TWO CONTRASTING PLAYS
QUADRILLE, by Noel Coward; William Heinemann; Australian. price, 10/9. THAT MAN HARTINGTON, by Claude Evans; The Pegasus Press, Christchurch. MR. COWARD does it again. And *"" how adroitly, wittily and entertainingly he writes, and with what ease and polish! But how nearly impossible to play without the Lunts for whom it was devised. Quadrille is Coward at his best. It is set in the eighteen-seventies, .so that infidelities are in period and character. The tenuous plot is dexterously
woven, and the sentiment is poignant without > becoming cloying. For all that, I continue to look to Mr. Coward for an "important" play, which may be folly, like seeking apples on an apricot tree, Quadrille is probably not for New Zealand, however, and would be dynamite for amateurs. Claude Evans has given us several plays, most of them so nearly good that some day he must surely bring out a winner, That Man Hartington does pot quite make the grade, in spite of a felicity of invention and an interesting setting. The dénouement is contrived and reduces the intensity of the drama to a storm in a teacup; yet the play lacks the humour and subtlety of char-
acterisation necessary for a cynicalphilosophical treatment, which would probably have been the best way df dealing with the plot. The story is about a solicitor who misappropriates his clients’ funds. Everv-
thing depends on the characterisation of Hartington, for the sub-plot and minor twists are not inspired. I do not think Hartington is a profound’ enough creation. In places the dialogue is stilted and does not flow easily and naturally; _Several of the characters are stock; there are faults galore. And yet ... and PR ee I would like to acclaim this play; there is so much that is good and sound about it. Indeed, in the theatre it might just get by with a really brilliant performance in the lead. In the study it is difficult not to be ruthless, just when most anxious to praise and encourage.
John V.
Trevor
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 28, Issue 718, 17 April 1953, Page 12
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339TWO CONTRASTING PLAYS New Zealand Listener, Volume 28, Issue 718, 17 April 1953, Page 12
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