“PRIVATE LIVES”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 December 1939, Page 2

“PRIVATE LIVES”

THESPIANS IN NOEL COWARD PLAY. An arrangement just concluded between the Wellington. Thespians and the Masterton Little Theatre Society, for the periodic interchange of visits, will shortly come into operation. From the Masterton point of view, the first action to be taken under the arrangement is a most fortunate one, for it will give Masterton playgoers the privilege of seeing the Thespians in their recent outstanding success “Private Lives.” When it is stated that on each of the three successive nights of the performance in Wellington last month the house was filled, and many were turned away, some idea may be gained of the success achieved. The play is by Noel Coward and no modern writer for the stage has been more versatile and ingenious. It is described as “An Intimate Comedy in Three Acts,” and, on its first production in London, scored an instantaneous success. It is a well-constructed, brilliantly written play, with something definite to say on modern problems of love and marriage, apart from its obvious mission to entertain as much as possible. In the Masterton performance, Miss Jackson and Mr Fowles will be seen in the parts in which, they achieved such success in Wellington, while other characters will be taken by Misses Doris Mildenhall and Mollie Cummings, and Mr Charles Johnston. The producer will be, as in Wellington, Mr Myles F. E. Wright, whose well-known skill is said to attain its zenith in this production. The Thespians’ performance is the first stage presentation in. New Zealand of ’Private Lives,’ and Masterton may, therefore, regard Itself as exceptionally favoured. The presentation is to take place at the Opera House on Saturday evening, December 16. The prices to be charged for admission (3s, 2s and Is ) are remarkably low in the circumstances.