Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Tuesday 12 November 1935, page 12


"INTERFERENCE."

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A Notable Revival.

When "Interference" was last seen on the stage in Sydney it was presented by Mr. Leon Gordon. The play bears revival. Mr. Ed-ward Howell's production at St. James's Hall last night, which is to run three more nights this week, did justice to the dramatic mate-rial. The professional company which Mr. Howell has assembled may have had a weak spot here and there; but the second act went particularly well, and the whole performance far exceeded expectations. At a time when the professional stage is otherwise quite devoid of spoken plays, this is a notable ven-

ture.

Mr. Arthur Lane, who played the part of Phillip Voaze, had appeared in bygone days as an amateur with the Independent Theatre. Since then he has spent some time in Eng-land, and has acquired there the poise and the sense of timing that only nightly appear-ances on the professional stage can give. Each dramatic point last night was clearly expressed, and the whole interpretation sig-

nificant and alive.

As Sir John Marley, Mr. Edward Howell gave a sincere, convincing portrait of a dis-tinguished physician. Without altering the essentials of the part, he will be able, as the run of the play proceeds, to vary the tempo and give a stronger accent here and there, and thus to make the effect still more com-pelling. Miss Rosalind Kennerdale's characterstudy of the embittered Deborah Kane was a trifle too genteel in its studied accent and facial expression; but otherwise sound. Mr. Peter Finch made htc young reporter, Douglas Helder, an engaging personality; Miss Jean Mort was Barbara; and Miss Thérèse Des-mond moved appeallngly, if a shade too plaintively, through the distresses of Lady Marley, who becomes the prey of a black-

mailer.

It was a pleasure to see so many small parts finely played. Specially worthy of praise were Mr. Kennedy Allen as a strongminded comic doctor; Mr. Frank Brown as a cockney hall porter; Mr. Laurence Taylor as Inspector Holmes; and Miss Georgina de Lara as the quaint servant, Mrs. Barme. Mi". C. Moncrieff Mccallum was Childers, and Miss Eva Moss the downright Florence. Mr. Ar-

thur Lane produced._