ending. Meanwhile, Agatha has instructed Muriel in the ways of placat|ng an injured husband, and the Jyo'uhg couple are happily united once morq. Throughout the play I the Rev. MacDonell (Mr A. Parton) 'keeps popping in and out with advice and information, some of which is acted- upon by the househqld. , Altogether the play was very ' satisfactory and the producer succeeded in dressing the stage in a convincing manner.