"LABURNUM GROVE"

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 59, 2 December 1937, Page 6

"LABURNUM GROVE"

a • * ■ Successful Presentation oi Priestley Comedy THE REPERTORY PLAYERS "Laburnum Grove," the three-act eomedy by J. B. Priestly, was presented by tke Napier Bepertory Players, in the Foresters' Hall, Napier, last night. CAST: George Radfern ... Gordon Johansen Betective-Inspector . . Gordon Madigan Dorothy Red^rn .. Mrs. P. O'Connell Bernard Baxter .... Louis Sweeny Xiixcy Baxter ...... Miss Eileen CaMll Elsie Redfern Miss Pat Baker Joe Flettern ............ G. E. Tyler Elsie's fianeee Brian King Police Sergeant .... John Fairclough (Produced by Miss May MacDonald) 1 The delightful subtle humour of u Laburnum Grove" found adequate expression in th© sonnd presentation given this Priestley comedy by the Players. Judging from the prolonged applause at the final curtain, all who attended were fnlly appreciative. ' Hononrs for a natural characterisajtion and thorough understanding of the part he had to play must go to Mt. Johansen. His handling of the by no means easy charaeter of George Radfern was something to be Temembered. There was just the right tonch of quiet hnmonr, just the right degree of goodnatttred duplieity, to make the likeable and. very, very respectable counterfeiter, with his quiet suburban home and gaTden, a very real person to the watchers beyond the footlights. His Snterview with the detective-inspector (Mt Madigan) was a distinct triumph for both actors. This is the part where the play most approaches real drama, but neither Mr Johansen nor Mr Madigan lost his sense of proportion. Lncy Baxter, Mrs. Redfern's sister, was ably portjayed by Miss Cahill. The part was one that could very easily be overdone, and it is to Miss Cahill's credit that she carried off 'even Lucy's frequent bursts of temper without over-acting. Elsie, young, inexperienced and very fcrusting daughter of the Bedferns was handled by Miss Baker a little uncertainly at first, but very capably indeed, as the play went along. 3n fact, the whole cast improved as they warmed to their wori:, and one .magines that to-night's performance will be even beiter than last night's. Dorothy, Redfern's wif e, who beKeved him to be in the "wholesale paper trade/' gave Mrs. O'Connell an opportunity of whieh she availed her■elf to the full. Mr. Sweeney, as Bernard Baxt.T (Lucy's self-opinionated and good-for-nothing husband, who had been "out East" and took great pains to let everyone know it) claimed a good proportion of the laughs. 'X'lie part was handled with a naturalness and understanding that did him credit. Por straight comedy, however, Mr, Tyler took the audience's eye. Applause greeted his avery appearance as Joe Flettern, a Dartmoor ' 'Old Boy" with a feigned intercst in greenhouses and a very real interest in Badf ern's illegal "business;" As Elsie's fianeee, who wants to borrow from her f ather to start a business, and leaves her in the lureh when he discovers that Bedfern is not so respectable after all, Mr. King had a small but by no means simple part. However, but for a few lapses from . audibility, he carried it off well. Mr. John Pairclongh appeared as a sergeant of police. The producer, Miss May MacDonald, the stage manager, Mr. G. E. Tyler, and his assistant, Mr. G. Johansen, are to be complimented on the naturalness the players achieved throughdut, and on the all-round clarity of the dialogue. Mrs. W. G. Wood's settings added much to an altogether successful production. The intervals between acts were filled in by items hy the Chamber Orchestra, nnder the direction of Mr. Frank Hunt.