“THARK”

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 290, 7 September 1928, Page 6

“THARK”

A LAUGHABLE MYSTERY ’ FARCE “Thark.” a farcical comedy in three acts, by lien Travers. Cast ~ Leslie Victor Pouise Willa Lyndberg Cherry Buck Helene Simon r • ,‘i wi-ndi D<m- Farrall Mr “ Frush Minnie Rayner Sir Hector Benbow, Bart... Cyril I ernon Ronald Gamble Hastings Lynn Lady Benbow J* lllo Kittv Stratton• • Beth Mackey A,, ’ Victor Fitzherbert Whittle’:.'.' Willie Clifton It is unique here for a company to introduce in one season three successful new plays by tiie same author, yet this is what Williamsons New English Company lias done. Playgoers should lie -rateful, too, that they have been ” produced within little over ■i vear of their London premiere, where they attracted very large audiences for long seasons at the Aldwych riieatie. “Thark,” the third •of the Travers trilo-v is just ns uproariously funny - ’ as its two predecessors, just as diversified. in good character tvpes, and just as verbally twisttnl. Everv line has its laugh, and such is the merry invention of tiie author that comical situations tumble over one another. Perhaps "Thark” is a trifle more ’spicy in its gay play of inference, but being evolved in a spirit of the purest fun. it carries no nastiness with it. It is the incurable streak of Lothario in Sir Hector Benbow that causes all the mischief. This dear old rough-tongued, straight-speaking old English “bird cannot resist the twirl of a pretty ankle, and ever in the bright sunlight ot Bond Street, he finds Cherry Buck, a shop assistant, not altogether unresponsive to his advances. In the convenient absence of Lady Benbow he invites tho girl to call on him, and off to the races himself, tells Hook (his man) to inform the lady that he will dine, with her at 7.15 p.m., but Hook has bis domestic duties, and Cherry, ns well as a certain Mrs. Frush, call, and both are. given the dinner invitation. Even that would have been managed but for the fact that Lady Benbow unexpectedly' returns to town, with Kitty .Stratton (Sir Hector’s ward). Sir Hector has roped in his nephew, Ronnie Gamble (Kitty s fiance) to help him out of the dinner disaster, but their schemes arc hopelessly tangled by the miscarriage of events. Mrs. Frosh's presence at the Benbow menage is accounted for by the fact that she Elis purchased the country house "Thark” from Miss Stratton, through the agency of Sir Hector, and wishes to repudiate" the contract as she has discovered the place to be haunted. Ronnie., to get back into his fiancee’s good graces, offers to investigate the well-grounded complaint, mid he and the rest of the party repair to “Thark” "to lay the ghost.” Valorous boasting and a state of sheer funk on Ronnie’s part end in he and Sir Hector sleeping in the haunted chamber —a deliciously funny scene, well packed with comical “alarums and incursions,” ending in the morbid butler Death (alias Jones) locating an innocent reporter in search of a sjory as the upsetting factor. The cast is equal io every emergency in this racy comedy. Mr. Hastings Lynn has, in the role of Ronnie, one exactly, suited to his agile source of humour and complete command of comic expression, and sallies of the heartiest laughter greeted each artful lie he invented to clear away the jungle of suspicion that Clouded his sunny life. A capital performance, too, was that of Mr. Cyril Vernon, as that ancient disciple of Omar Khayyam, Sir Hector Benbow, who from his language, must have been a descendant of the old sea-dog of the same name, dlis was the mellow performance of a sound actor. Mr. Leslie Victor was to the ’life the scared Cockney servant, Hook, whose mundane mind is as an open book, and, who finds life a severe trial with the brusque baronet. Lionel Frush. a polished, but unsophisticated youth fresh from college, was played with refreshing pedantry by Mr. Don Farrall, and Mr. Victor Fitzherbert was properly forceful and ghoulish as Death, the Thark butler. Mr. W. Clifton was the reporter. Whether it be consideration to the fair sex or otherwise, Mr. Travers only makes one of his lady characters funny in each of the three comedies. As in the other two, Miss Minnie Rayner usurps tills role as the plump and plainspoken Mrs. Frush, and is admirable iu the part. Miss Helene Simon has only to look attractive as Cherry Buck to succeed, and this she does without effort, wearing some pretty frocks in the process. Miss Jane Comfort was, as usual, purposeful and effective as Lady Benbow, and Miss Beth Mackey was charming as Kitty Stratton. A special word of commendation is due to the management for the manner in which the stage is set and furnished. The hull at Thark—a full stage set—is as dignified and convincing an example of the interior of an old English home as it is possible to imagine. Bright music, including fantasias from “Merrie England,” “Madame Pompadour,” and “The Girl Friend” were snappilv played by a capable orchestra under Mr. Harold Moody. “Thark” will be played again to-night and to-morrow night.