England Tiring of Sex Plays

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 412, 21 July 1928, Page 22

England Tiring of Sex Plays

Margaret Bannerman Gives Her Opinion

“The history of the English comedydrama since the war has been a succession of arresting indecencies.” Thus Margaret Bannerman, now appearing at the Criterion Theatre, Sydney, in the Somerset Maugham comedy, “Our Betters.” “Properly to understand the vogue ot the ultra-sex play in London,” she continues, “it must be remembered that, there, the theatre is only one of many counter-irritants for passing heavy time. Plays must be light and frothy. The greatest cat.ch-penny of all :is the succes de scandale. “Australia is different.

“You take the theatre seriously. It is your principal evening amusement. You would resent, I think, being served with a cream puff in place of a good dinner —and you would be right. “Imagine the last generation sitting out ‘The Vortex’! “The theme is a mother whose son discovers the life she is leading. Events culminate in the boy—he has become a drug addict—reviewing her career, and accusing her of sapping his own manhood. All this with a. wealth of epithet and allusion that leaves nothing to th e imagination! “Let me tell you something very significant. “The French bedroom comedy and drama have long been known for what the English call salacity. But the French are really a very moral nation whose attitude toward the conventional differs from ours in a way that points their candour and our hypocrisy. A famous French author saw ‘The Vortex’ with a view to securing it for Paris. He shook his head. ‘This, - he said, ‘will never do for France. We would not endure it. In my country a mother is holy.’ “I am certain that the reaction is already in sight. “Plays have gone so far that there is little left for them to exploit. Perversions have now come to the stage. That is the beginning of the end. “What is coming to take the place of the audacious? “Personally, I think I can see the signs of a revival of the comedy whose wit will be its chief charm, of picturesque costume drama, and of sen timental comedy-—a judicious blend of laughter and tears.” At the head of the English principals supporting Miss Bannerman is Francis Lister.