“LEAVE IT TO JANE”

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 99, 21 January 1926, Page 4

“LEAVE IT TO JANE”

FOOTBALL MUSICAL

COMEDY

"Leave It to Jane.’’ a musical comedy in two acts. Books and lyrics by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse. Music by Jerome Kern. Cast: —

Olivo Mitchell John Stuart Matty McGowan Percy Le rre Jimsey Hopper Harry Williams Stub Talmadge Leyland Hodgson Silent Murphy Neville lowirn Peter Witherspoon Jack Cannot Bessie Tanner Elma Gibbs Flora Wiggins Dorothy Lena Howard Talbot Freddie McKay Jane Witherspoon Mona Barlee Hiram Bolton Harry Wotton Sally Cameron Belta Nugent Billy Bolton Cecil B. Scott Hon. Elam Hicks Hugh Steyne Harold Bub Hicks Athol Tiers

That industrious trio, Messrs. Guy Bolton, P. G. Wodehouse and Jerome Kern, creators of musical frivolities of the passing moment, have provided a football musical comedy in “Leave It to Jane," produced for the first time in New Zealand last night at the Grand Opera House by J. C. Williamson’s New English Musical Comedy Company. It is that queer American football, not Rugby, that the boys of Attwater College become madly excited about, but even so something of the crazy enthusiasm caused bv Attwater’s victory over Bingham College is cleverly conveyed to the audience. Attwater’s team is m low water at the beginning, and when it becomes known tlij.it Billy Bolton, of football renown, is going to join Bingham, the Attwater lads beseech Jane, the beautiful daughter of President Witherspoon, to vamp Billy- to induce him to play for Attwater instead of Bingham, though his father is chief patron of the Bingham institution. To do this, Billy at the suggestion of the wily Jane, pretends to be someone else, and as that someone he enters Attwater, and in the historic match secures the victory for his ride. M hen old Bolton hears of this ht is furious, and gives his son the "shove down,’’ but what does Billy care, for Jane is loyal and true, and promises very sweetly to be his particular burden through life. This is far from being the only love affair in the play. Stub Talmadge, who is a busy plotter and a fast worker, is kept in a glow of heavenly ecstasy by the sweet forwardness of pert little Bessie Tanner, whilst Bub Hicks finds in Flora Wiggins sufficient attraction to keep him hot and bothered during his vain struggle for intellectual advancement. The company engaged in the production of the comedy is well up to the J. C. Williamson standard, and there can be little doubt that all Wellington will wish to become inoculated with the joy germ the comedy spreads. The music is bright and catchy, and there is always something doing to enchain the attention and delight the eye, including the kaleidoscopic motion of a full singing ballet and chorus. Wellington had the pleasure of showing its appreciation of the clever broad comedy .parts ot Miss Dorothy Lena, an English comedienne, who as Flora Wiggins (whoso mother takes in college boarders) exhibited a rich vein of humour which caused a succession of storms of laughter.. This performer was particularly comic in the song Cleopatterrer," a burlesque on the queen who vamped Anthony and Caesar in the days of Rome’s greatness, but even more subtle was her comedy in “A New Kind of Man," which has in it the germ of certain popularity. Miss Elmer Gibbs also scored a success as Bessie Tanner, and her many intimacies with Stub Talmadge (Mr. Leyland Hodgson) lost nothing in warmth and piquancy. Miss Mona Barlee, a tall brunette, was admirably suited as Jane, to whom everything is left. Her songs' Wait 1 ill -tomorrow” and “The Crickets are Calling,were quite melodious, as weie also the concerted numbers "Leave It To Jane," “There It Is Again, and “The Siren’s Song," in which she was engaged. Mr. Leyland Hodgson made Stub Talmadge one of the king pins of the comedy's action. He is robustious in character, and lends hearty cheer to any song or situation in which lie is concerned. One of the most grotesque characters seen in musical comedy for quite a time is the Bub Hicks ot Mi. lAMiol Tier, ,wh’p makes thin Igawby product of Oshkosh an object of scorn and laughter among the college boys, but Bub is all unconscious of his own rawness, and dashes round in the mosiabsurd Oxford bags. Mr. lier has the silly comedy business down to a hue point, and is a wonderfully funny eccentric dkneer. His big laughing hits were in the songs, “I Miss My (sung in absurd Alpine attire), and 1 Had to be Home by Nine" (ope of his successes in vaudeville). Capital character studies were given by Mr. Jack Cannot as Dr. Witherspoon and Mr. Harry’ Wotton ae Hiram Bolton. Mr. Percy le Fro was bright and dapper as Matty McGowan, the college i-Huner, and Mr. F. McKay as Upward Talbot, a college tutor, also contributed to the humour of the play. Mr. Hugh Steyne,, too was capital in the scenes in which he was concerned as the H.on. Elam Hicks Air. Cecil Scott made Billy Bolton a very presentable young man, and acted the role with becoming seriousness. One of the bright features of the plav was the college concert, in which the old quartet ‘ Sweet and Low is charmingly sung by the full chorus among other numbers. I here Plenty of dancing, most of which was framed by Miss Minnie Hooper. Mr. (ass Downing controls a competent orchestra. "Leave it to Jane” will lie repeated to-night, and the six following evenings. Tn addition a special matinee has been arranged for next. Wednesday at ? P-in. to which children will be admitted at half-rates. Dox plans for ihe entire season are now open At the uristoi.