“OUR BETTERS”

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 34, 3 November 1928, Page 6

“OUR BETTERS”

A COMEDY OF MANNERS AND MORALS “Our Betters,” a comedy in three acts by Somerset Maugham. Cast:— Elizabeth Saunders Kerry Kelly Pole Arthur Cornell Lady George Grayston Margaret Bannerman Fleming Harvey Ellis Irving Thornton Clay G. Kay Souper Duchess de Surennes. .Dorothy Dunckley Gilbert Paxton Geoffrey Millar Principessa Della Cercola .. Cicely Jonas Lord Bienne Frederick Hughes Arthur Fenwick Louis Goodrich Ernest Pirie Bush Those who do not wish to be shocked should not dream of seeing “Our Betters" at the Grand Opera House; those who do not mind being shocked as long as they are piquantly entertained, can scarcely afford to miss brilliant Margaret Bannerman and her gifted company in Somerset Maugham’s daring comedy. It may be mentioned incidentally that London went to see it persistently, for two years on end, at first because its characters were alleged to be prototypes of London’s smartest folk, and afterwards for the wit and cleverness of the play itself. “Our Betters” really has very little in the way of plot, but what is more wickedly fascinating, there is intrigue in every line. Should one take, it seriously, it depicts a state of things in the society of the metropolis that helps to persuade others that they are paragons of pm? ity, and there is health in them. But Mr. Maugham is not dealing with English society in this play, but rather to a flashy set of American women who have sold themselves to gain a position “in the swim” in London, and who, being in, stick at nothing to carry on anything but admit to their honest and sincere American friends and relatives that it is not all that it is crack- > I up to be. Such a one is Lady George Grayston, a scintillating, clever butterfly of charming manners, alluring beauty and wit, and, at the same time, hideously hypocritical and unmoral. She has as her companions a rather terrible MiddleWest Duchess, separated from her French husband, and an ardent pursuer of very young men; another American lady who is a Princess of sorts, with a more decent outlook on life; two American male renegades in a storekeeper, and a blase lounge-lizard, and v ord Bieane, an impecunious peer. Upon this merry party descends Elizabeth Saunders (Lady Grayston’s younger sister), a fresh, wealthy young lady, new over from the States, and Fleming Harvey,. a cleanliving, straight thinking man of the • best type. lhe comedy consists of an expose of life in London society as they lead it to these two fresh, artless creatures, who have had a-boy and girl attachment in their own country. It is the terrible Duchess’s latest and most expensive toy. Gilbert Paxton, who causes all the trouble. He is a young man who knows no respect for womenkind, and tiring of the senseless, nasal drawl of his precious Duchess, he lays suit to Lady Gr iyston, who never could resist philandering with another woman's property. They are gaught locked up in a tea-house in the grounds, and at once the stones begin to fly, though all rent glasshouses. Poor Elizabeth, her eyes at last open to the ghastly truth, is shocked to the marrow; young Harvey is simply disgusted and contemptuous; and Arthur Fenwick, the millionaire storekeeper, who is Lady Grayston’s "protector,” is furious. The least moved by the expose is Lady Grayston herself, who, with her winning ways and artful planning, manages to induce a kind of status quo—and there the play ends. “Our Betters” is Somerst Maugham at his best. The characters are well drawn, the dialogue is so crisp and amusing that one hates to miss a word, and it is all deliciously wicked —for adult audiences only (as the picture censor says). Miss Bannerman is again vital and winsome as Lndy Grayston, and entertains continuously. Added to Her brilliant vivacity and charm of manner, she has command of fresh nuances in meaningful-tones that never fail to register. Her frocks and the way she wears them are also factors that, count. The most, outstanding character in the gallery is the terrible Duchess | of Miss Dorothy Dunckley, whose work as this silly ingenuous woman is the most amus- • ine and best sustained in the comedy. With a “pork and beans” accent that could be weighed, the dear old thing fancies she is English, when it is only her fabulous wealth that allows her to keen that belief to herself. Miss Kerry Kellv was quite healthily attractive as Elizabeth, and Mr. Ellis Irvine was admirable as Fleming Harvev. Mr. Louis Goodrich .as Arthur Fenwick suggested the pawkv crudity of the successful storekeeper who has the money to buy the woman he wants, and Mr. G. Kwas adroit in his portrayal of Thornton Clav. blase mon .about town. Lord Bienne was colourlessly nlayed by Mr. F, Hughes: Miss Cicely Jones was sincere as the Princess; and Mr. Pirie Rush was bright and amusing ns the dancing master. The plnv. boasts one of the most unique and striking interiors seen in Wellington—a drawing-room in scarlet lacquer, scarlet furniture, a block carpet. and wall nnnels a In jazz Oriental?. done in the best style by the Harkers (of London). The second scene (by Cnleman) is just as beautiful if not so exotic. . , . “Ohr Betters” will he presented vn to and including Tuesday ninht. and will ho followed bv “Sexes and Seven* . and “Diplomncv ” Hie Bristol.

Visitors to Meadowbank school, Remuei’af on a recent morning, had to go through a barrage of dog barks. (States an exchange). All , sorts of dogs were chained up about ■ the grounds—all at respectful distances from one another, and they kept howling defi ance at one another across the playgrounds. It was pets’ day at the school —an admirable innovation ,of recent vears, organised l ( y the Society for B" e Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Miscellaneous as the dogs were, they did not include the oddest pet of all, a complacent frog, which was squatting on a piece of wood, floating in a 131 'R e S lass ar, carried by a very proud little possessor Froggy was the sensation of the parade! At the other end of the scale, Was a real, live pony, which bulked largest, nnd, of course, there were al ' manner of cats and kittens, while there was the usual sprinkling of parrots. Bantams were popular, there being quite a number of these dainty little birds.