Temple's House Play

Temple's choice of "The Hungry Wolves" by Romain Rolland for their House production was an ambitious one, but one which proved to be justified.

The initial problem for the producer, D. B. Hart, was to present the chaotic nature of the situation, at the same time retaining the interest of an audience perhaps unused to the static nature of much of the play, without detracting from the play's main concern with the conflicts between character and with the conflict between ideals and practicalities in a time of stress. Rolland foresaw this problem and provided for a large number of messengers and servants, but unfortunately at times the almost endless stream became a distraction rather than an aid to the audience's understanding.

Rolland also required sound effects of crowds which cannot be easy to produce, but these effects were captured perhaps too successfully and tended to drown the actors' voices. But the most unfortunate distraction was that provided by a small unthinking section of the audience for whom no standard of acting or production seemed worthy of attention.

And the acting and production were of a very high standard. It is perhaps a little unfair to single out individual performances as nearly all, having an understanding of their role, acted with verve and intelligence, but J. H. Bavister, J. S. Place, M. W. Bainbridge, N. Forbes, who was almost too nonchalant, sometimes forgetting to consider the audience, and J. R. Young, for a spell • of inspired wailing, all deserve special mention as do the workers behind the scenes who produced a very good set. The producer, with the problem of a final act which it is not easy to put 'over, did well in preventing the play from flagging, the whole play being evidence of his hard work; and indeed, as Temple's second production ever, "The Hungry Wolves" was a considerable achievement. D.J.

Temple House PRESENTS The Hungry Wolves by Romain Rolland On Thursday, February 27th, 1969 in the Memorial Hall, at 7.30 p.m. The action takes place in the Great Hall of the Hotel du Roi d'Angleterre, at Mainz, which is being used by the Artillery as a Staff Headquarters, during the Franco-Prussian War. DRAMATIS PERSONAE

QuEsNEL.

TEULIER VERRAT D'OYRON CHAPELAS VIDALOT BUQUET

JEAN-AMABLE The Spy

RIEFFEL The Brigadier 1st Soldier 2nd Soldier M. W. Bainbridge J. H. Bavister

N. Forbes J. S. Place T. J. Young D. P. Rounthwaite J. R. Lund M. A. Cantrell J. R. Young A. S. Bowie

D. J. McCartney K. C. Slee D. M. Burrunston-Williams