"CHARLEY'S AUNT"

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 93, 27 November 1939, Page 4

"CHARLEY'S AUNT"

SPIRITED REVIVAL BRIGHT COMEDY COMPANY Next Thursday night the people of Whakatane will have the opportunity of seeing the Celebrity Com4 edy Company's presentation of that ever-green farce "Charley's Aunt" when it will be staged at the Grand Theatre. A spirited production of this play will be given by an outstanding cast.

Many notable comedians have been associated with the title role in this pioneer of masquerade comedies, but Don Nicol, who leads the present Australian and New Zealand combination, in no way suffers by comparison with past favourites. He has, of course, his own following of admirers from previous performances, but the masquerade character acting required of him as 'Babs' and "Charley's Aunt" in this farce is far beyond the funny business demands of his former appearances: He rises admirably to the occasion of keeping the character portrayal convincing, while at the same time losing no opportunity for hitting up the farcical note. That old musical comedy favourite Phil Smith is Nicol's able collaborator and fellow farceur throughout the piece. A quartet of talented young players in leading roles of straight acting required to emphasise the farce arc John Fleeting, Lane Patterson, Shirley Ann Richards and Mary Duncan, while in parts of special intricacy the experienced Charles Albert, Norman Barrington and Leal Douglas give unostentatious strength to the performance. All these members of the cast, as well as Maisie Wallace, are favourites whose talent has been recognised in other roles, and they give a spirited production.