A SPLENDID IDEA.

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 22, 27 January 1938, Page 21

A SPLENDID IDEA.

Forbes .Randolph, a Canadian by birth, is the chief force behind the newly-formed Playgoersl < Guild, London. He has produced many plays in America; The Whitehall Theatre saw the guild's first production,- a mystery drama fey E- G. Hemmerde, K.C., and Cicely Fraser. It was called "The Dead Hand/1 Margaretta Scott, who is also making a name for herself on the-films, played the only woman in the.cast, which also included Godfrey Kenton, H. A* Saintsbury, Arthur Chesney, J. Fisher White, Frank Petley, G. H. Mulcaster, and Arthur Young. The opening production was followed in turn by a dramatisation of L. A. G Strong'snovel "The Brothers" and "The Mysterious. Mrs. Charlemont<" by a new auth6r, Katherine Kaye. The encouragement of young actors and playwrights is one .of the objects of the guild,/which charges no membership, fee, but on each subscription there is a substantial reduction from the usual box-office prices. Mr. Randolph advises playwrights to look for their subjects m real life, and not to think merely in terms of effective theatrical situations. He has been busy reading hundreds of plays since the guild commenced activities.;