A POPULAR FARCE

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 118, 12 February 1940, Page 6

A POPULAR FARCE

“Charley’s Aunt” Coming A farce that has proved popular on the stages of England for many years, “Charley’s Atint.” will be presented by the Celebrity Comedy Company in the New Opera House, Wellington, from next Saturday afternoon. “Many notable comedians have been associated with the title role of this pioneer of masquerade comedies, but Don Nieol. who leads the present Australian and New Zealand combination, in noway suffers by comparison with past favourites,” states an Auckland paper, “He has, of course, his own following of admirers from previous loca.l performances, but tlie masquerade character-acting required of him as ‘Babs’ and ‘Charley's Aunt’ in this farce is far beyond the funny business.denumds of his former appearances. He rose admirably to the occasion of keeping the character portrayal convincing, while at the same time losing no opportunity for hitting'up the farcical note. That old musical comedy favourite, Phil Smith, was Nicol's able collaborator throughout the piece.” A quartet of talented young players in leading roles of straight, acting, required to emphasize the farce, are John Fleeting, Lane Patterson. Shirley Ann Richards mid Mary Duncan, while in parts of special intricacy the experienced Charles Albert. Normmj Barrington and Leal Douglas give unostentatious strength to Ihe performance. All these nieni'bcrs of the cast, as well as Alaisie Wallace, are favourites whose talent litis been recognized in other roles, and in this production they give of their best.