“WHO ARE THEY?”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 July 1938, Page 9

“WHO ARE THEY?”

SUCCESSFUL PRODUCTION IN CARTERTON , GOOD WORK BY AMATEUR ’ COMPANY. ENTHUSIASTIC AUDIENCE. (“Times-Age” Special.) Ambitious in production and excellently played, Cosmo Hamilton’s threeact comedy-drama “Who Are They?” was presented at the Tivoli Theatre, Carterton, last night by the Carterton Amateur Comedy and Dramatic Club. A large audience received the play with enthusiasm. Few amateur clubs would have had the courage to attempt the production of this smart, sophisticated drama by such a modernist as Cosmo Hamilton. It called for rapid and intricate dialogue, while many of the characterisations involved heavy sustained efforts not commonly favoured by amateurs. Many of the parts required long lines, always a bugbear to new players who so often fall into the habit of dialectics rather than play-acting. Most if not all, of the players last night committed this fault, it is true, but not to the extent of spoiling the smoothness of the story by their display of elocutionary prowess.

The three acts of the play took place : in the living room of a country house where the Wellby family were marooned without servants. Mrs Wellby, a wealthy, indulgent mother, knew nothing of housekeeping without servants; her daughters knew less. As Constance said: “I can’t make tea, but can shake a lovely cocktail”; or as Betty said: “There’s no self-starter to the stove.” Amos, master of the house, was highly indignant at the lack of servants until the arrival of the third daughter Alice, who had engaged a party of Russian nobles prepared to sink their pride of birth in the interests of employment serving the Wellby family. z So the happy home ran on —with servants; but with servants who caused the various members of the Wellby family to fall in love with them. Mary Maudsley, however, friend of the Wellby’s, and writer of detective stories, was suspicious of these tragic “Russians” and engaged a detective to explode their claims to fame. He succeeded to a point, but the theft of valuable pictures was eventually proved to be the action oh another visitor, Gutheridge, while the “Russians” were merely unemployed actors adopting new roles in order to secure employment. So the story ended with the various love affairs duly straightened out and the dishonest Gutheridge in the hands of the capable detective. Mrs Wellby, played by Mrs V. L. Robinson, was the typical (wealthy, incapable mother. Mrs Robinson faithfully portrayed such a character even to the querulousness of one who needed but a cup of tea to overcome the most difficult and distressing circumstances. Miss S. Copeland brilliantly played the part of Constance, the girl-about-town, the vivacious, even cheeky, modern miss. Not-a situation embar-

rassed her. By sheer insousiance Miss Copeland captured the part without difficulty. As Betty, Miss N. Nicholls did well. Though nervous, which actually suited the character, she lost little of the ' finishing-school polish which the author really calls incompetence. The role of Amos Wellby was a difficult one and Mr D. Ward would be the first to admit it. Even so, he car- ■ ried off the long, angry declamations with considerable polish, the embar--1 rassed moments with artistic nervousness and the romantic love scenes with practised skill. , As Alice, Miss R. Chew- won com-

mendation for her silent admiration of the Grand Duke. Her spoken lines lacked finish, but nothing of the story suffered in any way. Not a syllable of the grandiloquent ; “Grand Duke Boris Igorivitch” escaped Mr R. Porter, who sustained all the difficult elements of a heavy part throughout. A Russian accent, fearful “memories” of the royal regime, the polish of the- perfect butler, or the honest admissions of the faker, all added to the difficulties of a part he played most capably. The blase, bachelor woman author. Mary Maudsley, was played by Mrs A. McPhee to whom every credit is due for a faithful portrayal. Even to the deliberate knowing air of one about to explode the whole hoax, Mrs McPhee carried all before her. Hers was a particularly clever performance. Foi- low comedy, Cosmo Hamilton depends in the play on Percy Wicks, the private detective engaged to convict the “Russians.” Splendidly cast in this part was Mr C. Potter, a natural comedian whose “That’s right!” will for long be a by-word among those ’

who saw the play. In minor parts well-performed were ! Miss Lorna Harris as the Princess who i thawed the icy heart of Amos; Messrs j J. Manley and S. Hall as the two nobles < turned servants; and Mr E. Healey j as Gutheridge, the dishonest art dealer. Following the performance many j presents and bouquets were presented j to members of the cast. Mr R. Forbes, chairnjan of the club, congratulated the members and the producer, Mrs Gibb Johnston, who had worked so hard to make a successful performance. Special praise was given to Mr H. Tankersley who painted the scenery. The Mayor, Mr D. L. Taverner, on behalf of the Plunket Society, whose fund would benefit as a result of the performance, congratulated Mrs Johnston and the cast and thanked the club for its efforts to aid the society.