MARIE TEMPEST SEASON.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17430, 15 April 1922, Page 13

MARIE TEMPEST SEASON.

"PENELOPE." Tl*.ose who saw Mils Mono Tempest an 4 Mr Graham Browno on their first visit to Xc-w Zealand have pleasrurablo recollections of the domestic comedy-drama "Penelope," which is generally recognised as one of Miss Tempest's greatest London successes. "Penelope" waa selected as the Second production of th,e present season, and was played on Thursday night, for one performance only. It is a sparkling littlo piece, half comedy, half drama, frcm the .pen of TV. Somerset Maugham, and is just the kind of thin? in which Miss Tempest and Mr Browne roval. The actual "book" does not supply any particularly dramatic, nor any particularly humorous l , in thj broad comedy sense, situations, but it very skilfully weaves drama and comedy together right through, without making either obtrusive, yet, to'speak para- ■ doxically, giving a full flavour to both. For the greater part, : tlio first act is not particularly interesting, serving as a Icind of synopsis of tho situation in. the O'Farrell household, but the two following acta are excellent, and they Fervo to create a redly delightful and intensely human little play. Tho themo of the whole thing is a wife's diplomacy in breaking off ap intrigue between her husband and an attra-ctivo girl of tho adventurers type, and a well-written play with such a theme, having two such thorough artists as Miss Tempest and Mr Browne at the helm; could not but be a success. Miss Tempest played the part of the wife, camouflaging her love, and jealousy T pe'fectly. She is commonly described as a comedienne cf tho highest type, a description! which'fits htr admirably, but she has just tho proper dash of tho ; dramatio in her os well. ,Ab a matter of fact, her conception of the part was mcro a character study, and a very fine one, of a woman filled with jealousy and epite, hiding liar feelings under two cloaks—apparent indifference to her husband and friendship to her rival Miss Tempest's quiet comedy was immense, and her every action stamned her as a thorough and experienced artiste. Mr Grahata Browne was tho foil of tho cast, ant 1 hi.3 performance, too, bore tho stamp of tho cultured actor. Mr Browne ia a thorough comedian of tho quiet sort, who gets his effects not bo much through hiß lines, as by has Personality. He via the central figure for the greater part of the last two acts, but one never tired of him, ha waa eo refreshingly natural and so 6pontaneou?ly. humorous. He, too, knows how to handle a dramatic or sentimental sitiiatiou. After the two principals, chief honours fall to Mr Ashton Jarry, who gave an excellent' etudv of the large-hearted old scientist. • Mr Frank Allanby was quite successful as ft middle-aged would-be philanderer, while Miss Dorothy Hamilton s fine stage presence and elocution made her a noticeable vampire. Miss Doris Gilham had little to do r but to appear as Mrs Golaghtly, but she' fitted into the picture admirably, and all the minor parts were capably filled. "MB PIM PASSES BY."

' To-night and on Monday will to presented for'the first 4ime "Mr Pim Passes By," by A v A. Milne. In this latest comedy, now. and again dangerously near to tragedy, we find Miss Tempest as a woman who, _ believing h'er, hugbiuid-to bß'dead, ha 3 married. again. Then copies the terrible moment when Mrs M&rden, lis shenow is, discovers that ehe is a bigamist, and 'that her first husband,, Mr Tejiworthy, is, a-Hve. The Maidens wonder how publicity and scandal are to bo avoided, and plan for "an annulment of the marriage and another wedding. Just at this juncture Mf Pim once more passes by, and drops' in to tell iia friends that tho man he met on board was not Telworthy but a fellow called Polwittlo. Mr Grahanie Browne, as tho regular . conservative type, of English I ceiitliJJnati, with: a" profound respect for the proprieties, mates wonderful use of the op portunitiea afforded by the rolo of Mr Marden. Miss Marie Tempest, of course, as Mrs Harden, invests the part .' with a wealth' of detail and a subtlety of characterisation thqt; has mado her world . famous. She ,is the; original ; Mother most fetainine and • natural 'of wivefr —and it' is hard to realise at times that she if acting. As a curtain-rsiser, a clever little one-act play,_" The Dumb and the Blind,," will be, given.'- Mr' (Sraianie Browne,, as Joe the' bargee, gives a fine study of an East End of London type. Tuesday night, the last, night of, tho season, is announced "The Great Adventure." , The box plans 'for to-night and Monday are at Tapper's Ldllio Store.