Monday 26 November 1928 London and Daventry 9.35-11

English version by Susan Behn and Cecil Lewis

Cecil Lewis presents a Max Mohr play

Kaleve (dancer) - Eric Portman
Leontine (wife) - Kathleen Lacey
Garilan (merchant) - Frank Petley
Sandmann (agent) - Reginald Purdell
Waiter - Richard Goulden
A Nigger - Harvey Braban
Lift Boy - Percival Parkin
Caravan Guide - Abraham Sofaer
First Policeman - Eugene leahy
Second Policeman - Bligh Cheseman

Scenes: North Africa, in a Harbour Town near the desert, and in the desert itself

Time: the present

Once more we are endebted to Mr. Cecil Lewis for an opportunity of renewing our acquaintance with Max Mohr and his harlquinade.

His characters are really eternal aspects of humanity whom the dramatist arranges and re-arranges, but achieves always the same result - a portrait of mankind as seen by Max Mohr. We always like the picture, but wonder, when the play is over, whether the likeness is a good one.

The background this time is neither the Arctic waste nor an Austrain castle, but the Sahara desert. The 'Improvisator' is now a kind of dubious dragoman.

All the other characters begin by being discontented with the world of reality because their mistake it for the real thing, but by the time that the dust of the desert has got into their eyes, they see more clearly and are eager to start life afresh.

At the end of the play the Arab guide perhaps expresses our feelings for us - 'Fantasia'!