For an evening of good drama, one could do worse than the Experimental Theatre production of Chekhov's The Boor and J.M. Barrie's The Twelve Pound Look. Barrie's play, though sentimental--even silly--achieves in its ending what it fails to do throughout. Its O. Henry twist gives a tearful 19th century play (by the creator of Peter Pan) a comic result and provides a vehicle for some very good acting.

In the role of Sir Harry, Barrie Hayne turned in a strong, disdainful acting performance which overcame the inherent naivity and the pathetic quality of the role (Sir Harry is, indeed, a literary failure). Nothing can be said in criticism of Joyce Heissenbuttel (who played the part of Kate) except that she was too quick and perhaps slightly nervous. Chris Assini played Lady Sims well; though she was too strong for such a weak role.

The Boor, a farce on love and money, was amusing--and not all the credit for this goes to Chekhov. In a play which portrays such comic explosiveness of temperament and such undercutting (and yet tolerance) of sentiment, it was an intellectual pleasure to see amateurs capture so many of the emotional innuendoes. The stylization of Joanne Koch Schmelzer, her movements, her voice, her expression, were something to behold. Harry Knopf, as Luca, an old man, weak and frail, was very fine (and was an example of Knopf's versatility for those of us who remember him in Can-Can). As for Howard Kramer, the Boor, one can only say he must be seen to be believed.

The program also includes a selection of readings. There are too many of them, and they are too diverse to have any unity. Some of them were poor and even dull; but some of them seem to do something that I, for one at least, never imagined could be done in a theatre.