18 MAY 1956, Page 16

THE HOUSE BY THE LAKE. By Hugh Mill (Duke of

York's.) THE thriller in novel form has to be watel tight of plot and well-nigh flawless in acne if it is to attain even moderate success. In

he

theatre it can be ill-shaped, inconsequent': and psychologically a thousand miles off tP mark; yet if it is acted with power all,d passion it convinces—at least for tn customary two hours' traffic of the stage. . Mr. Mills's tale of a ruined psychiain' plotting to murder his unpleasant, ruinin, stepbrother comes off, despite some cruel faults of plot and character. Flora Robson, th murderer's wife and one-time prize Wien,' here has one of her best 'pathetic' roles: Si, can wring our withers as much by her MIT bility and helplessness as by the intensity brings to the livelier moments of net19h Andrew Cruickshank, the homicidal hygninti drips a nice line in slimy evil, and Jenny Lair his accomplice sister, plays a cold-eYet calculating vixen with sharp effect. A. V'