A GRAPHIC REPRODUCTION

Hokitika Guardian, 22 October 1920, Page 1

A GRAPHIC REPRODUCTION

The writer of “A .Woman’s Letter” dtscribes from London the production of ‘‘The Garden of Allah” at Drury Lane Theatre remarking:—‘This is really the great spectacle of the year. You all know the book and its story, and the minute descriptions Mr Robert .tiiciiens gives of the desert and the life there. Mr Arthur Coilins (lessee and manager) took every care that the text should be carefully presented by way of scenery. Ht went himself to Bisltara, and caused to be painted pictures of the landscape, the desert itself, the life there, the fat-topped roofs, and the native population. You get camels heavily laden coming over sandy wastes,, and miiles, sheep, and goats, skipping merrily over the undulating country. The llazaars seemed to bo built lifesize, aiid there was such a riot of sound, the harsh calling of the muezzin to prayer, the beating of gongs,. tramping of camels through the narrow streets, that the liflman interest seemed smaller, than its surroundings. However, the weak part of a dramatised novel is that one knows the story beforehand. Miss Madge Tithdradge played Domini very cleverly. She is small in stature for the Domini of the bookj : :,who was. ‘32 years of age, tall, broad shouldered, and emancipated.’ But Miss Tithcradge was entirely adequate, outside theso physical' attributes. The ex-M.onk Boris Androvsky was played with great feeling and taste by Godfrey Learie, a magnificent type of young man. He was rough, as behoves th c character for the most part of the play. His big scene in the desert when he discloses his past to Domini was a magnificent bit of work. And thc ending, where the two walk to thc gate of the Trappist Monastery and bid farewell, was as touching a thing as I remember on the stage. The Monks were returning from their day’s toil in the fields. The choir was chanting inside the church the ‘Magnificat’ at vesper time, while in the distance was the blue sea of Tunis Harbour. And there, after some touching farewells, Androvosky turned to his cloister, and Domini to the world. She was perfectly composed and content. A great mistake had been made, but the only reparation possible was made without a murmur on either side.”