THREE ONE-ACT PLAYS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 524, 29 November 1928, Page 15

THREE ONE-ACT PLAYS

LITTLE THEATRE’S SUCCESS PACKED HOUSE FOR TRIPLE BILL A thoughtful echo of the Avar by Harold Brighouse, one of A. A. Milne’s delightful and amusing fancies, and a few minutes of gloom and horror with Richard Hughes, make up the Little Theatre Society’s latest production. The universal desire for one-act piays finds an echo in Auckland, for the Concert Chamber was packed \ t evening to pay tribute to the sincere work of the society. Once more the producer, Mr. Kenneth Brampton, nas combined good entertainment with stage-craft which is worth while, and plays, if one exeepts Milne, which do not come entirely within the realms of commercial popularity. That, of course, reflects credit on everyone concerned. “MAID OF FRANCE" By liaTold Brighcure / CAST Jeanne D’Arc Yoslinde McVeagh Blanche Beryi Nettle ton Paul F. W. Parker Fred John Stewart Gerald Harold Haines “Maid of France” is easily the best performance of the triple bill. The five characters have been splendidly cast and the play itself is characteristic of P.righouse at his best. It is fantastic, if you will, but beneath the surface is the spirit of France and the spirit of England, suggested by two soldiers. The figure of Jeanne IT Are is the symbol of old hatred —the poilu and the Tommy, symbols of a new friendship and understanding, a little of which may have disappeared since Brighouse wrote his play. Miss McVeagh, clad in her coat of mail and armour, made an ideal Joan of Arc. Her nice sense of dramatic values, allied with a fine appearance; and a good voice, made her performance an outstanding one. Mr. Stewart and Mr. Barker shared the honours as the two soldiers. Each gave a well-balanced performance—each suited his part to perfection. Mr. Haines gave prominence to a small part by his accomplished interpretation of it. Miss Nettleton’s floAver girl was a delightful study. “THE BOV COMES HOME By A. A. Milne CAST Phillip Roberts Tole Uncle James Zante Wood At\pt Emily .. Susan Moncrieft' McCallum Mary Cherry Anderson Mrs Higgins Ailsa Hackett Milne writes the most charming trifles about very little, and woos us into believdng that they are really important by his delicate craftsmanship and admirable sense of situation. “The Boy Comes Home’’ belongs to the war period, but it still has the freshness and the lightness which are essentially n Milne. -ur. Tole gave us another of those polished performances Little Theatre audiences now expect from him. He always plays his parts with discrimination. Mr. Wood seemed to attack his part a little too vigorously, particularly in the dream episode. Otherwise lie was excellent and a decided acquisition to the society. Mrs. McCallum can always be relied on to make the most of a part, no matter how small. She has an admirable appreciation of .stage values. Miss Anderson and Miss Hackett did all that was required of them in the subsidiary roles of this amusing one-act. “DANGER" By Richard Hughes Played by an unknown cast. “Danger,” originally Avritten, we believe. tor the wireless, is not a great contribution to the drama, but it is an interesting experiment. Played rn pitch darkness by an unknown (?) cast and accompanied by deafening explosions .and the eerife gurgle of water, it provided sufficient thrills for the audience, even if it failed to carry conviction. Three people trapped in a coal mine would have behaved in a much more terrified manner to our way of thinking. The

“noises off’ were amazingly real and effective. The rescue from the mine was the most realistic part of this play, the whole effect of which must be grained by sound alone. The incidental music arranged by Mrs. Charles Prime fell pleasantly on the ear at each interval. The set>sou will end oil Saturday.