MUNICIPAL THEATRE

Southland Times, Issue 18849, 15 June 1920, Page 6

MUNICIPAL THEATRE

ALLAN WILK IK DRAMATIC COMPANY. ‘ THE ROTTERS.” What a pleasure it is to renew acquaintance with English comedy! After a course of American plays with their sickly sentimentality ami their heavy-footed humour, it is refreshing to he aide to look upon a play full of incisive humour and subtle shafts of satire, where the comedy is not carefully labelled like an American newspaper cartoon, where the little things of life are dissected and their emptiness shown relentlessly. In “The Rotters,” Mr H. F. Mfilthy has constructed a tale of a ■‘respectable family"* and a treatise on snobbery. People arc inclined to reserve snobbery for the sections of the community to uhich they do not belong and as “The Rotters” is laid in a small town in the Midlands of the Old Country, New Zealanders fire able to enjoy its merciless, exposure of “respectability” with an easy conscience. The play deals wiFh the family of Clugslon, the head of which is Councillor John Clugston, J.P., a man who would be hailed by the members of his own party as an eminently valued citizen, a man of merit and of substance, lie is a diseiple of Respectability and he pursues with all the vigour of a fanatic those men who stand in the way of his petty ambitions. Unhappily a falling away comes into bis own home. Brick after brick in (he fabric comes tumbling to the ground and finally the skeleton in the ancient cupboard of John Clugslon stalks into his dining-room and puts him at the mercy of those members of his family whom he had been ready to punish ferociously a lew minutes before so that bis own record for respectability should not be besmirched. The story is told in dialogue that is sparkling without being unnatural, in situations that are exceedingly funny without being forced. There is only one pieee of extravagance in the entire play, the entrance of a Police Inspector, who borders u;f.;u the burlesque. He is undoubtedly funny, but rather out of place in such a well-turned play. Mr Maltby is a new author to this part of the world, but his next production will he looked forward to with interest. He is an excellent limner of character and one finds in “The Rotters” a line collection of skilfully executed portraits, all of them different, all of them (with the exception of the police official for whom one can blame the actor) true. It need not be suggested that in any Midland town the exact counterpart of John Clugslon could be found, but he is typical of his circumstances and Mr Maltby has weighed him justly. The other members of the family are equally well drawn and with the chauffeur, who had been to Eton and Oxford, they make a remarkably line collection in one of the cleverest plays that have been here in many years. It is a. pity that “The Rotters” is not being played again, because the audience that enjoyed it lust night will want to recommend it to so many of their friends that there is sure to he much disappointment at there being no opportunity for seeing it. Taken all in all the interpretation given by the Allan Wilkie Dramatic Company last night, was excellent. Edward Landor in the part of John Clugston gave a fine study, marred here and there by a suggestion of deliberation, but for all that a pieee of work of which any actor might he justly proud. Clugston in many ways reminds one of a small-town edition of Roebuck Ramsden in “Man and Superman” and Mr Landor would probably find the G. B. Shaw character as well suited to Ids talents. Allan Wilkie appeared as the chauffeur. For a perfect representation of Charles Berry one would have required a little more blandness, but with that rservation Mr Wilkie’s version was admirable. The actor has a reputation as Shakespearean actor and he has made many friends with his work in the highly coloured roles that make modern melodrama, but his exhibition of skill in English comedy comes as a pleasant surprise, and it will greatly increase the regard in which he is held. Felix iliand as Percy Clugston, the son of the J.P., was also very good. Miss Frcdiswyde Hunter-V alts was inclined to be indistinct in the opening scenes, but after that she made no misstep and her picture of Winnie Clugston, the daughter of the family who falls in love with the handsome chauffeur was full of merit. She is well suited to plays of this class and one may hope to see more of her in them. Miss Helen Fergus as Mrs Clugston was responsible for an able piece of work. From the first entrance she was careful to keep the character in line with the past, and t he skill with which she preserved this balance was only recognisable ns the play wore on and the details of Mrs Clugston’.s early life were explained. .Miss \era St. John as the youthful daughter Estelle was also worthy of high praise. It was not an easy part, but she never overstepped the limits of any of the situations really gave one of the most attractive perlormanccs in a cost of all-round excellence. The play went well throughout and the company at the conclusion were treated to thoroughly deserved applause.

•TIIK LUCK OF THE NAVY.” To-night Mr Allan Wilkie will present for the last night of his season the great naval success “The Luck of the Navy.” Speaking of the production the Dominion, Wellington, says: "There was again a packed attendance at the Grand Opera House last evening when the Allan Wilkie Company pave their second performance of the great naval drama "The Luck of the Navy.” The author has evidently caught the popular taste, for the action of the piece was followed with the greatest interest and there were frequent outbursts of applause. The plot concerns the advantures of (he commander of a British submarine who finds himself enmeshed by a pang of German spies while he is the guest of a society hostess in England. The situations are thrilling, the drama is magnificently mounted, the costumes are stylish and the uniforms smart and up-to-date. Sir Allan Wilkie figures' in the congenial role of the hero in which he excels. Miss Frediswydo Hunter-Watts appears as Cynthia F.dcn, the hero's fiancee, with pleasing effect.' 1