“BELINDA”

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 135, 4 March 1929, Page 7

“BELINDA”

AN AMUSING COMEDY TRIFLE * “Belinda,” a three-act comedy by A. A. Milne. Cast :— Belinda Tremayne .... Irene Vanbrugh Delia (her daughter) .. Rowena Ronald Claude Devenishßonald Ward John Tremayne J. B. B° we Betty ' Annie Saker Harold Baxter Dion Boucicault. Mr. A. A. Milne is a clever purveyor of amusing trifles of the kind of which “Belinda,” the three-act comedy presented for the first time in Wellington by the Vanbrugh-Boucicault Company, at the Grand Opera House on Saturday, is a delightful example. His ability to touch a more serious note cannot be questioned, but for sheer sparkling play of epigram and small talk upon a mere trifle of plot, he has few equals. ' A comedy of this kind, when presented by artists of the Vanbrugh-Boucciault quality, can be an intellectual treat, as well as gay entertainment. The story opens when Belinda’s daughter arrives home after being “finished” at school in Paris, and is much intrigued to find that het mother is being ardently courted by two suitors, Claude Devenish, a poet,' and Harold Baxter, a statistician. Her mother suggests that in the meantime Delia should pose as her niece, Miss Robinson. She also explains that her father, nineteen year's before, liad slammed the door on his matrimonial adventure, and disappeared completely before Delia was born. The suitors presently appear, keen rivals, though almost ludicrous opposites—the poet, -young, good-looking, and imaginative; the statistician, elderly, dry, meticulous,’and without humour. Belinda plays the two off against each other by declaring that she yvill marry whichever finds the lost father of her “niece,” to be identified by a mole on his arm. One of the reasons, by the way, which precipitated the departure of the missing parent was his insistence on retaining his whiskers. As might be expected, he complicates matters by turning up so changed in appearance—his whiskers gone-y-that his wife apparently fails to recognise him. He announces himself as “Mr. Robinson, and promptly falls in love with his wife again. Meanwhile, the other suitors, obsessed by their search for a man with a mole, discover that Mr. Robinson possesses the requisite evidence of identity. The poet, in the interim, however, has transferred his affection to the daughter. The statistician takes himself off to the_library after discovering that, as Mr. Robinseon is Delia’s father, and Belinda her mother, there is nothing else for it but to return to his statistics. He emerges again with the announcement that statistics he has been studying reveal the fact that there has been a rise in the lunacy statistics of Devonshire, Belindas home country, and a curtain falls with the last word to Mr. Boxter. Fine scope for the Vanbruglpßoucicault talent! Miss Vanbrugh was kept busy through the piece steering the complicated currents of human affairs over the rapids, and presented a brilliant study of a clever and witty woman at all times mistress of the situation. Mr. Boucicault was« really excellent as an elderly suitor, a serious-minded and somewhat egotistical individual intent on arranging his domestic happiness on a mathematical plan. Miss Rowena Ronald fitted the role of Belinda’s niece with appropriate charm and sprightliness, and Mr. Ward gave us of his usual accomplished talent in his study of the poet. Mr J. B. Rowe, as the missing parent, showed up strongly with a sound concep-. tion of the part. Miss Annie Saker, as the maid, had an inconspicuous role, but fitted into the picture with the right touch of naturalness. . “Belinda” will be presented again this evening. ____