Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Monday 23 June 1941, page 6


ENTERTAINING PRODUCTION

I "Quiet Wedding"

The play, which Introduced several .new-comers to the Repertory stage, was produced by Beryl Brett, with Joyce Eyre as assistant producer. "Quiet Wedding will be re-peated tonight.

The reactions of a bride to the prepara-tions for her wedding, and the attitudes of various members of her family form the plot and background of Esther McCracken's ''Quiet Wedding." an entertaining comedy which opened al the Playhouse, Hobart, on Saturday night. Janet Royd, the bride of this latest production by the Hobart-Reper-tory Theatre Society, Is a sensitive girl, ner-vous and hysterical as a result of the rush and bustle of family pre-weddlng arrange-ments, and feels that these plans have ob-scured her love for the bridegroom, and the real reason for their marriage.

About to break off her engagement on the night before her wedding, Janet goes with Dallas Chaytor, the bridegroom, to discuss the matter at the flat which was to have been their future home. Janet and Dallas solve the problem In their own way, but one feels It is not á solution which fa approved, even by the most understanding members of Janet's family. The play points no moral, but shows the strain and unhappiness which plans even for a "quiet" wedding can bring

to a sensitive girl.

"Qu'-et Wedding" is perhaps one of the most frank of recent Repertory productions.

Much of the play's charm lies In the char-acters of Janet's family-her vague mother, caught up In the rush of preparations, and much distressed by her daughter's tempera-mental outbursts; Arthur Royd, ber husband, calm, humorous and sensible in the midst of turmoil, and Janet's sister, brothers, aunts, and young cousin.

Margaret Thorp and Peter Marshall are well cast as Janet and Dallas. Margaret Thorp shows sympathetic understanding In her handling of the character, and Peter Marshall Is manly and restrained as her young bridegroom. Their scene together In the flat is very well handled, and the setting is effective Bill Jarvis is easy and natural as Arthur Royd, and Beryl Brett cap-ably portrays the role of Janet's harassed mother, Mildred Royd. Joan Mercer, as the sensible and worldly-wise Mary Jarrow, gives satisfactory portrayal.

Good character studies are contributed by Joan Cane, sustaining both accent and man-nerisms throughout, as the vivacious and tem-peramental French dressmaker. Madame Mirelle, and by Irene Hall, as Flower Lisle, unconventional and affected young guest in the Royd household. Margaret Johnson gained many laughs as the precocious young

ridesmald, and Marjorie Botten exhibited an easy stage presence and manner as Marcia

Brent

Subsidiary roles were capably played by Doreen Corcoran as Florence Bute; Marjorie Storr as the maid, Bella: and by Don Sharp, Norman Mcvilly, and John Green, as Deriys Royd, John Royd, and Jim Brent respec-tively