"THE CIRCLE"

Taupo Times, Volume 11, Issue 75, 24 June 1953, Page 2

"THE CIRCLE"

FINE C.A.S. PRODUCTION The second event of the Community Arts Service 1953 Taupo season was the presentation, by a strong cast, of Somerset Maugham's play "The Circl.e" on June 8th, It was natural that since the foundation of its Dramatic Society last yeair Taupo should look forward to this performance. It could be expected that the audience would be more critical than previously, but the C.A.S. did not disappoint and maintained thteir high reputation for providing excellent entertaiment. There was a crowded house. "The Circle'" is a comedy of two eternal triangles, in which Lady Kitty (V.era Fausset)^ mother of Arnold Champion-Cheney, M.P. (Kenneth Akerman), tries to prevent her daughter-in-law Elizabet'b (Noeline Pritchard) from making the same mistake that she herself made 30 year s before, when she ran away with, and ruined the catreer of Lord Porteous (Willis Williams), a budding Prime Minister, now.a drunken sot. Arnold's father, Clive Champion-Cheney (Howard Biddlestone), , thought he had found the solution when he advised his son to offer to g.ive his wifc he:r freedom of choice, but the plan w.ent awry. While this was Kenneth Akerman's fourth visit to Taupo, it was his first big part. T'hougk he was more the artist and collector of furniture than the ambitious politician, he gave an excellent performance as the young M.P. pfepared, on his father rs advice, to offer to sacrifice his careeir for his wife's happiness. As Elizabeth, his wife, Noeline Pritchard, who was one of the three sisters in "Beauty and the Beast," gave a really good characterisation of the struggle between love and loyalty; in which love eventually won. Geoffrey Wren mad.e a charming boyish lover as Edward Luton, the businessman fironl Malaya. Howard Biddlestc^ne, whose first visit to Taupo was with the'"Merchant of Venice" last year, when he was new to the eountry, gave a delightful interpretation of Clive Champion-Cheney the worldly-wise a^etired politician who thought he knew feminine failings. Willis Williams and Vera Fausset, in their respectiye parts of the sour old reprobate, Lord Porteous, and the skittish Lady Kitty, gave most convincing performances, and together with Howard Biddlestone, as Clive, the third corner of that particular triangle, provided some of the most pleasing humour in the play, partieularly in the Bridge and Patience scene, Rosalie Seddan, who has enjoyed a good deal of overseas experience, carried off the small part of Mrs Shenstone very well and may be expected to appear in larger roles later. Peter Earley and Anne Rhod.es filled minor roles as the butler and miaid. The play was produced by Hairold Baigent, assisted Vy Margaret Simmons, with Patric Carey as Stage Direetor. Kenneth Ling was Stage Managcr, assisted by Ann.e Rhodes. Both Margaret Simmons and Kenneth Ling are well known to Taupo audiences for their parts in previous C.A.S. plays. — G.A. A, The C.A.S. Committee aire grateful to those who kindly billeted the rn.embers of the Company. (