PLAZA THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 208, 30 May 1936, Page 4

PLAZA THEATRE

“The Private Secretary” The endless tribulations which overtake a meek clergyman, who, by his own ingenuouf?nefts lands himself in situation;-? which would embarrass any member of the cloth, continue to convulse large audiences at the Plaza Theatre, where the classic comedy “The Private Secretary,” bright, clean and refreshing as ever despite its half-century of popularity, commenced the second week of its season yesterday. No happier choice than Edward Everett Horton for the part of the long-buffering curate could possibly have been made. His sublime innocence, his continual anxiety for his umbrella, goloshes, orange and bottle of milk—his goods and chattels, as he repeatedly calls them —his catch phrases “D’you know . . and “I don’t like London I”—his every move had last night’s audience wondering to what further peak of the ridiculous he could attain. The story starts with Douglas Cattcrmole, one of the brightest of London’s bright lights (excellently portrayed by Barry McKay), over the ears in debt and awaiting salvation in the shape of a rich undo in India —Oscar Asche. so you know the shape 1 A friend, equally heavily in debt, has an uncle in the country who proposes to engage as secretary the Rev. Robert Spaulding. So the two make their way to the uncle’s house, where Cattcrmole poses as the secretary —having previously installed the Rev. Mr. Spaulding in his apartment as a bait for the creditors. Among those who mistake the innocent curate for Cattermole is Uncle Cattermole, who, expecting a “he-nnin” nephew, is horrified, and assists in making poor Spaulding's life a burden. The arrival of the uncle, the curate, and one or ,two other assorted characters at the country house creates an extraordinarily involved situation.. . Prominent in an excellent supporting programme is a short feature entitled “This was England,” showing in interesting fashion ancient and modern styles of culture and cultivation in Suffolk.