"THE PATSY"

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 102, 4 May 1929, Page 7

"THE PATSY"

WHAT THE PUBLIC LIKr

To slightly vary Hamlets direction* {•> the actors, anything overdone is from "the purpose of playing, whoso end, both at the first and now, was and is, to hold, .-is 'twere the mirror up to nature." -Mi** Irene Homer, in the title role of "The J'atsy" («-hy the definite article?) aimed to hold the mirror up to nature last night at the Grand Opera House. The play is a onepart domestic comedy, a sort of cross-sec-tion of American suburban life. It is one of those comedies which invariably draw large audiences from those who take their dramatic tea weak, well sweetened with sentimentality (two lumps, please), and well diluted with the milk of Human kindness. The theme of "The l'atsy" is very, very old, namely, the ovci -londuess of a mother lor one of her children, with iiidiiiereuce and neglect shown for the other. ■'The I'atsy" recalls other sentimental plays of tne kind, all depending for their success upon the handling ot the part of one character. The curtain rose ou the drawing-room of the Harrington home, where -\lrs. Harrington is discovered as a lady witli high social aspirations and liisutiicient financial means to aid her. .Mr. Harrington is a commercial traveller for a grocery linn, fairly successful, too, but not, well enough o;f to provide a car for Ins wiie and her eider, pretty and favourite daughter, Grace (Aliss Jiileen Sparks). Uoth women feel bitterly, and say so, the humiliation of having to lake the street car when they go visiting and making social calls. Harrington sets a II inly face against the ear idea, for the good leason that he feels lie cannot afford it. Then he inquires fdr his younger daughter, l'atrician (.Miss Irene Homer). This girl is a mystery to her mother; the child is unusual in any case, but she has become more mystifying than ever, muttering sentences such as, "It's no use crying over spilt milk, there's enough water in it already." Is the girl demented? What is she doing at the Country Club, dining witli a Mr. Flaherty (old enough to be her father and she but IS))? As a commercial traveller, Mr. Harrington has necessarily acquired some knowledge of human nature, and the ability to put two and two together. Quite naturally, lie wants to know what "The Patsy" has been doing. Presently she slouches into the room, shamefaced. Her mother and sister go out to enjoy themselves, leaving Patricia and her father alone. The girl confesses all. She lias been doing i #;hing wrong, only buying a book of siipn-t sayings on the instalment plan, committing its contents to memory, learning by rote a long iist of commonplace remarks to qualify for social distinction as a queen of repartee. Her father is much relieved by the confession, and promises to help the girl as a set-off to her mother's neglect and her sister's contumely. So he does. First he puts Mrs. Harrington in her place; next he facilitates Patricia's little scheme to win Tony_ Anderson (Air. Brandon Peters), a desirable young man cast off by her sister's grace for the wealthy Billy Caldwcll {Mr. Sam AVren), and so" "The Patsy" comes into her own, and her mother and sister are set in their proper places. As MiSs Homer interpreted the name part, the audience saw and heard a girl, not of uiueteen, but more like eleven, who seemed sometimes "not quite all there." and by reason of her stilted, inarticulate speech, was very difficult to understand, and not always easy to hear. Her final consonants were often muted. This became monotonous all through three acts. Miss Homer is undoubtedly gifted, evidently knows her business, if it is to strike vibratins heartstrings of sympathy. One could not help being all on her side. So then, if she set out to win over her audience, and nothing more, she achieved a triumphant success last night.. Jlr. K. S Byron as Jlr. Harrington it was a joy to sec. and hear. lie certainly did hold the mirror up to nature. His'acting was superb. Miss Kileen Sparks can always be trusted with a part calling for good looks, intelligence, and well defined character She was excellent, essentially human, and ■•catty." ton. as the elder'sister Mis* Vera Gerald, as the selfish and neurotic mother, was satisfactory in every respect in the part. The young men lovers were admirably portrayed by Messrs. L'eters and Wren, not in the least overdone ■■Tlie Palsy" will be repeated this evening, and no doubt Miss Homer in the part will win still more friends, and many ni them, during Uie season.