DRAMA OF YOUTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 691, 17 June 1929, Page 15

DRAMA OF YOUTH

“YOUNG WOODLEY” AT HIS MAJESTY’S One outgrows one’s youth so quickly that the poignant little tragedies of that transient stage between boyhood and manhood are soon forgotten. But are those tragedies so small. An immature boy falls desperately in love. The inevitable happens. The sunshine seems to have gone from his life for C 'john Van .Druten, the author of “Young Woodley.'’ which will be presented at His Majesty’s for the last time this evening, portrays with sympathetic understanding problems of adolescence. In that lies its appeal. With equal understanding. _ Lewis Shaw interprets the part of oodle>, the prefect of "nearly eighteen.” who falls in love with his housemaster's voung and pretty wife. He has the technique of an actor of twice his age and experience. it would be difficult to imagine a more natural Mrs. Simmons than Natalie Moya, who captivates her audience as surely as she does the boy' behind the footlights. Frank Royde's housemaster is a masterpiece. To him, also, go the honours as producer. George Preston is convincing as the elegant Vining, who at IT is quite a man of the world, and a master of innuendo. Michael Macowan and Edward Ashley are equally at home as the other prefects. Agnes Dobson, as the parlourmaid, and Guv Hastings as Mr. Woodley, have not a great deal to do. but they do it remarkably well. It is a young cast, and the youngest of them all, and for that reason all the more praiseworthy, is Trevor Brogan. As the jam and ink-smeared fag Cope, he acts like a veteran. i The complete cast of “The Green ! Ghost." which Rupert Julian will direct , includes Roland Young. Ernest Torj rence, Natalie Moorhead. Polly Moran. ' John Roche. Richard Tucker. John j Miljan, Lionel Belraore, George Cooper. John Tjoder. Richard Travers and . Philip Strange, all Britishers.