REGINALD BERKLEY’S BEST PLAY

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1929, Page 2

REGINALD BERKLEY’S BEST PLAY

STORY OF FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE.

LONDON, Jau 11 ray ID

Mr Reginald Berkeley,' whom one may claim as a Nnw Zealander, has accomplished his best work in the new play “The Lady with a Lamp". He first came into prominence as the author of “French Leave.’’ Later “The White Chateau” at first as a broadcast play and then on the stage attracted great attention. “Air Abdiillan” had a short run and is stiil doing well as the successful musical comedy,

••Luckily Girl.” Then Mr Berkeley gained publicity as the author of the scenario of the much-discussed “Nurse Cavell” film. Now his Klorence Nightingale play has received very great praise form the critics. “'l’lie Lady with the Lamp” lias been running at the Arts Theatre Club tor abou 10 days, but it is more than Nicely that it will be transferred to some larger theatre where the general public may have the privilege of seeing it.

'Die playwright has based his play on one or two important points in the life of Florence Nightingale. He maintains that the popular belief that she was never in love was quite erroneous. She deliberately sacrificed her inclinations rightly suppressing her physical nature in order to be unfettered for her work This nun-like asceticism it is said bred a ruthless disregard for the disabilities of other people and of herself, and when her shadow fell across the life of Sidney Herbert—one of the most brilliant of tbe younger statesmen of early Victorian times—she drove him through successive stages of ill-health ami overwork to an early death. Despite the affection and reverence that she inspired among all classes and in all lands, official recognition was long withheld because she was a woman. !t came when she was blind and deal and «as using her mental [acuities.

We see Florence Nightingale first of nil as a girl at Embley Park Hampshire among her own people who naturally put contempt on her small efforts at nursing. To Lord Palmerston and to Sidney Herbert she declares her mission ,and both are sympathetic and encourage her. 'The autlir provides for her a rich and ardent lover Henry Treniayne. but Florence resists' his protestations although Hie admits that she loves him. Years later Treniayne still constant in his affection joins the army and appears again as a wounded corporal at the Scutari Hospital he dies in Miss Nightingale’s arms. This is the romantic incident of the play. It is well done and not obtfustive.

THE YEARS OF WORK

Six years later we see Florence Nightingale managing the ladies’ committee of a hospital. In the interval she has been carrying out Lord Palmerston anr Sidney Herbert act as the Government deputation to ask her to organise a hospital for the Crimea. Only one scene we have of the Scutari at the base can only be indicated by Hospital. 'Die magnitude of her task her combats with and victories over the Government officials.

Back in London in 1861 we find Miss Nightingale fighting untiringly with Government for army and hospital reform in India and elsewhere. At this time, too. is enacted the pathetic duel between Lady Herbert and 1' Lorence Nightingale. The former to save her husband’s life persuades him to resign from the Government tho greatest blow Florence Nightingale had had in the course of her work In a later scene, Lady Herbert conies in to announce the death of her husband. Tho story is taken up through the years to 1886, when Florence Nightingale, a woman of 66, is still working, and is evidently powerful enough to refuse an interview, even to Mr Gladstone, who has come without appointment. Finally the play is brought to a close by a scene pathetic and ironical in its tone. We see the old lady of 87 in a wheeled chair blind and helpless, receiving the Order of Merit the freedom of the City Of London and a tribute from the German Emperor. Sho knows nothing of what the georgeous Court officials are doing and saying. “All she can murmur is, ‘ 100 kind. Too kind!”

The chief part is taken bv Miss Edith Evans, and it is considered that seldom has this .accomplished actress had such an opportunity of displaying her ability.

AN EXQUISITE I’LAY

“The exquisite play,” is what the critic of the Sunday Observer says of the work. “1 shall he painfully surprised,” he goes on to say, “ if it is not hurriedly translerreil to a public playhouse. It is Mr Berkeley s best piece hv far, and it affords Miss Edith Evans her best part outside the range of artifical comedy. This, indeed, is her Saint Joan a Saint Joan sensational hose girlhood’s voices give one cleai call drains. Like the Shavian Joan, this Florence is the. devotee of common sense, the quiet assassin ol bogus ideal (in this case the womanly woman and the great man), and 11 lurious practitioner of work’s hot gospel, Miss Evans brings to the part a steely simplicity, her steel being .both the glittering magnet of personality and tho blade" that cuts away the jungles of obstruction and red tape.” The critic concludes by referring to Miss Evans. “And now Mr Berkeley has written her a part and a play which it would he monstrous to give only for a private view.”

A LIVING WOMAN. The Daily Telegraph .says:—“'Mr Bcginald Uerkelcv is the latset of these seekers after truth. Led. perhaps, by Mr Lytton Strachev. bo has ventured into the cloud surrounding ‘The Lady With a Lamp,,’ to see if ho can find Florence Nightingale for us; and having found her lias written about her his best play. “J. was brought up on the legend of Florence Nightingale, and accepted it Mention of her name conjured of a woman going round a hospital ward with a lamp in her band an a heavenly (if rather fatuous) smile on her face, pausing here and there to lay a cool hand on a fevered brow. “Hut Mr Strachey’s book, and now Mr Herkeley’s play, have substituted for that Christmas card angel a figure which may or not be the real Florence Nightingale but is at any rate a living woman-—a woman whom it is possible to understand and to admire whole-hoatredly; a woman who before she was able to carry her lamp through her wards, had fought a series of battles with her parents, with overhearing authorities, with muddle incompetence, jealousy, and prejudice: a woman who could, and did. make herself a scourge to her opponents and a galling spur to her colleagues—in short, a great woman with the defects of hor f qualities and no mere bloodies; mvtli.”