Olivier’s tribute to Zia Mohyeddin

LONDON: The Pakistan actor, Zia Mohyeddin, of 'A Passage to India' fame has the starring role in 'The Guide', based on the novel by R.K. Narayan of Mysore, which opens in Cambridge on Feb 27. The theatre world has already dubbed the play 'The United Nations'. Sir Laurence Olivier has pronounced it a splendid script and said that the choice of Mohyeddin for the title role is "the most brilliant casting possible". The presentation of 'The Guide' is another illustration of the influence Asian themes are having on London's theatrical scene. The play is set in a village in South India. Mohyeddin plays a fraudulent healer or holy man who deceives villagers into revering him. Subsequent events overwhelm him and he genuinely becomes what he pretended to be, or in the words of the authors: "The mask becomes the face." Impresario Michael Codron has an option on the play for a West End theatre. It will run for a week at Cambridge, then a fortnight at the Oxford Playhouse, where it will be reviewed nationally for the first time. Then — it is hoped — London. Pakistan have gone ahead of India: Lala BOMBAY: Lala Amarnath, former Indian captain and till recently chairman of their selection committee, hailed Fazal Mahmood, the Pakistan Test captain, as an "able leader". In a statement at the conclusion of his benefit match at Brabourne Stadium yesterday the Lala said: "I think in Fazal Mahmood, Pakistan has an able leader. Judging by the unprecedented crowds for their matches on this tour his has been the most popular team to visit this country. Against a seasoned India side, encouraged by a victory over Australia, Fazal led his team through an unbeaten tour and that is no mean achievement. "His leadership inspired the younger players under his wing." The Lala pointed out that Pakistan had nearly won the match on the Eden Gardens wicket at Calcutta and singled out Saeed Ahmad and Mushtaq as "most promising youngsters". He said that Pakistan had in a way gone ahead of India in building up a young team for the future. This young team, he said, would earn Pakistan a big name in their 1962 tour of England.