PLAY READING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 September 1943, Page 2

PLAY READING

LITTLE THEATRE SOCIETY “THIS WOMAN BUSINESS” Probably the most delighted audience of the season greeted the Masterton Little Theatre Society’s reading last evening of Ben W. Levy’s three-act comedy, “This Woman Business.” The play is delightfully, and goodhumouredly, satirical of the misogymist attitude, and throughout scintillates with wit and humour. Nevertheless, it is not an easy play to “put over,” and, with a less capable cast, the reading could not have been the success it undoubtedly was. The male parts, in particular, were remarkably well cast and skilfully handled. The female parts were also intelligently read. It is pleasing to find minor parts handled with as much care as the more pretentious parts, and in this respect, also, the reading was most satisfying. In particular, the very small part of a pert maid became, in its reading, a little gem. The reading was under the direction of Mrs S. M. Cresswell. The complete cast was as follows:Hodges (the host), Mr J. A. Kennedy; Honey (a poet), Cpl. C. Beavis; Nettlebank (a maid), Miss P. Turner; Crofts (an explorer), Mr M. M. Simpson; Albert Brown (a business man), Mr J. B. Kent-Johnston; Sir Arthur Bingham (a High Court judge), Mr MacKenzie Douglas; Trent (butler), Mr A. W. Don; Jean Crawford, Miss I. Stewart; Addleshaw, Mr L. T. Daniell; stage directions, Mrs S. M. Cresswell.

The next reading, on October 13, will consist of a group of one-act plays.