THE THEATRE
MR. MALLESON ARRIVES
[" CONFLICT," BY MILES MALLESON. QUEEN'S THEATRE.] TOWARDS the end of last year, this fine play, this remorseless piece of clear-headed thinking, was performed with great distinction at the " Q" Theatre. In praising it at the time in •these columns, I expressed the hope that the play would quickly be brought to the West End. To my immense satisfaction—for, after all, even the least vain of mortals like to have their opinions endorsed—Sir Alfred Butt, of all people, lost little time in hurrying off to Kew Bridge to acquire the rights of Conflict, which -he has now successfully produced at one of his theatres. I say " of all people " with no intended disrespect. Sir Alfred Butt is a shrewd business man, and has in the past proved himself capable of high artistic endeavour, but it must aot be forgotten that he is also a . Conservative Member of Parliament. All the more credit to him, therefore, to have forgotten that Mr. Malleson, in addition to his Many other activities, is a salaried official of the Independent Labour Party and an unrepentant Socialist, all the more credit to him, I say, to have produced Conflict on its merits. .. He. need not be afraid. - The play is, I;suspect, just a_ trifle too good to make his fortune, but it will not cost Sir Alfred_ any votes in his constituency, for this is the kind of sporting action English people admire. And it is on its merits as a play, a play that throbs from beginning to end with tense dramatic feeling, rather than for its political arguments, that I beg every sane man and woman who has ever given ten minutes' thought to the grave social problems of our time, to make for the Queen's Theatre. For nearly three hours Mr. Malleson holds your interest ; he . brings you down to the edge of tears once or twice, and then, ., in a flash, he lifts you up again on to the plane of deliciously sparkling comedy, so, that you are never quite certain (unless you happen to know the author's own mind) at which of the two Parliamentary candidates you are invited to laugh. There are several political discussions during the course of the play, but you can never be bored, still less offended by them, for Mr. Malleson has woven them with much dexterity into his dramatic theme, and he holds the balance between the various conflicting views with fine tolerance and superb justice. Conflict is not only a very good play with a wide appeal to all sections of society ; it is also a noble and sincere piece of creative thought. It is, I think, the most important thing that has happened in the English Theatre since 'Saint Joan. This is high praise, but I am prepared to stand by it. There were certain changes in the company, not all of them improvements. It was tantalizing, for instance, to find Miss Cicely Byrne shunted from the leading part to a small one for which, though she got through it with her accustomed grace and charm, she is not in the least suited. In her place reigns popular Miss Isabel Jeans. She had her moments, and improved greatly as the night went on, but it is my misfortune to find Miss Jeans all ice and snow. It is a hard thing, I know, to ask of all concerned, but if these two clever actresses could change places, all would be well. Mr. Torn Nesbitt repeats his beautifully sensitive performance as the Labour candidate, and Mr. Basil Foster was good as his rival. Mr. Fred Kerr, welcome home from America, will be characteristically delightful when he has got a little more deeply into the skin of his part. And once again I have to say that the short time Miss Margaret Yarde is on the stage is one of supreme delight.
E. S. A.
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