The Stage - 21 May, 1942. Grand Theatre, Leeds.
""Old Master", with Alastair Sim as Vane Barra is well received. Mr Sim has able support from Betty Marsden and Manning Whiley as the lovers. Successful also are Russell Thorndike, Charles Mortimer, Andrew Leigh, George Cole, Clare Harris and Barbara Cooper."
""Old Master", with Alastair Sim as Vane Barra is well received. Mr Sim has able support from Betty Marsden and Manning Whiley as the lovers. Successful also are Russell Thorndike, Charles Mortimer, Andrew Leigh, George Cole, Clare Harris and Barbara Cooper."
From the Edinburgh Evening News 22 April, 1942.
"OLD MASTER” ALISTAIR SIM AT THE KING’S THEATRE The King's Theatre was crowded last evening when Alexander Knox's play, “Old Master.” was staged with Alistair Sim in the principal role in addition to directing the presentation. Sim's visits to his own city have been all too few. but it was a compliment to the Edinburgh theatregoing public that he should decide to open this new venture in the Capital. In a short speech of thanks at the close Mr Sim said that the duty of the company was to amuse. That they did, and at the finish-it was evident that the audience had had the benefit of real tonic. Knox’s production is one of the most delightfully modern and humorous plays. The story, in brief, relates the ingenious method whereby an artist bound by contract to a profiteering art dealer, finds a way to get his own back and. in so doing, help his daughter and a young, struggling American painter whom she loves. Sim's artistry and these little mannerisms which have so endeared him to the public were never much in evidence as in this play. The role of Vane Barra seems to have been made for him. and the audience insisted on curtain after curtain at the close. As the art dealer Walter Fitzgerald, last seen in the city in repertory, had an eminently satisfying part in which he ably acquitted himself. As Nan, Barra's daughter, and the young American, Betty Marsden and Manning Whitley respectively acted with charm and case, and as Maude Garden and Lady Pounce respectively, Barbara Couper and Clare Harris had rich and amusing parts. In a large supporting cast one could also mention the Pomeroy of Russell Thomdyke, George Cole as Dick, and Charles Mortimer as Botts. The scenery, designed by Paul Shelving, was built at the Malvern Theatre, where the play was first produced at the Festival in 1939. |