"THE FIRST MRS FRASER."

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20280, 4 July 1931, Page 6

"THE FIRST MRS FRASER."

J. C. WILLIAMSON'S COMEDY COMPANY. 'THEATRE ROYAL. JULY 11th. Miss Ethel Morrison, the brilliant New Zealand actress, who will make her reappearance here, after an absence of seven years, in "The First Mrs Eraser," and Noel Coward's "Hay Eever," two of the best and most successful comedy-dramas staged in recent years, which are to be produced by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., on Saturday next at the Theatre Royal, made a name for herself by her outstanding talent in a number of important plays in New York and London, atid she will doubtless be accorded a big reception when she appears in the title role _iu the flret-named play on Saturday evening nest. "If it were possible," wrote a Sydney critic, "to lower the conceit of post-war youth in the invulnerability of its ideals, Mr St. John Ervine's brilliant/ comedy, 'The Eirst Mrs Eraser,' should achieve that object. Modern youth, however,> iis firmly assured of its entire superiority <over the conventions and beliefs of its parents that Ervine's sporkling satire is likely to pasa over its hoads or rebound from tho armour of its overwhelming conceit. Though 'The First Mrs Eraser' is based mainly on divorce, there is nothing in its bright and witty dialoguo that can give offence. Its initial performance on Saturday night wan an unqualified success, due as much to tbe> uniform excellence of the cast as to Ervine's undoubted genius." "Ethel Morrison," wrote another critic, "has in the name part of 'The First Mrs Fraser' a rolo which far transcends in difficulties that in which she triumphed in 'Let Us Be Gay.' It is for this reason that her success as Janet Eraser is all the greater. She does all that is expected of her, and more, and she can lay claim to bo one of the finest actreisses ever seen in Australia." The same critic wrote: "J. B. Rowe, as the somewhat selfish and foolish middle-aged Scotsman who has been divorced once and is about to be divorced again, plays a part also bristling with difficulties with great aplomb.. His make-up is a triumphant work of art, and his Scottish accent almost irreproachable." As the ultra modern Elsie Eraser (the second Mrs Fraser) Miss Mary Macgregor, it is said, has achieved one o£ her best successes, and so have Leslie Victor as Phillip Lop;an, John Woorl as Ninian Fraser. Roger Barry as M'jrdo Eraser, Noel Boyd as Mrs Murdo Fraser, and'Eileen Morris as Mabel. "The First Mrs Fraser" will be presented here on the same scale of completeness which was a feature of its representation in Melbourne. The bos plans will open on Thursday next at The Bristol, and first nighter seats will be sot aside as usual. The prices to be charged are in accordance with the times, and a successful season should be assured. Five sticks, plus one match, equals one fire! That is the sum total! of our "cub and-dried" kindling. Bags of full measure reduced from 3s 6d to 2s 9d. 'Phone 38-313; G. McClatchie and Oow s Ltd., 160 Hereford *fcree&, —1