Shanghai ig fortunate in being attacked by Mr, Lin Vu-tang with such a complete lack of a sense of Proportion. The "Hymn to Shanghai which a correspondent quotes clse-
China, for the author of "On clearly depleted a type well-known in medical schools, The Shanghai production, skilfully using the excopanal qualities of a versatile low.
Company," Mr. Peter Fleming, at the fend of his last quest in the heart of comedian, took risks in allowing Raymond' to dominate the scene with Central Asia, depleted its cast by his diverting study In alcoholic marrying the leading lady, Miss Cella exuberance.. In the first two acts Johnson, to whom his' "IBrazilian this was not Ineffective, but in the was dedicated. jet—particularly in' the scene where might appropriately be called Mr. Lin Yutang's "Hymn of Hale" for hate is always ridiculous. Mr, Lin Vu-tang achieved a notable success in developing his cynical humour in portrayal of his country and its people, Even then he was inclined to use lurid colours too lavishly and to pay InsuMelent attention to chiaroscuro, However, Shanghai is inured to attacks on its wickedness, Its follies and ils crimes. Sometimes it finds defence dificult but Mr. Lin Vu-tang's assault simplifies the problem for no defence is necessary. Any impartial student of his time would at once recognize it for what it is and turn to some "best seller" or cinema with the certainty that, amid a welter of inaccuracy, some truth might be found to correct Mr, Lin Vu-tang's farrago Jof abuse. Mr. Lin Vu-tang is a jester, Of course, but Jesters have to guard against temptations which are ever }present when the world's applause has been suddenly encountered in too generous measure, Those who had seen "The Wind and the Rain" in London attended the rst night of the A.D.C''s production with some trepidation. They were delighted when the curtain fell to find that they had been again held by the charm of the play and the sincerity of the acting. Making allow ance for the difference which must always exist between professional and amateur talent on the stage, it may be interesting to give a short ap= preciation of the frst night, on the basis of recollections of the London production. Four of the chief performers seemed particularly "to satisfy the author's intentions as {interpreted in London: those who took the parts of Mrs, MeFic, John 'Williams, Charles Tritton and Dr. Paul Duhamel. 'To them should be added the players of the two minor roles, Roger Cole and Peter Mor gan.' But the amateur club has to be guided rather by the talent at disposal than by rigid adherence to the author's scheme when casting, where the examination results were Known—it tended to blur the ple ture, Similarly Jill Mannering was relentlessly developed as a flightly and empty headed minx who would hardly "have been Mrs, Tritton's choice for her son, In London, Jill was frivolous and pleasure-loving but, manifestly, of the same social stratum Wier playmate and eventually discarded lover.
Johnson's Anne Hargreaves sets a high standard, It was remarkably essayed by Shanghai's Anne whose elocution and quiet methods gave distinction to thoughtful interpreta tion. "But Miss Johnson's Anne was essentially moder, Her "emotional periods were well. under control, Shanghai's Anne was a thoroughly competent piece of work, but it derived its authentlelty from an, earlier generation. These criticisms are not Intended to cast reflection on the amateurs at the Lyceum, Indeed they are. designed to pay a Kenuine tribute of admiration to a production which deserves, to rank high in the Club's annals,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.