NEW PLAYS AND OLD

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 189, 7 May 1940, Page 12

NEW PLAYS AND OLD

Theatrical Attractions In London TWO REVIVALS OF NOTE

(By

H.P.)

London seldom fails to provide a variety of theatrical entertainment for its thousands of visitors, no matter the time of the year, the severity ot the weather, or the intensity of the international situation. Judging by the news which left London at the end ot. March the theatres had apparently quite got over the blackout handicap, and were, for the most part, doing very well. The Berlin broadcaster with the Oxford accent has been immortalized in a laughter show, entitled simply “Haw-Haw,” which has been running to chuckles at the Holborn Empire. But there are really many more important shows in London than this ludicrous trifle, which has ridicule as its chief offensive. A Masterpiece. The alw’ays amusing and sometimes brilliant James Agate, of the “Sunday Observer” (Loudon), has pronounced Sean O’Casey’s latest play, “The Star Turns Red,” a masterpiece. Probably that is why it is being played at the somewhat obscure Unity Theatre by two alternative casts of amateurs. These masterpieces do not. usually appeal to the commercial theatre manager. Mr. ilgate writes: — “Mr. O’Casey’s play is a masterpiece. ‘Aljaybra,’ says a character, ■has nothing to do with hanging festoonsat a right-angle!’ The passion, pathos, humour, and, above all, poetry with which this great play is hung, are there for all the world to see_ and hear, and I shall leave it to the Y.C.L. to decide whether the festoons are at the correct left-angle or not. The angle, as another Irish playwright would have said, is immaterial. _ Further to be advanced oh this play's , behalf are its drive, Its variety—-the four acts constitute a globe of four continents—its perfect setting- in the Ireland of ‘today or tomorrow.’ I find the piece to be a magnum opus of compassion and a revolutionary work. I see in it a flame of propaganda tempered to the condition of dramatic art, as an Elizabethan understood that art. ... “I came away impressed above all by a verbal splendour which can throw away: ‘Where’s his “Workers of the world, unite!” now? Hid in the dust of his mouth and lost in the still pool of his darken’d eyes!’ upon a minor character. Shakespeare’s prodigality again, which could give the ‘luted traveller’ jewel to a First Murderer. Now, at last, Mr. O’Casey has achieved that toward which in ‘The Silver Tassie’ and ‘Within the Gates’ he was feeling his way. Now in this great play are eye, ear, and mind all satisfied, provided they are the eye, ear, and mind of a playgoer sitting in a theatre, and not of a politico-economic actuary totting up this and tatting about whether it comes to that.”

Another Clemence Dane Play.

Those who remember the many good plays Clemence Dane has written will be pleased to learn that she has added another to the list in “Cousin Muriel,” in which Edith Evans and Peggy Ashcroft are appearing to advantage at the Globe Theatre. Then Empty 'Williams (author of “Night Must Fail”) is in the public eye once more, and that at a time when his “The Corn is Green” is still running along. The new play is “The Light of Heart,” a play of serious intent for all its title. Many in New Zealand will be glad to hear that Ralph Lynn, the ass in so many of Ben Travers’s comedies, has returned to favour in a comedy entitled “Nap Hand” at the Aldwych. Ralph’s eye-glass and mouthful of teeth never seem to pall on the London playgoer. His erstwhile companion in comedy, Robertson Hare, is still plugging along nicely in “Spotted Dick.”

Interesting Revivals.

During the last two months there have been two revivals of note. One is “The Beggar’s Opera” (Gay), directed by John Gielgud, at the Baymarket, and the other is “Doctor Faustus,” the. ancient play by Chris Marlow, contemporary of William Shakespeare. The latter performance is not being exactly thrust upon. West End theatre-goers, for it is being enacted in the Kudolf Steiner Hall, Baker Street. Still, it certainly stirs up the memory to think that this old plav should have the dust shaken out of "its leaves at such a time as the present. Uevue always holds its own in wartime. So we have once more to chronicle the fact that “Me and My Girl,” at the Victoria Palace, and “Under Your Hat.” C. B. Cochrane’s “Lights Up,'’ and “Funny Side Up” are still running to payable business. To these iropular musical frivolities one must now add “Moonshine” with Gillie Potter and Company, and a grand revival of “The White Horse Inn at the Coliseum. Jessie Matthews and. Sonnie Hale are appearing in the lightsome “Come Out to Play’ at the Phoenix, while George Black’s crazy gang are at the Palladium in “The Little Dog Laughed.” . In higher grade music Sadler’s Weils was presenting a new opera season, including “H Trovatore,” “La Traviata," “La Boheme,” and “The Barber of Seville.” On Good Friday night “The Messiah” was gloriously sung at the Queen’s Hall under the baton ol Dr. Malcolm Sargent, with Elsie Suddaly, Muriel Brunskill. Webster Booth ami Robert Easton as principals.