THE ROBERTS-DAY CO.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 876, 23 July 1910, Page 6

THE ROBERTS-DAY CO.

"THE CASE OF REBELLIOUS SUSAN." ■ "The Case of Rebellious. Susan," a comedy by Henry Arthur Jones.' Cast — Sir Richard Kato, Q.O. Mr. H. B. Eoberts Sir Joseph Darby Mr. John Forde ■James Harabin Mr. Oonway Winslield Ferguson Pybus ....... Mr. A. E. Greenawa-y. Lucien Edensor Mr. Harry Sweeney Mr. Jaxjomb Mr.. 'Wilson Forbes Footman .....,._ _. Mr. J. Oswald Hotel Waiter Mr. Harry Herbert Lady Darby _. Miss Lorna Forbes Mrs. Quesnel .._: Miss Elwyn Harvey Elaine Shrimpton .... Miss Ethel Bashford Kirby Miss Laing-Meason Lady Susan Harabin ... Miss Beatrice Day What a thoroughly delightful comedy Henry Arthur Jones presents in "The Case of Rebellious Susan," which exhibits him as a master craftsman in the art of play-writing. One feature of Mr. Jones's plays that is forced on one is the tine degree of truth that springs spontaneously as the plot develops— his pressure is 'so firm and incisive on the button of natural that \\ ' would seem that there was no other lino of argument possible, no other buttons to press. In this play another phase of the eternal sex problem is made the basis of as charming a play as one would care to see. It is brightly "scored," so to epeak, and is charged with much delicate humour and flashes of irony which strike fire when more often than not they convey admitted truths in the 'hilosophy appertaining to domestic life. "The question or sex was solved long ago in the Garden of Eden, and that's all about it," says Sir Richard Cato,. who also remarks that sauco for the goose is .hot sauce for thofiauder, and never can be, to which sensible Lady Darby replies: "No, there could nover have been such a sauce; if there were, our grandmothers would havo found it out, and left us the receipt." Jim Harabin, a rather affected man-about-town, has tho misfortune (shall we call it), to,be.found out in a pecca- ■ diilo by his very 'estimable- wife, Lady Susan. There., are,, letters—and Jim's 'confession'.;? .;Hor.; trouble is how to achieve a'just revenge, without losing .her self-respect or place in society. Sir Richard Kato, her guardian, does his best to bring the two together in a convontional way, but Lady Sue will have none, of it: She talks of paying him back in his own coin, and rushes away to Cairo with her friend Mrs. Quesnel. While there she meets young Lucien Edensor, who falls madly in love with her, and who is apparently allowed to declare himself—if it goes no further. Back in' England, Edenaoi- anti Latly Susan meet by accident nt Kato'iJ. There is some pretty fibbing all round, .through; which the shrewd old divorco ; court Q.C. sees,, and on whioh ho acts. Edeiiaor is packed off to New Zealand, ■ and Lady Sue, believing him to be her one true and faithful soul among all'men, grieves and continues to stare hard at her problem. She has become : quite indifferent to Harabiii (who is amusingly distressed at the situation) and will not meet or speak to him. Then comes Mr. , Jacomh, from New Zealand, who went , out in the samo steamer with Edensor. He describes low Edensor was ■ depressed for some time after the boat left, and how ho (Jaconib) made a wager with his brother that young Edensor would fall in love with his pretty niece during thevoyage. The narrative ends with Jαcomb handing a-packet of wedding-cake of Kato, Lady Susan, and Mrs. Quesnel, together with, a photograph of Edensor and his bride. Shocked at the faithlessness of the man who had sworn to be true till death, a way is opened for a reconciliation, which is brought about after a scene of exquisite humour between Lady Sue and her erring spouse. ■ ,'t Theatregoer.i should be deeply indebted to tho Glarke-Meynell Company for their excellent performances. The impressipn it has made in Wellington is not at:all weakened by last evening's performance. .There were little roughnesses, here and there, inseparable from a first performance,. but oa the whole the play was handled with a nico perception of tho.artistic qualities.of tlie play. ' Mr. H. R. Roberts was not, perhaps so well suited as Sir Richard Cato as in other parts, but his admirable judgment and keen comedy sense mado his performance most acceptable. Miss Beatrice Day, though just a t-riflo norvous here and there, invested the character with a pleasing individuality, and, in her case also, a racy appreciation of the' humour of things, kept her on excollent terms with the audience. Easily the best acting performance was the James HarabiiV of Mr. Conway Wingfield, ' who completely lost his identity in a fine comedy study—that of an inclusive, rather bored member, of society, who realises, he is in a mess, but ■■. hasn't an idea how to got out of it. Tho scene with Miss Day in the last, .act was certainly the best in tho play, and both players deserve high praise for the manner in which they handled it. Another performance one must single out for special mention is that of Miss Ethel Bashford as Elaino Shrimpton, who'conceives 1 herself to have a mission in the world. With her pseudo-artistic nincompoop of a husband. Ferguson Pybus (Mr. A. E. Greenawny), she created some evcollent comedy. Mr. Harry Sweeney made a highly presentable'Lucien Edensor, and Mr. John Fordo made Sir Joseph Darby a rough old sea-dog, rathor too inclined to carry the manners.of the quarter-deck into tho drawing-room. Miss Elwyn Harvey mado Mrs. Quesiiel a very lovable person, and she was graceful and refined in her acting. Miss Lorna Forbes was well suited as Lady Darby, and Mr. Forbes quite admirable as Mr. Jacomb. The season will close this evening, when "Tho Case of Rebellious Susan" .will again be presented.