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SMAD. An Organ of Student Opinion. 1934. Volume 5. Number 3.

While Parents Sleep

page 11

While Parents Sleep

Apparently they do ! We didn't think so. Anyhow they did, and what a night. No ! We can't tell you. You should have seen it yourself. That back. That kiss. Those black silk sheets. Anyway—

On April 13th. and 14th. in the Gym. was staged the Dram. Club's first show. Written by Anthony Kimmins, produced by Edna Purdie and acted by a cast of sophisticated young people who knew their lines ! This was one of the best attempts of the Club and was deservedly popular. It was good., Production and stage under Edna Purdie Cedric Wright and Don Steele were splendid when one considers the bench on which they were expected to act.

The play as the name suggests is not in the best tradition of modern drama or of V.U.C. Dram. Club which is the same thing. The plot is thin, the characters are types, and it depends on the lines, some of which are first class. The Club must choose a play with some stomach instead of sawdust for its next performance. Perhaps everybody enjoyed the play because they laughed at the jokes. A mighty poor standard anyway.

The cast was perfectly balanced. The parlour maid, Vincent (Miss J. Powells), Nancy (Miss Nancy Caughly) old, affectionate, dithery and slow; Colonel (Hugh Middlebrook) and Mrs. Hammond (Peggy MacDonald), one bluff, hearty, the other sweet and climbing, acted together and blended perfectly. The two young women. Bubbles (Dorothea Tossman) and Lady Cattering (Geraldine Gallagher) were excellent, the character of each was clear, and the poise of the "Cattering piece" was something to wonder at. Bubbles' hysterical scene was a fine piece of acting.

The honours of the show go to the counterpoised Jerry (Jack Coyle) and Neville (Jack Aimers.) The acting of Neville was polished and controlled, and his change from a priggish young subaltern of the Guards into the enraptured lover was a fine piece of stage work. Jerry had the house rocking time and again with the snappy lines, some of which would make the author himself raise his eyebrows. Few amateurs have his flair for the right moment and expression to drop a wise crack.

Altogether this show will be a great start for the Dramatic Club and the appreciation of the Club is due to Edna Purdy for this effective curtain-raiser to the year's activities.