GRAFTON AMATEURS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 155, 21 September 1927, Page 14

GRAFTON AMATEURS

AN INTERESTING PROGRAMME Working under almost primitive conditions, the Grafton Shakespeare and Dramatic Club is obtaining astonishing results. “We are unafraid” might be adopted as its motto. Where on one bill could one find a one-act play by Arnold Bennett, another by Susan Glaspell. a scene from Dickens, and a character recital from Shakespeare, as well as a couple of less pretentious pieces? Last evening such a programme was presented at the Grafton Hall, with most gratifying results to all concerned, despite the fact that the prompter's voice was a little too loud. “Suppressed Desires,” a one-act comedy by Susan Glaspell. Stephen Brewster Will Graham Henrietta Brewster Marie Gaudin Mabel Lowrie Palethorpe This is a delightful exposure of the methods and habits of a psycho-analy-tical wife. She is so keen on interpreting other people’s suppressed desires that her husband and her sister decide to turn the tables. The three people in the cast handled the theme with skill and underslandnig. Miss Palethorpe has an excellent knowledge of stage values and a good speaking voice. Miss Gaudin was admirable as a student of Freud. Mr. Graham was quite alive to the situations. “The Stepmother,” a one-act burlesque by Arnold Bennett. Cora Prout Winifred Softly Adrian Prout Lloys Grieve Thomas Gardner .. .. Arthur Woodham Christine Feversham .. .. Nancy Earl Mr. Bennett has chosen to ridicule the methods of the popular lady novelist and incidentally makes a jab at the newspapers in this amusing burlesque. But it is not burlesque of the hilarious order; Mr. Bennett’s cynicism slips out in every other line. Miss Earl made a commendable showing as the too-tolerant secretary tc Mrs. Prout, the Ethel Dellish author, played b3' Miss Softly. Mr. Grieve, the stepson who turns reporter, and Mr. Woodham played their parts with necessary restraint. “Bumble's Courtship,” from “Oliver Twist,” was very amusingly played by Mr. A. Valentine Penn (Mr. Bumble), Miss Catherine Chalmers (Mrs. Corney) and Miss Bessie Pilkington (a pauper). Miss Rosie Kidson gave a most satisfying recital of the mad scene from “Hamlet.” Miss Leila Eady chose popular monologues at the piano. Mr. Gainor Jackson’s recitation seemed rather out of its setting last evening.