AMEUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16113, 18 January 1918, Page 8

AMEUSEMENTS.

theatre ROYAI, < I>F.XELOPE." The essential ingredient for the recipe of •«uc.-<.v*-i'tii marriage" is. without doubt, love, but Mr SaiiK'-et Maaghani in his comedy | "Penelope." which «•«« presented by j Mi-, Mario Tompcs: and Mr Oraham ' Brrr.rno for the first tinv.' at rfce Theatre ; Royal 'Jast night. ° ,u w,rh thtt j tli.;Ki6 that too much love evinced «m , the part of a wii'o tends to m~ko. a man, j if not indifferent, at least not averse to ; a little intrigue. Penoio; e a-.- intensely loving wife, who exhibits poihaps a little too much afveclioii tot. aidht>r equally loving husband, a rising young doctor.-with the result that, tirod "for the time of this surfeit, ho has a little affair with a wu.ow. Penelope's doavest friend. TeJUnope s father, a nrot'e.ssor with a keen * n>ii;n■■ into human nature, sighuy diagnoses the trouble as. a satiety *ii nJio-t"v;, a in prescribes an unconvon , .v?;u>! : not divorce, but a very >u_jr - fervneo to her hpsband on l't:>;>e part. A* he put it, "H-.v.y v.-i;!-.! -v? like strawberry ice for break:-5 Si. .-triiv.' berrv ice for lunch, and strav. !-erry | for tea? it is 'the- same with love. Suffice it to say that the prescription, though attended ail through by tho most laughable results, proves eminently successful. Though essontiallv comedy. '•"Penelope" at no time borders on farce. On tho other hand, it has in parts quite a dramatic bent, and, even if the characters are a little impossible, it shows a keen knowledge of human nature on the part of the author. It is full of rcallv humorous situations, and sparkles with witty, and also very true, dialogue, and altogether is one of the most enjoyable comedies yet seen here. Miss Marie Tempest made willing captires of her audieneo from the time she stepped on the stage until the linal curtain fell. In the name part of Penelope sbe had a role which suited her admirably, that of a true little "sport" with a keen sense of humour, a decided bent for fun. and much love for her erring husband. As in the "Marriage of Kitty," it was her wonderful and refreshing naturalness that impressed one most. She not only acted the part ; she was it; perhaps that is hardly right, for one could not make up one's mind whether Marie Tempest was Penelope, or Penelope was Marie Tempest. With her fund of comedy, her exquisite command over her voice, and her natural ease and grace, she gare as finished a performance as one could wislv to see, and sho thoroughly deserved the many recalls she received after every act. In tho somewhat difficult part of .Th'. CFarrell, MiGraham Browne scored another decided success. The role gave him numerous opportunities for overdoing the comedy work, Vint he at no time seized them, and acted with a quiet restraint, that; made his performance all tho more meritorious and convincing. His scenes with the patients in bis consulting-room were particularly funny, and incidentally went to show that he has taken more than a, passing glance into the sanctuary of a real medico- In tho heavier passages he was quite dramatic enough, perhaps grazing the border-line of the melodramatic, but bis interpretation lost nothing hy that. Taking the part of an Irish doctor, he introduced the faintest touch of brogue, .iusfc enough to give the necessary "local touch" to the character. The two principals were admirably sustained by the rest of the company. Miss Gwen Burroughs again took the part of tho "other woman" —this time a "grass widow" to whom little affairs wore as the breath of life —and she made the most of her part. Incidentally it might be said that tho frocks worn by Miss Tempest and Miss Burrows aroused general admiration. Mr Sidney Sterling again ''made good" a-s the discerning professor, and was well backed up by Miss Ethel Morrison in the role of his wife. Mr Leslie Victor was quite snobbish enongli as the middle-aged "bounder" cousin of Penelope, and the rest of the easto was also happily placed. The play was extremely well staged, the especially in the last act, being of a -iigh order, while the lighting effects were also first-class. "Penelope" will be staged for the last time to-night. It will give pla-ce to-morrow night to "Mrs Dot/' which will also bo played on Monday night. OPERA HOUSE. A large audience at the Opera House last night witnessed the varied and entertaining programme submitted by Fuller's Vaudeville Company. The spontaneous applause and the frequent demands for recalls were evidences of the popularity.of the programme. The revue "Hokey-Pokev," with its tuneful numbers, its pretty dresses, and its humorous incidents, was well received. To-night, the same programme will be repeated.