“IDIOT’S DELIGHT”

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20734, 18 February 1939, Page 17 (Supplement)

“IDIOT’S DELIGHT”

STARTLING ANTI-WAR PLAY GREAT SUCCESS IN MELBOURNE ! I Reaching its climax amid the crash ( of high explosive bombs, Robert E. : Sherwood’s anti-war play, “Idiot’s Delight.” provided a new and startling experience at the King's Theatre, says la Melbourne paper. I Written by one of America’s brightest and most vital playwrights, it is a i curious and exciting blond of anti-war emotion, satire, romance and frank fun. | It is the best play that has been prej sented on the commercial stage here ; for entertainment, from its opening j scene in the cocktail lounge in the Hotel Loda. “on a mountain peak on the Continent of Europe, in any im- , minent year,” to the moment the hotel is bombed as the curtain falls, with the two leading characters singing with tragic irony, “Onward, Christian • Soldiers.” I Through all its clamorous outbursts against war and war-mongers, and its I pitiful pleas for war’s victims. “Idiot's [Delight” preserves its humour and is I lit with passages of tender sentiment. ! It Is a pl«v of force, sincerity, ! courage, and character, at once a sermon and a show. A Clever Cast j Possessor of an engaging personality. Henry Mollison. the English actor, ‘made his'Australian debut, as a Yankee .vaudeville manager who is touring six j American chorus-girls, and as the ! wise-cracking, hard-boiled but human Harry Van he acted with lightness and

J Though too subdued at the outset. : Lina Basquette grew upon her audience with a subtlety that revealed [ dramatic talent and the technique to express it. Passion and Strength 1 Lloyd Lamble (who gave such a vivid performance as Danny in “Night Must Fall” in New Zealand some years ago) put great sincerity and vigour into the part of the tragic communist, j Ill’s last scene. where nuMle-v flim s 1 discretion to the wind and denounces Fascist tyranny, had remarkable passion and strength. ( An impressive study of a slow-think-ing, humourless German scientist was I provided by Frank Bradley. Frank Harvey gave a well-sustained study of the callous munitions manufacturer. Achille Weber, and was particularly good in the scene where this odious person arranges with the Italians for Irene to he detained. Jane Conolly was a sweet and sincere Mrs Cherry, and John Wiltshire adoquatelv plaved the husband. Kathryn Crawford revelled in the part, of Shirley. leader of the chorus girls, and 'Charles Zoli gave a perfect miniature j study of a middle-aged conscripted i waiter.