“WHAT EVERY WOMAN KNOWS”

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 58, 2 December 1926, Page 5

“WHAT EVERY WOMAN KNOWS”

TRAINING COI/LEGE STUDENTS’ PRESENTATION. : The plays of Sir James Barrie have I an appeal that is irresistible, and when performed, which is seldom in New Zealand, they usually succeed in drawing large attendances. They present great difficulty to the amateur, however, and on this account the Dramatic Society of the Wellington Teachers* Training College deserves all praise for the manner in which Barrie’s “What Every ■Woman Knows" was acted on Tuesday night. The college hall was crowded long before . the play began, a fatrt that leads one to believe that the society would bo well advised to stage its future productions in »the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. The story of “What Every Woman Knows” is familiar to all lovers of drama. The play opens in Glasgow, where the Wylies, father anil sons, are discussing the chances of obtaining a husband for the only daughter, Maggie, who is popularly supposed to be without charm. An unforeseen happening, however, enables them to clinch a bargain with John Shand, the ambitious railway porter who nightly studies by stealth in the Wylies’ sitting-room, using the books which they are too uneducated to understand. Ambitious to continue his studies at Glasgow University, he consents, for a consideration of <£3oo, to marry Maggie at the end of six years. Those six years quickly pass away. Ue is elected to the House of Commons; the prospect of a dazzling career fills his vision, blinding him to lhe devotion of the woman who has secretly spent the leisure of the past six year' in fitting herself to be his intellectual helpmate. His speeches—with their "Shanilisms” introduced, unbeknown to him, by his wife—are' the ndmiiation of the House. John Shand, who is proud of never having laughted in his life, actually acquires a reputation for a wit which is not nis cwn. At length, the wonder of the world is revealed to him in a consuming love lor the beautiful Lady Sybil Tenterden. For her ho is willing to lose all, even his career, and begin life again with her only as his guide and inspiration. The chance is given him. the inspiration is tried, only to be found hopelessly wanting, and John Shand realises where his real help has come from. As he aoes so, he laughs for the first time in his intensely serious life. One could hardly find serioiis fault with any of tbo performers in the Training College production of this play. J. Thomas made a very appealing A lick Wylie, and made the most of the pathos of the part.' F. Cutler played ttie part of James Wylie excellently, and his work at the end of the first act cannot be tio highly commended. The part of David Wylie was quite well played by H. Read, though his enunciation was not all that could be desired. This was perhaps owing to the fnpt that the first act was entirely in dialect, which must have made the work of the actors much harder than it would have otherwise been. Nevertheless, the Scots acceprt was well affected by all the

players. As .Maggie Wylie, Miss Mary Cooley was exceptionally good. The part of John Shand himself was played by E. G. Smith, who made an unqualified success of it. His air of self-sptisfae lion and determination was well affected and he spoke his lines well right throughout the play. The audience was vorv naturall.v delighted with the work of Miss M. Watson-, who took the part of the Comtesso de hi Briere. She was perhaps the most outstanding figure in (he whole performan'e. As the beautiful hut empty-headed Lady Sybil. Miss M. Burnlev was verv sood, and played n verv difficult role well. K- Mclntyre was verv natural as Chns. X enab.es, M.P.. and. what is more, he looked the part One must nnt fo-get. cither, roc mob' which hails Shand’s success with such great enthusiasm: the only marring element was the persistence with winch one gentleman were a black silk hat with a grey suit. Altogether the performance was a grant success, and all lhe nerformers arc to be congratulated on their consistently rood acting Incidental music was rcndoro-l by the college orchestra, which, under H’e baton of Miss Joyce, played very well indeed.