PLAZA THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 202, 23 May 1936, Page 13

PLAZA THEATRE

“The Private Secretary” No more wholesome and genuinely amusing comedy lias ever been penned than Charles Hawtrey’s "The Private ( Secretary,” which has kept a jaded world laughing heartily for upward of half a century, and it. is certain that no better ' presentation of the delicious farce has . ever been given than the film version which headed the new programme at the Plaza Theatre yesterday. A crowded 1 house last night laughed till its sides 1 ached at. the endless tribulations of the, * fussy clergyman, the Rev. Robert Spalding, who is so shamefully treated by the two young scapegraces, Douglas Cattermole and his spendthrift friend. The ’’ character of the Rev. Robert. Spalding is i ■splendidly taken by that groat comedian, i Edward Everett. Horton, who bad the i audience almost in convulsions last night s with his anxiety for his umbrella, his 1 goloshes nnd his orange. The story tells i how Douglas Cattcrmole, a gay young I dog about town, gets so heavily into debt that his only hope of salvation rests with his wealthy uncle in India. A friend of

his, who is just as heavily in debt, ha an uncle in the country who is about b engage as private secretary Hie Rev Robert Spalding. To escape their crcdi tors the two young rips make their wa; to the country house, and Douglas Catter mole passes himself off as the privati secretary. Matters are complicated wbei Cattermole’s uncle arrives from India, am are thoroughly mixed when the real Rev Robert Spalding arrives on the scene witl bis umbrella and goloshes. The cast is a strong one, and all tin well-known characters nre portrayed t< the life. The house roared again last night, as the irascible uncle from Indit expressed his disgust of his nephew'pussyfoot character when he mistook the Rev. Robert Spalding for his nephew. Edward Everett Horton is well supported in the fun-making by Oscar Asehe, Judy Gunn. Sydney Fairbrother, Barry Mackay and Michael Sheplcy.