"THE GIRL FROM RECTOR'S."

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 169, 19 July 1910, Page 6

"THE GIRL FROM RECTOR'S."

UPROARIOUSLY HILARIOUS AUDIENCE. A MILD PROTECT. Laughable? Why, of course, it'f laughable! In its own faehion—its peculiarly and particularly torrid fashion —"The Girl from Rector's" is one of the most amusing farces staged here for a very long time, indeed, and yet, and yet—well, what is one to say of a play, the plot of which no one would dream of discussing in mixed, company. The immense dash., the vim, the elan —'the French word is the only term —with which the farce is played help it over some exceedingly thin ice until the Jast act. With consummate skill, the pace is cracked on at every extri dangerous spot, and a mixed audience of young and old, married, single, innocent and sophisticated, enabled to roar with unrestrained ease at the most amazingly daring sayings and doings, the speed being so great that it has no time to realise precisely what it is laughing at. But in the last act this is no longer possible, and in the halfshamed, half-covert way in which the sophisticated laugh, and a distinct sense of restraint all over the house, one realises that a limit has been passed, and that the atmosphere is becoming rather uncomfortably sultry. We do not wish to be for a moment misunderstood in this matter. We hold no brief for Puritanism. In a theatre devoted specially to plays of this abnormal temperature, such as exist in large cities, one cannot quarrel with, authors and managers, who comTjine to provide the fare which attracts their special clientele. No harm, moreover, can in that case unwittingly accrue to anyone. The patrons who go know what to expect, and get it. Those who object, go elsewhere. But here (we are no prudes— we admit it makes for laughter, wild, hilarious laughter), is it the eort of thing it is altogether wise—nay, altogether decent—for us to encourage j theatregoers as a whole —young as well as old —to laugh at? Is it not a pity? That is all one wants to ask—a pity that so much clev-erness, so much capacity for fun should be lavished on subjects— well, subjects better left -alone. Lest one be misjudged of over-delicacy, let us (with reservation) tell the story. (It is a significant fact that one hesitates to do so, and has an uncomfortable feelin" in so doing, because of the young girls one saw in the audience last evening.) The central character is Loute Sedane, alias Mrs. Caperton—wife of Judge Caperton, "up country." For two monihs in ohe year she lives with her husband — an iceberg, a pattern of the proprieties, the admiration of her locality for virtuous domesticity. For the other ten— when supposed to be touring Europe— she lives in New York, "affinity" (Anglice the mistress) of Dick O'Shaugnessy (a young rake), whom she "owns," as some one puts it in the play. She is president of the Night Owls' Club, gets tipsy on champagne, is a personage of "gay morals" (again one quotes from the play), about whose place in the social scheme there is no pretence or doubt whatever. O'Shaugnessy is sick of the gay life, longs for matrimony and rest, and by carrying off the sweetheart of a ridiculous friend, seems in a fair way to ■break from Loute and the disreputable town set with whom ha is mixed up, and of whom he is heartily sick. But here the complications usual to farce turn up. There are wheels within wheels—'relations and complications galore. All these latter are innocent enough, let us hasten to say, and the fun is fast and furious. At the wedding party dance further fun arises. To the festivity are bidden various guests, including Mis. Caperton— who, of course, as Loute, is furious at finding herself supplanted by a legitimate wife. Willing to do anything to dose her mouth, Dick agrees to take her to a restaurant for a farewell "spree" and supper on his wedding night. For farce reasons—too long to explain—all the other characters also turn up. Asked if they mean to stay the night, Dick replies, "Ask the lady," who replies in the affirmative, and registers as Mr. and Mrs. Newlywed. Others arrive, and after an amusing scene, the ladies retire to | their bedrooms. Lights are turned down.' The gentlemen then secretly return, I one by one, and disappear in one or other of the rooms, Judge Oaperton declaring,' in a whisper to the audience, his in- j tention of hiding behind the door of the pretty serving maid's room —to whom he ] has been broadly "flirting" during the j previous acts. Dick comes back. Loute I wavers in 'her intention to keep him, | and finally sends him off to his wife's j room, and after some more mischief suddenly arouses the household and brings the party from out their rooms—with, in her husband's case, embarrassing results and general blushes all round. And so the curtain. Well! ! ! The thing is laughable—is no doubt wildly funny. The house tracks and roars ' with laughter. But, we repeat, is it not ] just a little bit of a pity ? There is heaps! of fun in life apart from unfaithful husbands, loose women and immoral sexual intrigue painted in the most attractive! colours, and served up as food for laughter for an audience with its usual proportion of girlhood, and presumably innocently decorous womanhood. Bosh! will say some, all playa are like this nowadays, and this is no more suggestive than others. This may be true; if so it is dne in some degree to the growing' license observed in treatment of sexual questions on the stage, A note of warn- ' ing, of expostulation, may surely bo j struck at some time, and "The Girl from! RectorV' seems to supply a very adequate opportunity. J?or the acting and! general production of the play there can ' be nothing but the very highest of praise. Mr. Ward, who, as a professor, is without oDJectiona-bleness in any single I particular, gives a character study | which, is simply inimitable and excruciatingly funny, and has never done anything better. He gets the very last ounce out of tihe part. His faces are simply amazing, and the entire impersonation is of the highest merit. Miss Palotta as Loute is exceedingly clever; and Miss Ghiloni as Mrs. Witherspoon Copley acts with delightful ease, and was warmly welcomed back by Aucklanders, who have nothing but pleasant memories of her ever since her memorable appearance in comic opera. The other parts are all well taken, and the dance scene was cheered to the echo. The house was enthusiastic throughout, and an immensely successful financial season is assured.