“THE NEW MORALITY”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 968, 10 May 1930, Page 16

“THE NEW MORALITY”

A DELIGHTFUL COMEDY AIDING OBSTETRIC APPEAL “The New Morality,” a comedy in three acts, by Harold Chapin. Produced at the concert chamber last evening by Mrs. Zoe Bartley Baxter. CAST Ivor Jones Edward Churchouse. Betty Jones Mona Wallbank Alice Meyne .. •• .. .. Enid Mosking Wallace Wister Lees Bullot Geoffrey Bellisle . • .. Fred McCallum. Woo ton .. .. Alan McElwain. Lescelin© Audrey Perry. It is wrong for a grown man to go shopping for his neighbour's wife — particularly when the grown man has a temperamental wife. Such shopping excursions led to a disturbance on a house boat on the Thames, and incidentally Chapin’s de-

lightful comedy, "The New Morality.” Betty Jones was temperamental, and the summer apparently' was excruciatingly -hot. This was the excuse she used to engage in a feminine "row” with her neighbour’s wife, in which she admitted behaving like a fishwife. Its echo upset two households; there were threats of legal proceedings. However, it was all a question of jealousy. HIGH LEVEL Chapin’s comedy is smooth, and his dialogue is exceedingly subtle—so subtle in fact that it sometimes fails to get across the footlights unless played with the easy assurance of finished actors. The play from first to last remains on an unusually high level. It never descends to mediocrity, and never journeys into the realms of dramatic fervour. Incidentally, it tilts satirically at the "new morality.” Last evening their Excellencies Lord and. Lady Bledisloe attended the performance, and watched it with evident interest. Funds from the production will go in aid of the obstetric appeal. Acting honours in the production went to Miss Wallbank and Mr. Lees Bullot. The former shows distinct promise. She has a nice sense of the stage, and an appreciation of the quality of her lines. Mr. Lees Bullot delights in playing nervous parts, and does them excellently. Mr! McCallum played with his customary assurance. Miss Hosking, as a friend of the family, tried to pour oil on the troubled waters of the houseboat fracas. Mr. McElwain and Miss Perry disguised their ability in two small parts. The last performance will be given this evening. At the conclusion of last evening’s performance Dr. Hilda Northcroft expressed her gratification at the splendid response which had been made to the appeal.