Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Monday 6 December 1943, page 7


NEW PLAY HAS GOOD

RECEPTION

At the week-end Doris Fitton pre-sented Sumner Locke-Elliott's new play "Your Obedient Servant," as the fifth work bv this young Australian actor-playwright which she has in-troduced at her Independent Theatre.

Despite its weak first act the play deserved its good reception,

The playwright has taken Fascist tyranny and placed it in the home in the symbolical figure of a dictatorial second wife. She comes to her new

life obviously antagonised by the domestic happiness she meets there and jealous of the affection and posi-tion which the old French housekeeper Clothilde, enjoys. Her auto-cratic behaviour stifles any regard the children might have had for her, and soon near-tragedy faces the whole household.

' Your Obedient Servant" has sound psychology, good sentiment, and dra-matic urgency, though much of the incident is in familiar pattern. Marie Rosenfeld's striking portrayal of the new wife Clare, gave the character its true dramatic significance. In the stock role of Clothilde, Mary Hosking was infectiouslv warm-hearted and ebullient. George Amos, as the harassed father, could have had more vitality. Joyce Barbour and John Nettheim showed character as the younger children. Zelma Tracey was an amusing, but too vehement, lowcomedy cook, Don Niven, a genial medico, the author an unobtrusive airman son; and Sidney Chambers a real "dinkum Aussie" handyman.

The play will be presented for a season on Fridav and Saturday even-ing performances.