REVIEW - Weston Mercury and Somersetshire Herald Friday November 23rd 1951 - UNITED WESTON AMATEURS IN UNITED NATIONS PLAY

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PRODUCTION OF J.B. PRIESTLEY'S "HOME IS TO-MORROW"

Members of the Weston Dramatic Society, the Alexandra Players, Red Triangle Players and Wayfarers, took part in an unusual play, J.B. Priestley's "Home is To-morrow," which was presented in the Weston Grammar School Hall on Friday and Saturday.

The play has a United Nations theme, the setting being an island in the South Caribbean, and the principal characters are members of the "United Nations Undeveloped Territories Organisation" staff, who have charge of the island and are responsible for its development. The play is typical Priestley, and is stimulating, provocative theatre, although at times propagandist wordiness is a little too obtrusive. With the characters made up of various nationalities, this was not an easy play for amateurs, but Mr. Don Mather, the producer, achieved a very satisfactory presentation.

The opening picture one gets of this Caribbean island is of U.N.U.T.O. doing a good job of work in improving the health, education, and general life of the islanders. Then the subversive influences get to work. American big business becomes interested in valuable mineral deposits. To serve their purpose a nationalist agitator and "tough", Vezabar, is brought back to the island to stir up trouble. Trouble there is, ending in the murder of Sir Edward Fortrose, head of the U.N.U.T.O. commission.

        For What Did He Die?

For what did Sir Edward die? He had resisted the temptations of Government and big business to give up his post, and was obviously a man of character and ability who might, for many years, have continued to do good in the world.

He took the line, however, that force must not be used promptly. Vezabar must not be put away; he must not even be arrested until there is definite evidence of his activities. So Vezabar lives, and Fortrose dies.

Mr. Priestley puts more than one point of view on how the troubles of the world can best be solved. There is, for instance, his Dr. Melnik, who thinks the Vezabars ought to be rubbed out before they cause too much trouble - poisoning under the guise of medical treatment is the idea he puts forward to meet the particular emergency which threatens U.N.U.T.O.'s work.

        Character Confused

The character of Fortrose seems a little confused. It seems rather incredible that he should let a man like Vezabar stay around, when he does not hesitate to get members of his staff transferred elsewhere when they get a little too attentive to his wife!

Then there is the curious relationship between Sir Edward and Lady Fortrose. Surely a man so devoted to the service of mankind would not have permitted his married life to trail on with such sordid characteristics, if only in fairness to his wife?

However, perhaps one should not try to make everything add up in this play, for the clash of human relationships must of necessity be played up strongly, if the propagandist play is to hold interest.

        A Slow Start

Friday evening's performance had a slow, rather inaudible, and boring start. The first scene, which is mainly conversation without action, needs to be pushed along quickly. Of course, as soon as the love interest was introduced, the play had atmosphere. The second act was very good indeed. The shooting of Fortrose, which might so easily have been melodramatically handled, was a really first-rate bit of theatre.

It was a moment which saw Fortrose (Reg. Salisbury) and Vezabar (Bill Salisbury) at their best.

Reg. Salisbury's Fortrose was very well played. His task, that of playing a leader of such outstanding ability and personality, was not easy. He was not quite consistently convincing, but generally he succeeded admirably in creating a character that was sincere and likeable.

Bill Salisbury's Vezabar was a first-rate study in villainy. It was a part played with unusual strength, and one really did get the enthralling impact of a diabolical personality.

He never for one moment relaxed from the part's essential toughness, and worked himself up into some impressive outbursts that well became the agitator. Quite obviously Fortrose took the wrong line with him. You can't talk the Vezabars around by recalling events of their childhood and attempting psycho-analysis.

        Lady Fortrose's Viewpoint

Aileen Lundman made a very forthright Lady Fortrose. Here was a woman who did not hide the fact that she took a poor view of U.N.U.T.O.'s work, and that the natives of Corabana would be better left to their own devices.

There is, of course, something to be said for Lady Fortrose's point of view, and Aileen Lundman cleverly balanced her interpretation to point, on the one side, entirely selfish motives, and on the other, the individual's right to fulfilment and happiness as she sees it.

The performances of Jean Rowe are always welcome, and as Ann Westfield, the U.N.U.T.O. worker who falls in love with her chief, her playing had customary charm. She did not, however, fully realise the part, which needed a little more sophisticated touch. We had Ann, the woman in love, but not Ann, the zealous, efficient U.N.U.T.O. worker.

        American Big Business

Ivan Armstrong made the most of his few moments as a representative of American big business and as the young American in love, while Leighton Norman most astutely became Sir George Surrey, of the Foreign Office. Howard Brown was impressively the suave, scheming American millionaire.

One of the most admirable contributions was that of Paul Dening as Dr. Melnik. Mr. Dening got a very firm grip on the belligerent personality of the doctor, who does not mind how much he sacrifices himself to improve the health of the islanders, but favours prompt and violent action when his work is threatened. Mr. Dening put the doctor's views so forcibly and convincingly that there was no doubt that the audience was on his side!

Watson Price played the Frenchman, Louis Riberac, quite well, but did not seem altogether happy in the part. He maintained the French accent well, but had moments when he dropped his voice and became inaudible. It was a difficult part, for Riberac is a rather enigmatic character.

        Delightful Creation

Tony Hughes' Professor Chu was a delightful creation, not done in caricaturist vein, but a very human personality, lit with Oriental humour and wisdom.

June Oxley attractively became the dusky island girl, Rosa Olacca, while the minor roles of Karem and Felippe were ably played by Roger Watkins and Michael Bickell.

Producer and stage staff must have used considerable skill to ensure that the production moved and looked so well on the Grammar School Hall's small stage. The attractive set and lighting were by Mr. A.G. Robinson, and Mr. Jim Lundman was stage manager.

The entire proceeds of the play were for the funds of the local branch of U.N.A. and for United Nations charities.

                                                                                                                                                                          "EVERYMAN"