LORD ARTHUR SAVILE'S CRIME

Written by Constance Cox, adapted from an original story by Oscar Wilde

"The best amateur theatre in Scotland..."

Directed by Jim Haldane

WHAT THE PAPERS SAID...

Last week's performance by the Apex Players of Constance Cox's "Lord Arthur Savile's Crime" in the Town Hall auditorium was an example of the best of amateur theatre in Scotland.

In a town which boasts several amateur theatre companies we should all count ourselves very fortunate they are all of the high standard displayed last week.

Steven Harvey, as Lord Arthur Savile, played the part of an effeminate and rather silly young aristocrat to perfection and Christine Cullingford as Sybil Merton equally so.

But undoubtedly the "star" of the show was Charles McKinnon whose authentic Jeevesian butler provided a very sound basis of good acting to the whole play.  Agnes Whinnery - lovely Clementina - an aristocratic, but quite loveable aunt, and Randal Phillips - Dean of Paddington - an equally loveable uncle, showed character acting to its best.  Not too brash, but not too subtle, their interpretations of the characters were excellent.

Pat Currie as Lady Windermere played a good fussy, grumbling, aunt.  Jim Marney as the baddy - Herr Winklekopf - played this spoof part very well but unfortunately his accent strayed a little from Germanic to Indian.

Ann Goodwin as Madame Podgers, a fake palmist who is only in it for the money, made the character a little too severe but shone in the scene where she attempts to blackmail Sir Arthur.

Liz McMurray played the young vamping maid who ends up marrying the butler.  A difficult part, even though small, Liz provided the "Upstairs, Downstairs" atmosphere to the play.

The acoustics in the Town Hall are not the best but unfortunately the whole cast seemed quiet even from the ninth row.  Perhaps this spoiled some of the more subtle scenes for some of the audience but apart from this the set, costumes and production made this play well worth seeing.

Cumbernauld News, February 1976