234 " FIVE BIRDS IN A CAGE." By Gertrude Jennings. Susan, Duchess of Wiltshire J. Biggin. Leonard, Lord Porth R. White. Bert Wilson (a Workman) M. Prince. Nelly (a Shopgirl) M. Hollway. Liftman W. H. H. Hanks. The Scene A Lift on the Underground Railway. :
" THE WILL." By J. M. Barrie. Mr. Devizes (Solicitor) K. H. Rhodes, Esq. Robert Devizes (his Son) N. L. Dodd. Surtees (a Clerk) J. B. Dixon. Philip Ross R. M. Cooper, Esq. Emily Ross (his Wife) Miss M. M. Toyne. Sennet (a Clerk) C. H. Vasey. Creed (a Clerk) M. B. Ma rwood. Scene The Office of Devizes, Devizes, and Devizes, Solicitors. The Plays produced by Mrs. Toyne and K. H. Rhodes, Esq. :
Stage Carpenter and Electrician A. E. Schofield. :
Orchestra under the direction of P. H. Sykes, Esq. The theatricals this year took a somewhat unusual form. Unfortunately, neither the Head Master nor Mrs. Toyne was able to play a part, actors of experience were few and far between, and time was even shorter than usual. It seemed, therefore, that latent ability was likely to be revealed by the production of three one-act plays, each with its separate cast, rather than by the usual three-act play of some two-and-a-half hours' length ; and as an experiment (one, by the way, which is not without a precedent) it was amply justified by results Mr. Pendlebury, B. J. Eastwood, J. B. Dixon, and Miss Marianne Toyne can all claim to have been " discovered." " The Monkey's Paw " is gruesome, harrowing, and macabre,. but well written. At the outset it was clear that Mr. Pendlebury was fortunate in making his debut in a part to which he was so well suited ; together with Mrs. Surtees Atkinson, who, as the wife and mother, made a welcome reappearance with the St. Peter's Players, he carried the play very largely on his shoulders, and established a right to further consideration in the future. D. Lupton, the one really old hand left amongst the boys, had, perhaps, his happiest part as Sergeant-Major Morris. B. J. Eastwood made a pleasantly youthful son of the house, and played with a self-assurance which should hold possibilities. :
