“AMBROSE APPLEJOHN’S ADVENTURE”

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 103, 26 January 1924, Page 4

“AMBROSE APPLEJOHN’S ADVENTURE”

4 *- A FANTASTICAL COMEDY “Ambrose Applejolm’s Adventure',” tho cliecrful, I’antastioal comedy which was introduced to Wellington playgoers a little over a year ago, was revived by the Williamson Company, headed by Mr. Lawrence Grossmith, at the GrandOpera House last evening. Mr. Grossmith made an immediate impression in the rote of Ambrose Apple John when he first appeared in Wellington, an impression which was, if anything, deepenod last evening when ho once more demonstrated what an easy transition can a highly-coloured past by dmuning that be made between tho smug present and ho has slipped back through tho mists of time, and jumped into the piratical top-boots and petticoat of tho notorious founder of the family fortune—Captain Applejack. But before tho leap backwards that craving for adveutuxp is given a fillip by the appearance in brose’s secluded home on the CornisH coast of two shady persons, one Anna Valeska, an alleged Russian dancer, mid the other Borolslcy, a revolutionary spy. Anna imposes on the Ambrose by pretending to be in fear oi her life at the hands of the pursuing Borolsky, who is supposed to be after her jewels. It is in depositing those jewels in a sajfei place Jhiit Ambrose discovers a document- which discloses now his am cestar waded through blood and to respectability. It is idter this that, tired out by tne events of the day. he folio asleep, and dreams—wonders. Ambrose is not the quiet, Missy little country gentleman, but is a Applejack, a rip-roanng-pirate, “full of strange oaths, and Deeded like a pard,” rattling antediluvidV weapons on tho high, poop of his ancient craft. Hero Mr. Grossmith gms a most treasurable performance of a gentle Cornisih gentleman transformed for the nonce into a swaggering bully and cutthroat, playing cards for a Portuguese girl. at one quelling a mutiny at another. And when at last lie wakes and is ieelm o his way buck to consciousness, he <»»- not refrain from, roaring Hell, Stu. your stumps, blast w!” to his ch i l j rn “‘° cousin, and Ids “Thus perish all wlw cross my path!” when lie foils the burwlnrs. briuthb [house dbwn. No Sindian could wish for a better. vehicle for the display of his versatility and etiarm of personality, and • smith will we venture to say, be best remembered for hia Ambrose Applejohn'pi?€ <■ -risi& ticaJly tlhe same as w-hen Ambrose Atroetohn’s Adventure” wan. played uX ] the brief title of “Captom Apptoinck" fourteen months ago. x Miss Diana .Wilson., in a resplendent array of teauj tiful frocks, is once more the beautiful American thief, masquerading as Anna Valeska to the .first act, and as t lady to the piratical dieam, acting''with the same lavish flamtoiovnnce and "vamping” the susceptible Ambrose with all the license of a movie St? Miss Wilson *V lw X’ P ?Shv and invariably effective. • Miss Dorothj Seacombe is new to the role of Poppy played h<«re by % Dwto Kewd'al, and her tear-stinngled intonation was not at all out of place as thXrrous little ®aid who w playing subtly for the heart and hand of the fatuous Ambrose. Iwn Borolsky is deeply etched by Mr. Ashton Jarrj, and W Paul Plunket is once more Johnny Jason, the man who can sell anything and the author of the pirate treasure “sell.” Mito A^' aJ is excellent as Aunt Mabel Gower and Mr. Leslie, vicroi figure as Mr. and Mrs. Pengard, the would-be burglars. An excellent character sketch as Lush, the butler, is given by Mr. Edmund Duggan- „ - “Ambrose Applejohn s Adventure will bo repeatexl at the Grand Opera House to-night and again on Monday next. On Tuesday next and two following evenings, the last nights of the. season, will be presented, “The Silver I 1 ox. ’