HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 127, 1 June 1925, Page 8

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE

SO THIS IS LONDON

As a general rule the average Xew Zoalander feels at a disadvantage in being tucked away in this part Ot the universe, far from the centre of things, but he has the advantage over the rest of the English-speaking peoples when it comes to enjoying a comedy like ho This is London," for he finds himself m the role of the man watching the game. It was natural, therefore, that His Majesty's Theatre was packed on Saturday evening when Thurston Hall and his company opened their all too short season with this clever skit on the peculiarities of British and the. Americans. We have our owa prejudices both in regard to the "homiee" and the "yankees," and we find in the idiosyncrasies of the two types many things that amuse us and secretly make us rather pleased that we are Xew Zealandere. That little failinz. which prevents us from, seeing ourselves as others sec us, has been cleverly seized upon by Arthur Goodrich, and in the farce he has projduced he clearly shows the absurdity of one set of people blindly condemn- ! ing another pet for reasons that exist only in the minds of the critics. "So this is London!" exclaim the Americans, and they nearly die laughing as they study the Englishmen, who in turn have the most decided Tiews about the gumchewing American dollar hunters. The comedy requires really brilliant handling, and it speaks volumes for the artistes that Saturday evenings "house" was thoroughly delighted. In the American roles were Miss Gladys Webster, Mr. Thurston Hall, and Mr. Leslie Barrie, who comprised the Draper family paying their first visit to England. " "Junior" (Mr. Barrie) commits the unpardonable sin of falling in love with Elinor Beauchamp (Miss Helenor Bcvan) daughter of Sir Percy and Lady Beauchamp (Mr. Reginald Carrington and Miss Joan Crossley), and the parents of the two young people suffer the most agonising distress when they learn the truth. All the prejudices of their countrymen crowd into their minds, and by a clever piece of stagecraft the audience is given the full benefit of their distorted views. The strings, however, are being pulled by Elinor's chaperone, Lady Amy Duckworth (Miss Madge North), whose aim in life is to bring about more, friendly relations between America and Britain, and a great deal less flag-waving. Thanks to her tact, everything works out well, the climax being quite as amusing as the development of the story. Highly entertaining, although almost burlesque, impersonations of English butlers are given by Mr. Felix Bland and Mr. Herbert Leigh, the latter hitting off the old family retainer to perfection. Mr,. Carleton Stuart as a flunkey at the Ritz. and Mr. Kenneth Brampton as "Alfred Honeycutt," a typical English business man are also given. Mr. Thurston Hall is the, typical hustling "Amurrica.n," who finds the English people terribly slow. AYhcn at long last the. waiter brings the sodawater the rapid American wonders

"what day it was he ordered the blame stuff* , as* in between the time of the ordering .and the appearance of the placid hotel myrmidon the mail from across the herring pond has lived through several weeks. The incident of the soda-water is characteristic of the attitude of the people from the States in "So this isLondon." Mr.Thurston Hall was perfect on his side of the Atlantic, and Miss Crossley was a perfect counterfoil as the exceedingly English Lady Be.auchamp. You remember the American's jokfi about the name? "The English people," he said, "spell it C-h-o-1----m-o-n-d-e-l-c-y. and call it Beauehamp." This incomprehensibility to the American of the attitude of the English to consonants and vowels is Tather typical of the lack of understanding between the two branches of the family, and ''So This is London" tells the story in a very skilful and amusing manner. The comedy is redolent of the rapfdity of the Americans and gives an insight into the life of the "upper ten" in England, where the master of the house is indeed master, but togain his point the playwright has made him more of an autocrat tha.n the poor fellow deserves. ETery one of the company is a success, it being difficult to single any particular artist as better than another. Much depends upon, the ladies of the company, and without exception they play their parts to perfection. "So This is London" will he staged nigfifly up to I and including Friday.