“OH, LADY, LADY”

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 120, 6 February 1923, Page 9

“OH, LADY, LADY”

A HIGH-SPEED MUSICAL COMEDY “Oh, Lady Lady,” a musical comedy in two acts, bv Guy Bolton and P. C. Wodehouse. Music by Jerome Kern. Cast — Willoughby Finch Cyril Bitchard Halo Underwood Ronald Hogue Molly Farrington Fipie-A ll , Oll Mrs. Farrington Millie Engler Marjorie Barber Madge Biuuiu Spike Hudgins (Finch’s valet) IV. S. Percy Fanny Welch (Fainting Fanny) Mayd Fane Cyril Townsley Cecil Kelleway Watty (janitor at Waverley Mews) Field Fisher Parker (maid at Mrs. Fanrinstoii’s) Ella Nugent “Oh, Lady, Lady,” the jolly musical farce played by the Williamson Musical Comedy Company at tho Grand Opera House last evening, is a six-cylinder gloom-chaser, which defies all speed laws, raising enough hilarious dust in its flight to obscure its constitutional ineptitude and lack of moral fibre. All ok which says that it is a merry and bright trifle, bubbling with catchy melodies; charming girls in distractingly pretty frocks, daring dances, tinselled scenery, and a certain risque humour, which many people deplore and more giggle at. In short, ,oa, Lady. Lady,” is a modern' American musical comedy, with a kick. It was hugely, almost flagrantly, enjoyed by a largo audience last evening, denotin<x that once more tho company and the bill are in perfect harmony with popular taste. Jerome Kern can always be depended upon to produce music that will tinkle for tho hour and be heard no more, and when it is reinforced with such popular numbers as “Whispering” and “Mammy, one’s only regret is; that copyrights are not more strictly guarded. Jhe plot concerns the love affair of V> iLoughby Finch) who when about to marry Molly Farrington, is baulked by a chapter of comic accidents not unconnected with other people’s love affairs. Marjorie Barber, one of Finch’s old “affairs,” turns no at the last moment, and his best man. Hale Underwood, in arranging that she shall not, smother the wcddhig bells, arranges an idiotic plan, which upsets everything. This plan involves “Spike” Hudgins and Fanny Welch, of the underworld, who become suspected of stealing a string of pearls (the groom’s gift to the bride), and Cyril Townsley, a fat and flippant private detective with an exaggregated Bond Street accent, and a Chaplin cane. The scenes are tho Farrington drawing-room and a roof garden in Greenwich Village (New Jerk), the Latin quarter of Gotham, a place allegeci to be an excuse for any brand of naughtiness. Tlie new comed.y sees 'Miss Maud Fane in a new role. As Fanny Welch, better known to the police as “Fainting Fanny,” owing to the manner in. which she picks pockets, Miss Fane displayed new facets in comedy, glinting from this or that auric throughout the evening. “I Found You” and “Th’nk of Me” (with Mr. Percy)) were two bright numbers with a comic kink, and “Mammy,” frayed as it is, took on a new charm, as sung by this charming comedienne io a ukolele band accompaniment. In Act 11, as the bride of “Spike,” the reformed burglar, Miss Fane stopped back a hundred years in her frocking without any explanation hevoud that she made an exceedingly fascinating picture as a contemporary flapper of the late Queen Victoria of blessed memory. Mr. W. S. Percy, as “Spike,” tho imperturbable, was consistently amusing in his own characteristic way. Mr. Cyril Ritchard gave a particularly able performance as the postponed bridegroom, leading a- debonair grace to the humours of this much-worried young man. Mr. Ritchard’s dancing is a feature of the performance. One of the most gifted performers in this clever combination is Miss Madgo Elliott, who is not only a superb dancer, hut is a. very capable . and showy actress, and quite a good singer, virtues that are not usually allotted to an individual. Her assumption of the role of Marjorie Barber was as daring as it was clever, and her dancing in “My Lady Nicotine” mav bo similarly characterised. Whilst dancing is tho theme, mention should be made of the eccentric burglar dance by Jack Hooker. Phil Kennedy, and Gwenny Withers, which provoked much laughter. Miss I’loie Allen was modest and sweet, as Molly Farrington, and her tuneful voice was heard pleasantly in “Silvery Moon,” “Whispering,” and “When My Ships Come Sailing Home” (with a choral backing in each case). Miss Millie Engler was suited as matronly Mrs. Farrington; Mr. Field Fisher was an unctions eccentric as Watty, the elevator man, and Mr. Cecil Kelleway as Townslev, the swell detective, was delightfully humorous in quite another key. A nimble-footed ballet added much to the agitated gaiety of the show. Much of the success of the comedy was due to the orchestra under Air. Harry .Barton’s skilful direction. “Oh, Lady Lady,” will bo played until Friday evening. “Alary,” a late success, will be played on Saturday evening next.