“YOUNG WOODLEY”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 683, 7 June 1929, Page 15

“YOUNG WOODLEY”

GREAT CHARACTER PORTRAYALS It is said that, in London, ‘'Young woodley” was first banned by the censor, who later changed his mind and allowed it to be produced. Those who witness this delightful play at His Majesty’s Theatre on Tuesday next will probably agree that second thoughts are the best. The “.Daily Telegraph’s” Sydney critic says: “Young Woodley is a delightfud show, delightfully acted and delightfully staged. Sex —or sex repression—is certainly its basis, but the play pleases generally from start to finish, and has a great appeal. It is a simple school drama that improves as it develops. Whatever the moralists may say of the plot itself, all must agree that the company is as near perfection in casting and technique as could be desired. “Young Woodley,” a character rather than a public school youth, is excellently portrayed by Lewis Shaw, who is not yet in his twenties. He composed poetry, discussed morals, fell in love with his house-master’s young wife and defended her honour with a bread knife and school heroics with simple school-boy naturalness. “The housemaster, Frank Royde, who also produced the play, was excellent. For finished artistry his portrayal of the unimaginative disciplinarian, withal j bully and supreme egotist, stood alone. Xatalie Moya, as his wife, was shyly attractive and charming. Of the others, George Preston and Michael Macowan were well in character as Ainger and Milner. Trevor Brogan, the 11-year-old veteran of the company, won everybody’s sympathy and admiration as the persecuted fag. All he had to do was to go on the stage and be natural j There must be few boys who could ! have done the job so well.” “Young Woodley” will be played for i six nights only. The box plans opened | this morning at Lewis Lady. Ltd., and I judging *by the booking a big season j can be safely anticipated.