One-Act Plays Go Over.

Before one of the best crowds ever squashed into the Gym. the Dramatic Club staged the first event of its 1937 season most auspiciously with a highly successful evening of one-act plays. The whole show went over with a bang and an appreciative audience was kept amused and entertained with a programme that was delightfully varied. We would all like to see more such evenings and feel sure the audience would come again.

"Wurzel Flummery."

The first play on the programme, apart altogether from the brilliance and subtlety of A. A. Milne's argument and .situations provided an excellent Opening. A good play very adequately performed.

"And So To War."

A biting satire on the modern totalitarian state and on the motives activating modern warfare. Suggests the excellent idea of conscripting all men over fifty years of age. This play did not have tile polish of "Wurzel Flummery," but there was something in it—something into which we could get our teeth.

"Weatherwise."

Gives us Noel Coward in his most farcical and satirical mood. A farce with the underlying idea of the callousness of modem society. The hardest play to do and the least well done. The polish was lacking but the play went over and that is the chief thing.

"Wurze Flummery."

This play was very well chosen and the players did it justice. It called for mature and restrained acting, coupled with the polish so essentail in all A. A. Milne's shows.

The Players—

Pat Macaskill was excellent as Denis Clifton, the eccentric actor-solicitor. His whimsical nature suited the part to perfection. A better portrayal of the irresponsible Clifton could hardly be wished for.

Bill Austen, as Robert Crawshan, M.P., turned on exactly the right kind of hypocritical cant very convincingly.

Freda Sharp, as his wife, played her part with a simpering perfection.

Erica Williamson, the girl in the play, had a minor part which she performed well, adding a touch of feminine sweetness quite success-fully.

Jack Aimers, the rising young parliamentarian, Richard Meriton, was a little too heavy and restrained, but acquitted himself well.

The best play of the evening. Congratulations to Pat Macaskill on producing a fine show.

"And So To War."

A winning play in a South of England Drama League Festival, and its writer's first effort, is a work with ideas. It was very' scathing and reminiscent of last year's Extrav, "Hell's Bells." A biting indictment of modern dictators, finance and religion. We congratulate the producer on changing the name of the leader of ten million workers to the Right Honourable Robert Temple. The character struck us as possessing many very familiar touches. His exclamation of "watch me nut him in dungarees" seemed to make the audience think of certain articles of great assistance to footracers.

Tossman, the dictator with the non-Aryan nose, was outstanding. Everyone enjoyed the manner in which he snorted out his commands.

Dowrick, as Bob Temple, was good, but enjoyed his own jokes too much.

Joyce Cruttenden as Miss Grace Manful, a woman's leader, tempestuously reminded us she was not going to have any more babies. Only Fanacci, the dictator, did not seem to believe it. A little bit of over-acting, perhaps, but quite effective. Peter Finch, Norman Banks and Keith Hutcheson all gave satisfactory performances. Neither Brian Fawcett nor David Cohen, however, have yet acquired that essential "stage presence," but a little experience should have a beneficial effect.

Dorothea Tossman's production, although not quite as polished as usual, perhaps from the nature of the play, was very effective.

"Weatherwise."

Coward is always very difficult to stage at any time, but he is most exacting in his shorter pieces. Jack Aimers' task was, therefore, very tricky. Nevertheless, he achieved a creditable success and there was no doubt that the thing went over. This could not have been entirely due to Coward's witticisms and ludicrous situations. As far as cue players were concerned, Margaret Short all was outstanding, while the rest played up to her quite satisfactorily.