‘OUTWARD BOUND’

Evening Star, Issue 22452, 24 September 1936, Page 7

‘OUTWARD BOUND ’

AMUSING AND ARTISTIC ALLEGORY LITTLE THEATRE PRODUCTION For its fourth major production the Dunedin, Little Theatre Society last night staged ‘Outward Bound,’ a play dealing with the occult, and achieved a considerable measure of success. In this three-act play skill of a high order is displayed, by the author, Sutton Vane, in his juxtaposition of humorous and tragic elements. Aspects of life after death are involved in the plot, and the topic is handled in an enthralling manner, so that, despite the uncanniness of the theme, the play is expeptionally entertaining. Though the author presents his theme with dignity and reverence, tho first two acts are plentifully furnished with rich humour, which culminates in intensely dramatic situations and ends on a tragic note; The play introduces a mixed party of passengers, such a party as one may see embarking on an ocean liner from our own ports almost every day. _ As the plot develops it becomes manifest that they are all dead and voyaging on a veritable death ship—a craft _ without captain, officers, or crew, without lights or navigation instruments, ancl without any means of propulsion. The conversations of the passengers are entirely about earthly subjects, and their opinions, desires, and prejudices are all mundane. It is only when Tom Prior, a young, dissipated libertine, discovers that the liner is without means of propulsion that he realises his fellowpassengers and he are all dead, but they become incredulous when he acquaints them with the fact. In a most entertaining manner the terrible truth becomes known to them. The play up to this point is light and even humorous, but now it runs on to intensely dramatic scenes, even bordering on the tragic. In the last act the destination is reached and the Examiner comes aboard, and, as he passes judgment on each, the audience realises how cleverly the author has played on the frailties of the characters. Despite the thoughtprovoking nature of the pi ay, there is an abundance of bright and witty dialogue, and the scenes and situations are dexterously handled. Such a play, it will be realised, provided a fairly severe test for amateurs, yet tho interpretation given was highly creditable. There were certainly weaknesses in the cast, and the producer was handicapped by the inadequate stage settings, which in no way assisted the dramatic illusion, but as an entertainment the play was very acceptable to those present. Mr H. H. Westwood made a successful study of the character of Scrubby, the steward, who alone was aware at tho outset that his passengers, like himself, had all crossed the border-line that divides the here from the hereafter, though they preserved their earthly idiosyncracies in word and action. In make-up and manner he maintained the illusion very effectively, the white face with fixed gaze helping the suggestion of the supernatural, Mr Gordon Whitta gave an effective portrayal of the young fellow' who has set out to drink himself to death, and Mr E. Fish impersonated with success the clergyman off duty." As Mr Lingley, the passenger, who prides himself on his business and possession of money, Mr George Marks mostly gave a good study, after an indifferent start, of a character who is brought up with a round turn by the Examiner. Clever work was offered by Elsie Stephens as Mrs Cliveden-Banks, this objectionable character being portrayed with entertaining emphasis. She is everyone’s superior till the point where the Examiner discloses her record, -which proves to be a not very creditable one. Mr C. Clementson and Alice Clarke w'ere cast as Ann and Henry, the pair of passionate lovers who had committed suicide when on earth and who drifted mournfully about the stage hand in hand, exhibiting acute anxiety, when they found out what was before them at the end of the voyage, as to the nature of their punishment. They made a wistful pair of lovers, but some of the pathetic things- they said Lo each other were at times lost on the audience. Isobel Clarke contributed good work, especially in the last scene, as Mrs Midget, an ex-charwoman. Mr B. Sullivan represented the Examiner, who came on board at the end of the voyage to assess rewards and punishments earned by _ the disembodied spirits by their actions on earth, and spoke his lines distinctly and well. ‘ Outward Bound,’ of which tho producer was Mr Ernest Griffen and the stage manager Mr A. H. Lawrenson, will- be staged again to-night and on Friday and Saturday nights.