A large and appreciative audience greeted the Jory-Tait production of "Mary Rose" at the Embs 'Theatre on May 22. Ttis perhaps the most ambitious thing this combine has tackled and, all things confered, is very' well done. There of course, always more than touch of the eerie about Barrie, and "Mary Rose" this touch' has become something more of haunting wistfulness, elusive because while it enchants us, we cannot give it a name, 'To capture and maintain this sense of mystic faery Norman O'Neill's score and a wonderful @rop-scene painted, if we remember rightly, by an ARA. were of inestimable value in' the London production of "Mary Rose." This thie of an only daughter spirited away" by the Island That Likes To. Be" Visited and returning oblivious of her absence " but. still unconsciously haunted and liable to be summoned back is one which Should only be entrusted to the most skilful interpreters. There is a gossamer fantasy about it, an exquisite borderland between reality fand dreams, which demands deli-foote balance and intuitive sympathy fas well as. that childlike simplicity which ix often the only way to ap-'Tread lightly, for might be anxious to handle this great man's work.
Tt, therefore, is a groat tribute to producers and company alike to say' that this local version proved a considerable success, Mary Rose herself, in the person of Joyce Middleton, spoke her lines with rent sweetness, though the simplicity was a tr jo forced at times land the sweetness over-sugary. The scene on the island, for instance, should have been varied by touches of whimsicality, taken in quicker tempo here and there.
Dr. Riddell as Simon and also as 8 Har perhaps was the greatest eof the evening: his con: ception of these two distinct personalities was really good: there an unforced quality about his facting which pleased. Major Price~ Williams as Mr. Morland was also fan excellent character study, while Mrs, Alison Masters as his wife seconded him ably. Both these articulated clearly, in fact the pro-.|ducers should be complimented upon having paid careful attention to acoustics throughout, Hugh Wallace made an. effective Cameron and Herbert Reed: as Mr. Amy was adequate although he made rather too pompous a figure out of the Jcollector-parson. Agnes Pinnick as the fear-smitten housekeeper, Mrs. Otery, conveyed well an atmosphere of something untoward as the curtain rose.
'Coppany designed the scenery, which was attractively presented, while Mrs, Badeley was responsible for the first renewed appearance in two years of the Shanghai Ladies' Amateur Orchestra, which played during the evening and was heartily applauded.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.