"WATCH ON THE RHINE"

Chronicle (Levin), 11 September 1948, Page 4

"WATCH ON THE RHINE"

Playreaders Stage Year's Top Performance The Levin Playreaders have this year staged some outstan'ding performance, but it is dpubtful if any of them have touched the standard of Lillian Hellman's "Watch on the Rhine," the play chosen by Mr. N. A, Byrne, this month's producer, and staged this week. With a wealth of producing experience behind him, and possessing qonsiderable dramatic ability, Mr._ Byrne, who himself took a leading part, was obviously the mainstay of the performance. He had with -him an excellent team, notable among them # being a comparative newcomer to the Levin Playreading circle, namely Jack Kisseli, who displayed outstanding ability. It is to be hoped that the Levin public wiii see a great deal more of him, perhaps in the production which the playreaders are now planning. Those who_ saw the presentation of "Dover Road" earliej: in the' year might remember his excellent characterisation of Leonard. Alan Hercus seemed -to find his niche in the characterisation of David Farrelly. It was well done and he excelled some of his previous roles. ' Also worthy of special mention was Mrs. Rathbone, who fully portrayed her part, particularly in a dramatic scene at the close of the play. Three college pupils in the east were also outstanding. The story -tells of the . effofts made by a German family to fight Nazi-ism, the father, Kurt Muller, belonging to a band of staunch Germans, deeply feared and sought by the authorities. Kurt brings his family, American-born wife, Sara (Mrs. Rathbone), and their three children, Babette (Marie Pescini), Joshua (Brian Collett) and Bodo (Warren Travers) to America, where he intends to collect funds for the work of his band. It is at the home of* his mother-in-law that all the three acts take place. Into the picture comes a Rumanian noblemari, Count De Brancovis (Jack Kisseli), and his wife, Marthe (Sheila • Jackson) . Apart from there being little love lost between the two, De Brancovis is also a self-appointed agent for any foreign country willing to pay his price for information: As a guest in the house it takes him little time to find out 'that' Muller is a wanted man, a fact thdt eventually .leads to: * hisr - -sudden demise, 'as Muller shows himself to be not'a -m^n to take nptiee of threats. ; ' As "Anise," 'a foreign housekeeper to the family, Mrs. Hesp proved ' to be' 'well east. She acquired an accent very well indeed and carried it through. Some of her utterances were of a humorous hature, but she failed on most occasions to wait for the laughs, a fault which was noticeable with other. readers. Considering that she was reading from script, as were, of course, the others, Mrs. Hesp made the most of her dramatic parts. As Fanny Farrelly, the hostess (Mrs. J. Todd) , ably carried out her part, giving a true picture of that lady. Alaft Hercus took the part of David, her son, most creditably and Sheila Jackson was quite convincing as the Countess De Brancovis. As aforementioned, Jack Kisseli was most realistic in his role as the Count and did not once slip in the accent which he so creditably acquired. Mr. Byrne was flawless in his part as Kurt Muller, and he was well supported by Mrs. Rathbone as his wife. The three "children" in the play, taken by Marie Pescini, Brian Collett and Warren Travers, were a credit to the Horowhenua College of which they are pupils. As German was spoken • frequently throughout the ''play, particularly by the Muller family, this must have meant an additional problem to Mr. Byrne, but the result was most praiseworthy. As a Negro servant, John Norton made frequent appearances and carried otit his part well. Altogether there was little to criticise and much to praise in this month's performance, and the iarger audience than usual was quick to show its appreciatipn when the curtain fell on tlie final act.