Little Theatre Presents Interesting Play

Chronicle (Levin), 9 August 1949, Page 4

Little Theatre Presents Interesting Play

A record. audfence attended the' Levin Littfe Theatre Society -s read- 5 ing of "Th'e Winslow Boy" by Terrence Rattigan. " This interesting play,. based on an. actual case,, tells of the efiorts of- a favher to prove his son's innocence vrhen he is expelled froip the Ro.yal Nava], Collpge, for the theft ' pf a five 'shillings postal prder. The father persuades Sir Rob.ert Mo.rton, the fcest and most expensive a'Uorney in the land to take up the case and finally after two years -of effo.rt the case is discussed in the House qf Copimohs and a Petition of Right is obtained, thus allowing the case oi ""VVinslow versus the ' Crown" tb, come tp Court. Ultima.tely the case is heayd and "right" isf done."' Warreri "Prayers" as Ronnie .(the Winslow bpy) gave a very good per'fofmance, particularly When beihg 'cross-examined hy Sir Rob.eft Mprton. Ile spoke out well apd could" be heard clearly from the bqck pt the hall. Some of the older players could take a lesson from him in this respect. ' Violet, the family heln. wbs played bv Mrs.

Johnson and ahho'ugh a small part it was well done. In the role pf Grace Winslow, the mother, Mrs. Hinde' §gain treated Levin audiences to some fine acting. Arthur Winslow, the father, taken hy Professor F. P. Wilson, was a little hard 'to' hear at the beginning a.nd was perhaps not quite stern errough at first, but fie warmed to the part and gave a most'ehjoyable performance. The- part of Catherine Winslow, the daughter of the house, Was,capably handled 'b,y Mrs. M. Kirkcaldie. Dickie Winslow, Ronnie's brother, who. is forced to leave Oxford when the expense of the case becomes too much'for the father, was played hy Ppier Nichol, who gave an excellent perfpripance, ieavihg fittle to be desired. The part of Dssmond Curry, the family solicitor and one time

cricket star, was adequatelv file'd by Mr. John TomlinsonV Mr. Alan Hercus gave a good performance in the part of John Weatherstone, .Gatherine's fiance, who deserts her in the final stages of the play . As Miss Barnes, the woman reporter, a good piece of character acting was segn ori the part of Mrs. E. Hunt. The'honours for the evening gO' to Mr. G. Ball fpr his masterly portrayal of the rather difflcult character of Sir Robert Morton. Although at timesi ra.ther "book-conscious," he gave an excellent interpretation of the part and is toi be congratula'ced on a fine effort. The p'ay- was produced by Mr. "James Todd and, apart fro.m some rather bad 'timing, it was very capably handled. The Society is to •be commende'd for attempting a more ambitious type of play.