Playreaders Present Comedy Thriller

Chronicle (Levin), 16 May 1949, Page 4

Playreaders Present Comedy Thriller

Eor their May reading the Levin Playreaders chose Falklahd Cai'ey'S Comedy- thriPer "Cahdied Pee1.5' A new prodncer was added to the Society's list in Mrs. M. Whitaker^ and the excellent manner in which the piay was presented ieft littie doubt as to her capabilities. i j "Cahdied pveel" has a different twist.to it in that the maln eharacter, .James Orders.y.,. invites a housefu' of guests do'wn for the weekend after an attempt has been .ma.de to poison him with arsenic, in the speeiai confeetion oi candied peel that 'he is always eating. \ After informing his gUestS, hiost of whom haye some reason for Wishing him out Of the Way, of this atu.emp.ted murder he retires and • it is later annoanced that he is dead. Imrne'diately an Inspector Harris arrives and begins questioning all those in the house. Thnn •consternation reigns when James Grdersiy reappears ahd admits that his "dea.h" was nothing but a triek to exbose the muMerer. This Ordersiy himse;f proceeds to do, using praeticaliy the who'e of the third act pver it. This long drawn-out third act tends to detract from what btherwiss might ,bc a, good piay. The comedy touches are well written and the uhusual procedure of a man retiring to his room "dead," leaving his guests to squabble and question as they may, makes a change of technique that deserves a more polished finish, The followihg cest carried out their parts in excehent manner, only oceasionaly slow cueing and movement tending to hold up the conti'nuity: . Mesdames E. Johnson, J. Black, M. Whitaker, and P. Rathbohe, Misses Marie Pescini, Joan Cockrell, and Ruth WCli^ms. and Messrs. H. Tomlinson. H, Baumber, F. Baumber, J. Todd and ACan Hercus. In the usual manner which is now ekpected of the society5 the stage decor was efficiently and pleasantiy done, not the least of which were the bowls of beautiful autumn leaves. Those people interested in the legitimate stage who have not yet wiihessed a monthly reading Should . hot hesitate to attend one as soon as possible, for thev are assured of an evening of good entertainment.