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The Spike or Victoria University College Review 1935

We are Amused

We are Amused

Once again 1935 saw a Redmond Phillips Extravaganza. This year, however, it degenerated into a scramble and race to reach even mediocre form. The late start, the first-term vacation and the Town Hall, all were responsible; while the failure of people to turn up to re-hearsals, made the job almost impossible.

Redmond Phillips' manuscript was good and left little to be desired. His own acting was excellent but the show itself was poor. Thoroughly good scenes and situations flopped.

The plot (and a very good one) related the doings of Peccadillo, company-promoter, and his undoings at the hands of Alice, the Chartered Accountant, commissioned by the Government to report on the internal management of the Peccadillo Companies. Peccadillo flies to the Island of Framboises, to exploit the floor of the sea, but is frustrated by "that truly great social constellation," the leader of the mermaids, Mrs. PhloxGilliflower, daughter of Hon. Ineptune, M.L.C. As the author says, "Monapeds and bipeds, led by Peccadillo, become involved in a fierce fracas. (It was!). The play culminates in scenes of indescribable confusion. (It did!). Such message as it contains lies too deep for words."

Let's pick first, on the curate's egg parts. From Redmond Phillips' Peccadillo downwards, individual performances were good. Miss Peggy Spence Sales, as Alice, was very neat and efficient. Hugh Middlebrook, as Mrs. Phlox, was admirable. His bearing and grip held whole scenes from tumbling. King Tahiwi, as Toffee, was good and his song a gem. Reg. Larkin was divorced from his usual sprightliness in a diving-suit, but he gave the show a good twist and one hit in his "big scene" with Mrs. Phlox. McGhie as Ineptune was satisfactory.

The only good thing about the "yes-men" was the accent, and that was about all we heard. The rabble in Scene One was rescued by the addition of four young ladies, Misses Gallagher, Williams, Aldridge and Briggs, who brightened the most unholy mess, especially on the last night, when it was more rabblish than ever. The mermaids were good in ensemble and at least two, Jack Aimers as Lady Flyers and Malcolm Mason as the inevitable Mae West, were good in dialogue scenes. The cricketeers' song and dance was on right lines and gave the audience a real "honest-to-goodness" laugh.

Altogether individual efforts were good, but ensembles were depressing. The material was there and only sometimes the willingness to work, but stricter discipline and control could have improved the show. There is no need for fears for next year: it will probably be the raging success this one just missed being.