"HINDLE WAKES"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 45, 17 November 1919, Page 3

"HINDLE WAKES"

ALLAN WILKIE SEASON. . I "Hindis Wakes," a place in three acls, j by Stanley Houghton, Cast:— Nathaniel Jeffcot'o Allan Wilkie '■ Mrs. Jeffcoto Lorna Forbes Allan Jcifcote Gerald Harcourt. Christopher Hawthorn Guy Hastings Itrß. Hawthorn Hele;i Fergus Kir Timothy Farrar Edward Landor ; Beatrice Farrar Mildred Oarlton Fanny Hawthorn IWi'wydo Hunter-Watts A page rough-tor., uoni Lancashire life is "Hinille Wakes," tho three-act problem play submitted . by the Allan Wilkie Company to a ciowded audience on Saturday evening. The problem id discusses is not new—indeed it is world oid -but Air. Stanley Houghton has given it a new- and gripping setting, and presented it with 11 force, directness, and naturalness (that compels an absorbing interest from that moment when the audience begins to sense the true significance of tho argument. It was to be resretted that for the first half-hour on Saturday evening tho gallery insisted upon regarding the play as farcical comedy, niisliakius its broad, straight allusions to a dclicato subject as laughter-compelling lines, wlien tliev wc:t! really part of a strong dramatic situation—a dramatic Hood which grows steadily and surely until'the surprise denouement five .minutes before the final curtain, It may "Kindle . Wakes" means the holidays enioved bv the manufacturing town of Hindle. and it is during "tho wakes" that Fanny Hawthorne, ono of tho weavers in Nathaniel Jefi'cote's cotton mill, goes oil lo Blackpool, and there meeting young Allan Jcifcote, goes off with him for tho week-end to Llandudno. The 'play commences with old Chris. Hawthorne and his wife waiting for their daughter's tcturri, Although they know nothing of what has occurred there is that in the air v.'hich conveys tho impression that something dread nil has happened. Fanny outers defiant, lies about her adventures, is bowled out, and admits her sin. Mrs. Hawthorne insists that her husband 6hall see Allan's father that night and insist upon tho right thing being done. Nathaniel Jeffcoto is a dour, <*ilf-lipped, strong, reliant self-made man, proud of his own character, his success, tho "brass" lie.has accumulated, proud thai ho is the ono "who wears tho breeches" in his own home. He has a deep liking for his old employee Hawthorne, with whom he worked at the loom and wore clogs as a lad, and he is sympathetic when old Chris tells him his troubl*. about Fanny, promising to "sack the man" if ho does not wed her. He is staggered to learn that the culprit is his own son, Allan, who at the time is engaged to be married to Beatrice Farrav (daughter of another wealthy mill-owner in- Hindle). Still old Nat. sets his jaw grimly, and decides that his boy must wed Fanny—tho Hawthornes must bo treated right, even though his fondest dreams bo shattered by it. Poor Mrs. Joffcote is not worried by the principles that obess her obstinate husband. Speaking of her soipsho wails: "How could he do it? I'm sure ho never got it from my side of the family!" " 'Appon ho got it irom Adam!" is tho laconic reply of her unperturbed master. Motherliko sho puts the blame on tho girl, and thinks tho wholo thing can be squared with money, but old Nat. is rock-like in his determination "to treat 'em reet, though it should break his wifo's heart and his own pride. A fienno of interest is that in which old Sir Timothy Farrar is told tho story. Being a gay old ruffler himself, he fakes it as a joke, suggests that a little money will fix every, thing, and backs up Allan in the latter's objection to marrying Fanny; but when Jeffcote senior conies down -with tho sledge-hammer blow that if Allan does not marry Fanny his "brass" would go clsawhere, the- specious Sir Timothy changes his grotesque tune. On tho following night the Hawthornes and Jeffcotes meet in solemn conclave to discuss tho whole situation. It is agreed that Allan shall break off tho engagement with Beatrice- and marry Fanny, when suddenly Fanny, who has remained silent through tlia conference, breaks in and •ipseU'tbo plan by declaring that she will not marry Allan. After a storm the young, people aro left together to see if they cannot arrive at an understanding, but Fanny's attitude in relation to the , Llandudno episode is that she was just i out "for a bit of fun," just as Allan was, and did not lovo him at all. The members of 'both famil'cs reassemble; Fanny reasserts her decision, and independence of them all, which clears the, way for Allan to make up again to Beatrice. "Well, a'nlm teat!" is all old Nat Jeffcoto can say in reflecting on tho wreck on a hidden rock of all his inflexibly good in I rations. The performance of the play, was surprisingly satisfying. .Mr. Wilkio haa never done anything quite eo gocd as his Nathaniul Jcifcote.. Ho simply breathed tho grim imperturbability and stout virtue of tho-Lancashire mill-owner, never allowing the, vivid portrait to fade for an instant. Tho Fanny Hawthorne of Miss Frediswydo Hunter-Watts was another clean, incisive character study. It is a logical, if not a sympathy-com-pelling role, and Miss Hunter-Watts wa6 quietly and artistically effectivo in every 6cwie. Tho emphasis and eager dominancy of Miss Helen Fergus as Mrs. Hawthorne were in effective contrast to the spiritless. Hawthorno of Mr. Guy Hastings, who was well within the author's intention. Sir Timothy Farrar was played < with rare unction and humour by Mr. Edward Landor (the original in the role), whose Lancashire dialect was the. best on tho stage. Miss Lorna Forbes made a likeable Mrs. Jeffcote, though she dropped thedialect in places. Mr. Gerald Harcourt looked Allan Jeffcote, but his work wns on the weak side, and Miss Mildred Carlton as Beatrice subdued her > voice until she was almost inaudible, j There was nothing to suggest n reason i for the scene between Allan and Beatrice being spoken in half-tones. As the result it was'the only one in which the interest was allowed lo drop. "Hindle Wakes"' ivjll' be given three more performances.