AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1931, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

“JOURNEY'S END.” A SPLENDID KEJ’HICSKNTATION. After many months of waiting Hokitika playgoers had the opportunity of greeting the mem hers of the Maurice Gordon Company in R. C. Sherriff’s notable play ‘‘Journey’s End,” last evening. There was a capital attendance and the Company had a capital reception, while during the many tense incidents of the production a. ( ;veritable silence showed the great interest ol the audience, who fully appreciated the points of the production, so ably presented by a purely male east.

There is one scene, representing a dug-out in the British trenches before St. Quentin between the evening of Monday, March 18, and the dawn ot Thursday, March 31, in the last year of the war. Every character is drawn true to life, and is truly presented, the British voices' being most acceptable after a surfeit of the American drawl conveyed through the medium of the ‘‘talkies.’? The primitive dug-out, dimly lit by candles, makes an effective settingt while the /■ reproduction of whizz-bangs, rifle grenades, “minnies.” ahd 'bursts' of" machine-gunfire- is well done, the. drumming of the big runs “up "Wipers way” adding a grim nccompanirhent. The climax lacks nothing in realism. A terrific bombardment, a direct liit, the crash of the dug-out roof, extinguishing the flicxeri'ng candies, then the silence of death, the scene being blotted out by the slowb’-d ra wn cu rtn in. Some of the language is expressive, but that is to be expected, and. it is not' -to veil'd (me. The Captain Stanhope of Mr Newson is. the outstanding performance. ■ -After the terrific strain of tliree yeai's in the front line, seeing his comrades go West one by one, his war-worn nerves rebelling, he seeks strength in the whisky bottle, hut never forgets’his duty, and makes good with officers and'men. At times, he raises a feeling of hostility by his domination, and then regains the sympathy of the audience. His is a splendid piece of acting, particularly in the tense scenes . .after. >'the.-. tragic, raid.,on the German •trenches; and ’in the concluding scene with the dying Raleigh. Perhaps the most lovable character is that of Lieutenant Osborne, as played hv Mr Hastings, who imparts to his performance that dignity and restraint naturally expected from a grey-haired schoolmaster thrown among younger men. His fine speaking voice is particularly enjoyable. As the hero-worshipping, gallant schoolboy, newly posted to the tine, Mr Harriot makes a manly SccondrLieut. Raliegh, and portrays to the life the. type of. young Englishman whopinnde the great sacrifice in thousands;-.; While awaiting zero hour, and ,passing the last minutes before the "raid, osKormw bo'khows lie is going .id almost certain Ljdoa.tb, and Raleigh, : are. splendid. As the typical Cockney, risen from , the ranks, Mr Chapman maiies van, entertaining Second-Limit. Trottei*, and he is joined in the comedy work'by Mr Gordon, as Privato Mason, the • cook- One of the most dimcult parts; is that of Second-Licut. Hihhert, who has the wind up badly, and ascribes it to neuralgia. Mr Henry makes-a success of "the part. Comparatively minor role's are satisfactorily" filled by Messrs Carter, Randall. and Heusbaw. The hearty applause which greeted the various ■ members of the company at the conclusion of the play was; well merited.

TO-NIGHT. The; Company appear again to-night whfen,' v “jchirney’s' End” will he repeated. We can recommend our readers hot to miss the representation given by the Company which throughout is of a most capable and realistic nature, with the many'splendid representations of % very fine combination.