“LADY FREDERICK”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 188, 29 October 1927, Page 22 (Supplement)

“LADY FREDERICK”

GRAFTON AMATEURS IN MANGHAM PLAY “Lady Frederick” a comedy by Somerset Maugham. Presented at the Grafton Hall by the Grafton Shakesperean and Dramatic Club. CAST: Marchioness of Mereston Miss C. L. Chalmers Paradine Fouldes .. Mr. Ernest Blair Marquess of Mereston Mr. Rex Fairburn Lady Frederick Berolles Mrs. Frank. Turner Sir Gerald O'Mara .. Mr. L. Grjeve Admiral Carlisle . . Mr. S. M. Yallop Rose Miss Winifred Bate Captain Montgomerie Mr. A. R. Duncan Lady Frederick’s Maid Miss Merle Cox Lady Frederick’s Dressmaker Miss Nell Lush “Lady Frederick” was the final performance for this year of the Grafton Shakespearean and Dramatic Club. It is one of Maugham’s early efforts and shows him very nearly at his worst — artificial, shallow and very “stagey.” However, the players overcame the faults of the play sufficiently to provide the large audience with good entertainment.

Mrs. Turner, an accomplished actress, won the success of the evening in the title role. She periodically ran into debt, as a result of “economising,” with a grace which captured the hearts of her men. Mrs. Turner has a good stage presence and the ability to lift her part to the illusion of reality. Her acting was most effective in the scene with the young and infatuated Marquis of Mereston, when she cures him by asking him to her boudoir and letting him into the secrets of her toilet.

Miss Chalmers made a sufficiently forbidding Marchioness of Mereston. Miss Lush, as the dressmaker, gave a thoroughly artistic interpretation of the part. Mr. Blair, as the worldly and waggish brother of the Marchioness, was reponsible for some first-class work. Mr. Blair is one of the best amateur actors in Auckland, and shows a remarkable versatility in the wide range of parts he plays. His producing of the play as usual, showed much thought. Mr. Duncan’s presentation of the money-lender’s son who has social aspirations, and wishes to climb into high society by a marriage de convenance with Lady Frederick, was quite sound. Miss Bate was very pleasing as the newly-betrothed Rose, and Mr. Grieve as her lover was affectionate, If not quite dashing enough. These two appeared for the first time in a public performance, and both show distinct promise. Miss Cox as the maid, Mr. Yallop as the Admiral, and Mr. Fairburn as the Marquis of Mereston, were satisfactory. Mr. Fairburn would be well advised to speak more slowly, as from where we were sitting, halfway down the hall, his words were sometimes difficult to follow.

It was suggested in the County Court i in Melbourne recently by Judge Macin- | doe that counsel frequently instruct | their clients how to dress to make the ; best appeal in court. Adele Blythe, an actress, of Clifton j Hill, is claiming £99 damages from Bye and Bye, hairdressers. She alleges that after a permanent wave her hair was changed in its colour and was dull and brittle. Mr. Magennis, for the defendant company, asked Miss Thomas, an employee of Bye and Bye, who operated on Miss Blythe, whether plaintiff’s hair looked as well as it coLild be made to look when she appeared in court. All*. Gunson (for Miss Blythe): Y'ou don’t suggest she made it look poorly for the purposes of this case? Judge Macindoe: Why not? Didn’t Sir Edward Clarke, an English K.C., make a practice of telling his clients how to dress to come to court? Don’t counsel do it now?