R. C. Sherriff’s New Play

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 928, 22 March 1930, Page 25

R. C. Sherriff’s New Play

Author of ‘‘Journey ’s End” Wants to be Schoolmaster H.AS KEPT HIS HEAD "Journey’s End” has achieved a year’s run in London, and the thing that people ask is: "Can Sherriff write another play?” writes William Pollock in the "Daily Mail.” Mr. Sherriff lias, for the past 12 months, been the most discussed playwright. It is familiar knowledge that he is a young man who was employed in insurance work and that “Journey’s End” has completely changed his life. His name has become internationally known, and he has made a great deal of money.

It will shortly be seen if he can write another successful play; he has coming along a comedy about a village, its cricket club, and its crack bowler, -and this much I can say from liis own mouth —no one is more terrified about R. C. Sherriff’s next play than R. C. Sherriff himself. That is j one of the penalties of having begun where most writers for the stage j never get. "Bob” Sherriff carries liis success j with astounding poise. He has kept 1 his head with the calmness of Jack Hobbs. He is a most likeable man, who has to fight himself not to appear shy, who talks with attractive, direct simplicity, and who has no affectations apart from faithfulness to grey flannel trousers. No doubt he is secretly awed by what has come upon him, but lie hides it so well’ that he never embarrasses you. Considering that he has found himself suddenly called upon to mix and consort with —and make frequent speeches to —all manner of supposedly important big-wigs his naturalness Is splendid. He is an excellent mixer because—for one reason —he does not try to act. He talks eagerly in a rather high voice, and he does not talk when he ought to lisen. Most people are extremely bad listeners. Sherriff is a good listener. He attends. I believe his memory is a rather wonderful one. It photographs and it absorbs. True, the impressions the war made upon him were impressions made on a young, fresh brain, but to recall them so vividly and accurately as he did in writing his play lias so far been beyond millions of other men. Since "Journey’s End” lots of men have gone about saying, “Why didn’t I think of writing it?” Well, Sherriff is the only one who has done it. He is tremendously keen on rowing and games—Rugger and cricket —and he. is a good companion. But I do wish he would give up his hankering to become a schoolmaster. I used to be a schoolmaster. Writing is better.

It is to be hoped that New Zealanders will see "The Poppy God,” during Leon Gordon’s coming visit to the Dominion. This is a play written by Leon Gordon and Le Rpy Clemens. The action of the drama takes place in the stateroom of a liner en route from Hong-Kong to San Francisco, and in a Chinese merchant’s house and an opium den in the Chinatown of San Francisco. It is a powerful play, with a wonderful part for Leon | Gordon who, in the New York produc- ! fion, achieved success. “The Poppy . God” has a fascinating Chinese atmosf phere, with thrilling action in the i prologue and three acts. An interestj ing feature of the cast is the appear- | ance of Nancy Gordon (Mrs. Leon ! Gordon) as Suie Ming, a Chinese girl.