A New Play By Sherriff

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1046, 9 August 1930, Page 27

A New Play By Sherriff

Not One-Play Author TRUE PICTURE OF PEOPLE How R. C. Sherriff was able to write “Journey’s End” was clearly shown by his new play, “Badger’s Green,” at the Prince of Wales Theatre (writes a London critic). All the world has been told that “Badger’s Green” was written before the war play, and has since been revised and altered. Well, the spirit of this cricket comedy, and the wellobserved types of ordinary Englishmen, form almost a prologue to “Journey’s End.” Not a Fluke It was clearly shown, too, that there is no question of Sherriff being a oneplay author. The terseness and naturalness of dialogue which made “Journey’s End,” aud the characterisation which made it easy to act, were not a fluke. A writer who can make characters rival themselves by dialogue aud action is a dramatist. In many ways “Badger’s Green” was more difficult to write than “Journey’s End.” For the war was a big subject. Tragedy was almosts readymade in the reaction of the characters to its horrors. In “Badger’s Green” the author has had but little assistance from his subject. The Play’s Strength In fact, there are moments in the play before the final excitement of the cricket match which ends the jealousies of Dr. Wetherby, president of the cricket club, and Major Forrester, its captain, when the play sags from the slightness of its material. The strength of the play lies in its characterisation and its unexaggerated humour. Dr. Wetherby, dictatorial and kindhearted; Major Forrester, a retired army man to the life; Mr. Twigg, the gentle secretary, given to catching butterflies (not from blood-lust, as he carefully explains); (he landlord of the Blue Boar; Mr. Butler, the speculative builder; and a bewildered village maidservant, have been splendidly observed. A True Picture We believe in them, and we live their lives, and feel quite indignant that Mr. Bu(ler should desire to build a garden city round Badger's Green. The play is as good as a day in the country. All who have played village cricket will feel their pulses stir in watching (he telegraph board at (he entrance to the tent, and will he delighted that the old doctor .carried his bat, and that Mr. Butler, persuaded at the last minute to play, made the winking hit off his knuckles. “A wonderful day,” murmurs the old doctor when ho is alone in the tent, recovering from his exertions. Yes, it has been a wonderful day, for not only has the match been won, but the speculative builder promises to find another site for his bungalow town. Spirit of Cricket Such is the humanising spirit of cricket. Horaces Hodges, as the doctor, and Sebastian Smith, as the pathetic secretary, who injures his hand in making a hatstand, and cannot play, only to find that his work will not stand the weight of a coat, give performances which show what our English comedians can do. Louis Goodrich, Felix Aylmer, and Frederick Burtweil are excellent, too.