‘THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE’

Evening Star, Issue 23369, 12 September 1939, Page 3

‘THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE’

SUCCESSFUL AMATEUR PERFORMANCE ‘ The Devil’s Disciple,’ one of Bernard Shaw’s Three Plays for Puritans, which was staged by the Dunedin Training College Dramatic Club last night, opens “ at a most wretched hour between a black night and a wintry morning in the year 1777. Mrs Dudgeon, of New Hampshire, is sitting in the kitchen and general dwelling room of her farm on the outskirts of the town of Westerbridge.” Students of history will recognise the time and the place as being in the midst of the American Revolution, and Shaw’s play deals with the fortunes and misfortunes of two families, the Dudgeons and the Andersens, who fall foul of the British military authorities. Richard Dudgeon openly declares, his allegiance to Satan and is known as “ the Devil’s Disciple,” while Anthony Anderson is a Presbyterian minister; and with typical Shavian satire one is played against the other, yet both are adroitly made to emerge as heroes. Richard, to the disgust of the conventional members of the family, inherits the bulk of his father’s estate and proceeds to gratuitously, yet quite pleasantly, insult the disappointed relatives. Pastor Anderson, however, bears him no ill-will, and it is while the Devil’s Disciple is left for an hour alone with Mrs Anderson that the British soldiers arrest him as a rebel in mistake for the pastor. Richard, for no particular reason, if not out of pity for the young wife, refrains from undeceiving the soldiery, and when Anderson returns he determines to make off in the guise of Richard. He reappears, however, at an opportune moment as an envoy from the rebel camp, in time to save Richard from the gallows, and, incidentally, to recapture his wife’s affections. That, m short, is the story, and there is plenty of scope in it for flashes of wit and shafts of satire; jibes at British incapacity in the handling of the rifle and success in the use of red tape not being forgotten.

The role of 'Richard Dudgeon, it will be admitted, is not an easy one to assume, and Mr G. H. Boyes must be commended for his handling of it, especially in the earlier scenes, where he, was suavely satanic in dealing with those shocked relatives at the reading of his father’s will. Later, in the court martial scene, he was not quite so effective, nevertheless it was altogether a very creditable effort. Miss E. M. Cameron, as Judith Anderson, wife of the pastor, did remarkably well. This, too, is an arduous role, and the young lady made it an attractive one in every respect. The emotional scenes were well controlled, and only once, just prior to her husband’s- departure after Richard’s arrest, did her voice fade away to inaudibility. As Pastor Anderson Mr C. A. M‘Nish was just a little too placid in the early scenes, it being difficult at times to hear him, but when the martial spirit eventually submerged the clerical a distinct improvement took place, and he finished quite well. Two of the smaller parts stood out prominently—namely, Mrs Dudgeon, the bitter-tongued, disillusioned mother, and General Burgoyne, the suave and gentlemanly British officer. These parts were taken respectively by Miss E. E. Weir and Mr N. M. Colvin, and though the appearance in each case was limited to one act, they created a very favourable impression. Mr G. F. Hood as the half-witted Christy ivas quite good, too. Other parts were adequately filled by Miss V. M. Romans (Essie), Mr J. D. F. Melser (Lawyer Hawkins), Mr P. J. L. M’Namara (Uncle William), Miss R. M. Morgan (Mrs William), Mr O. A. Roseveare (Uncle Titus). Miss F M'Til tyre (Mrs Titus), Mr E. A. Peek (Sergeant), Mr TL J. Dunne (Major Swindon), and Mr A. G. M’Beth (Mr Brudenell). The production was in the hands of Mrs E. A. Barrowclough and Mr F. L. C. Scrivener.

The play was staged in the spacious and well-appointed new hall at the college, and a large audience acclaimed is = as a pronounced success, which, as a matter of fact, it was. There will he a second performance to-night.