THEATRE ROYAL.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17989, 5 February 1924, Page 7

THEATRE ROYAL.

"ENTER, MADAME." Hiss Gcrirudo Elliott and her clever company delighted another large audienco in the Theatre Royal last right in the comedy "Enter, Madame." The prcduction is comedy pure and simple, and makes no pretensions to anything- more serious at any stage. Tho joint authors have made of it a play at ail times easy to follow, and if they have taken advantage of the licence allowed dramatists, they have in every instance secured the effect sought after. Comparisons, we are to»d, are odious, but if Miss Gertrude Ellioit is not quite the best comedy actresj ever seen in Christchurch, she. approaches that distinction So closely as to make it iminaM:ena: to whom it belongs. She is inspired oy the art which conceals art, and "from the moment she steps on the stage eho ceases to be Miss Elliott and becomes, for the time being, the character fhe represents. She has now been' seen in four characterisations, each quite distinct from its predecessor, yet in every part she has con--rived to sink her own personality and T>rescr.t instead the character itself. In this her latest part, that of Lisa Delia Robbiaf (Madarue), she is the. personification °r Pf rfcctlon . giving a remarkable portrayal of the winsome, impetuous Italian who cannot help dramatising life itself, and who almost ignores her husband's existence altogether -until she thinks she is ab?ut to lose him—or appears to think so. Next to the star in point of merit was Mr "William Moliison, as Gerald Fitzgerald, Madame's hnsoand. Ho gave a splendid performance aS jr. man ws, ° was so bad <y neglected, and who, despite it all, was very much in love with his wife. He was alternately ill tempered and good natured, according t<? the demands of tho part, which was by no means an easy one. Hiss Lilias "Waldegrave was effective as Mrs Flora Preston, who desired to supplant Mndnmo as Mrs Fitzgerald. The chagrin she felt at the frustration of her plan's and the consequent vituperative onslaught on the weman who brought it about, was cleverly simulated. Miss Maggie Mooro, who, as Kadamc's maid, appeared for the first time' of the season, did excellent work, and showed that although many year 3 have passed oinco she was first seen in New Zealand, she still possesses the power to charm.' The other members- of the company were successful in their various parts. "Enter, Madame," can only be staged two more nights, the season definitely closing to-morrow.