"THE BEST PEOPLE."

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 113, 16 May 1927, Page 8

"THE BEST PEOPLE."

AMUSING PLAY FROM U&X

"Shirt sleeves to shirt sleeves in tknf generations," is the way the AnoitMt state the peril that is always lurltiagfa people who suddenly amass dollah ad social yearnings. One phase of tie jn> blem is familiar to "Star" readers ntiie nightly "strip" of that veracious lifcjiliu Mr. McManus. "Bringing Up Father" a a real difficulty in the States, and one cm thoroughly sympathise with the efiorbef Mrs. Jiggs to keep Jiggs from Dioty at corned beef and cabbage. Another phat of this burning question was diacoandit His Majesty's Theatre on Satordty en* ing, when an amusing lot of people Imm over by Mr. E. J. Carroll told AwAfiyj how a couple of "The Best People" iKppe* a cog in the social climb, much to % temporary consternation of their psrarii. There vras a full house and the «tntiry got a lot of laughter out of the story, whk» was told for the most part in racy iao» can, which varied from the mild attenptj of a good Australian to acquire the IhpA to the kind that is so aggressive flat t makes the chandelier rattle. Labelled a three-act comedy, the ptaj; topples over into farce quite freqoeotfcr, but one likes it all the bettor for ttai, and it is full of "vurry Amanita? Americanisms, especially when Hiibe « on the boards. Millie is a deugMNh/ plebian lady of the chorus, who, tdb exactly like, a column of jokes dipped direct from "Life." Millie's knowledge d the ways of men and the world is extcanre and peculiar, and her philosophy is smnmnl up when she says in answer to the protet of her innocent stable companion opont supper party being suggested, "Stranger! No man is a stranger who offers to buy ae food." Millie is a whirlwind of sknjj funiosities, and Miss Marion Lord seas to get quite as much amusement out of it as the audience. Her baiting of "Unde George at the supper party was mot diverting. ' "The Best People" opens- in -a charming' American home, nnere ererrthing is comme il faut, with the exception of the son and daughter. We first net the latter—the quintessence of the model miss, who thinks her father and mother only a little less antiquated than Noah aal Mrs. Noah. She calls them by their Christian names and treats them genenlb , with a flippancy that is typically up-to-date. In the mother, Aucklanden were pleased to recognise Miss Beatrice Bay,vh» acted with all her accustomed finish. Jfaj J. B. Rowe made an admirable father. One could never mistake either him * Miss Day for an American, but that nt hardly a defect. Mr. Rowe acted with i> quiet strength that* was very effective. Him Helen Audiffred, one of the unmistakcaHft Americanisms took the part of the vita? modern daughter, and she carried off fte role with an insouciance and aplomb tUb was very true to life. It was she wfc» threw up the prospect of becoming Lt4g Rockmere, to marry the family chaffer, Henry—pronounced Henery—who com from Missouri, and though he "ain't got no grammar," "gee, kid," it was fine to it* him get dreamy-eyed in effete old Hew York, and hear him yearn for "the jr£ li'le wild flowers down in ol' Mimed" Kb wonder the daughter of the house 69 in love with him and decoyed him to a highly improper swell restaurant doe town and supped with him in a prink ■ room. Nothing conventional about thee American flappers among the best peofk Of course Henery was a perfect grnilp , — and saved Marion from herself, msriei her in the last act, and shook hands wHk his late employer, promoted to the H»k of father-in-law. Henery is also the guardian angel a* dust-up Marion's brother got into at ti* doubtful restaurant. Bertie Lenox lei cast his affections on an angelic Btfle chorus girl, mate of the bright and beef Millie, and how anyone could ret*m » abysmally innocent air after knowing IGffi* for more than three courses of a late supper is a mystery and could not happen ontade an American farce-comedy. The BartrOf Bertie is taken by Mr. Richard Wα* who, like his sister, is sick of the be* people and insists on marrying the goot little friend of Millie's. Mr. William Macauley acted well « George Giafton. the uncle of the two vsf modern young Lenoxes, and his eaifr ictorian manners and sentiments wee t pleasant relief from the strident America* , isms and flapperisms, which, though amw ing, are apt to grate if unduly prolong* As mentioned before. Miss Lord as Xuu* was a burst of laughter from rst to last, and in the supper scone was superlativef, good. Miss Marion Sterly made a becomingly innocent chorus girl for young Lennox to many. Other characters included an absurd travesty of an Englishman, Low Rockmero (Mr. Robert Adams). MissTate (Miss Eileen Morris), Bullock (Mr. Regie" aid Collins). The play is billed for the rest of tt week until Friday night.