“FRENCH LEAVE”

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 286, 17 August 1926, Page 4

“FRENCH LEAVE”

delightful war comedy REVIVED “French Leave,” a comedy in three acts, by Reginald Berkeley. Cast:— Corporal Sykes Fred Coape Rifleman Jenks Felix Bland Dorothy (Mademoiselle Juliette) Muriel Starr Captain Harry Glenister Kenneth Brampton Brigadier-General Root . Harvey Adams Lieutenant George Graham Raymond Lawrence M. Jules Marnier Kyrle Sylvaney Madame Denaux Bertha Ballenger One of the smartest, most possible, and certainly the most amusing war comedies, “French Leave” (originally played by the Emilie Polini Company), was revived by Miss Muriel Starr at the Grand Opera House last night with remarkable success. There was a fitness in the casting of the comedy, a spirit in its performance, and an evidence of thorough rehearsal from- the leads down to the smallest part that made the performance a sheer delight to witness. Miss Starr has g'ven many good performances both in comedy and emotional drama, and her sleek winsonieness, her feminine lure, and her easy assumption of the role of the bogus French actress must take high rank among them. She played with the affections of the audience every bit as effectively as she does with those of the officers at brigade headquarters, when as Mdlle. Juliette she poses as the daughter of the landlady of the General’s billet in order to be near her husband, Captain Harry Glenister. For her, awaiting her husband’s leave in Paris, her trip to the front is a glorious escapade; for him, her presence there is a grave breach of Army orders. With her knowledge of French she solves the difficulty by bribing the old lady to allow her to remaiii on the premises as her daughter. Then the fun begins. Dorothy Gleniston is exceedingly attractive and each officer in turn falls a victim to the charms of one whom they believe to be a fascinating little French girl. Glenister has to endure Lieut. Graham’s idiotic ravings over this “peach of a French fille,” whilst even the old Brigadier-General comes under her spell. The comedy progresses cheerfully to a climax when night falls upon the scene, and Glenister seeks an interview with his three months’ bride. He has barely embraced her when another form looms up in the moonlight. It is Graham in search of adventure, seeking the fair Juliette. The concealed pair watch him approach Juliette’s room, to fall cursing over a loose board. The clatter brings forth the General in night attire, who encounters Graham and charges him with being a scoundrel. But tin's fresh young man pleads innocence, and says truly that he has not seen Juliette. Then old Mother Denaux is trodden on in the dark by the general, and screams aloud that he has absconded with her daughter. At length all go to seek the missing Juliette in the garden, which gives her the opportunity of regaining her room. When it seems that all immediate danger is at an end. the general gets the notion that Mrs. Glenister (alias Juliette, is a German spy, and ’he following morning things look so black that the Glenisters confess. But bv this time a communication has been sent to the divisional general about the spy, and trouble of a serious character snreads like a nail over all three, until the general finds his letter returned unopened, and himself appointed to f-’ke command of the division. He at once orders Dorothy to Paris, under military escort —that of her husband. Miss Starr’s diversity of mood, her command of broken English, and real French, her spirit of fun, her irresistible cajolery found full scope as Juliet’e. She was most ably supported. Mr. Harvey Adams gave a sterling performance as General Root, getting the fine crusty flavour of old age and fine gallantry of an English gentleman into what was a very convincing bit of admirably sustained character work. The fact that he had a heavy cold gave his voice some queer inflections that were in full accord with the character. Mr. Kenneth Brampton was excellent as the jealous husband, Captain Glenister, whc<«e furious outbursts against his fellow-officer were genuinely amusing. Mr. Raymond Lawrence infused the spirit of impressionable youth into the role of Lieutenant Graham, and Mr. K. Sylvaney was well placed as M. Marnier, the interpreter, who fancies he has hunted down a notorious international spy. Excellent, too, were Mr. Fred. Coape as Corporal Sykes and Mr. Felix Bland as Private Jenks, whose by-play is a feature of the comedy.

“French Leave” was preceded by the amusing one-act comedy, “Between the Soup and the Savoury',” by Gertrude Jennings, an interlude of the kitchen, in which the imagination of a kitchenmaid runs riot, to the amazement of the cook and parlourmaid. This sketch was cleverly played by Misses Bertha Ballenger, Clarice Kingsley, and Bebe Scott. “French Leave” will be played again to-night and to-morrow night, and on Thursday will be succeeded by that popular dramatic success, “Within the Law.”

No play in recent years has made such a deep impression as Bayard Veiller’s American police drama. "Within the Law.” The tremendous success and popularity which "Within the Law” has gained in Australia is due ’areely to the fact that the centra! figure of the play Mary Turner, is portr2.yc<l by Miss Muriel Starr, with whose rarae this very exciting drama is inseparable. Those who have seen her in it have been convinced by her wonderfully natural interpretation of the part. As the curtain falls on the first act. Mary Turner dramatically vows to revenge herself upon Edward Gilder, her wealthy employer, who has had her sent to prison for a theft, of which she stoutly proclaimed her innocence. How she rlans to carry out her threat when she is released from prison makes the succeeding acts exciting "Within the Law’’ will be presented by Miss Muriel Starr at lhe Grand Opera House on Thursday night, as a special farewell performance, being considered the most suitable plav with which to conclude her Wellington season. The box plans for the remaining nights of the season arc now open at the Bristol.