"SCANDAL"

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 13, 17 January 1922, Page 3

"SCANDAL"

A PLAY OF LAUGHTER AND THRILLS.

More than, ordinary interest attached to the presentation at the Grand Opera House last night of the American comedy "Scandal." There appeared to be an impression—how it originated goodness^ only knows—that, in parts, the play was,* as one should say, "over the odds." It was nothing of the sort. It might in the second act have gone very near, but not quite over True, it is that sort of play that -would get itself talked about, as no doubt it was intended and. designed to do, as containing dialogue and scenes at variance with, still accepted notions of decorum and good taste in things theatrical. There - certainly is .a, tense situation in the second act; played with consummate skill and considerable power by Mr. Frank Harvey; but of this scene, the motto ok the Garter ("Honi soit. qwi ma\ y pense") .holds good, and it is gate to,take it. as a guiding principle -when, Bitting out- any play. '■: '■■■l v "Scandal" i« an. uiiblushingly eoTntnercial produot, without any other purpose than to'draw' "capacity housee," to 'borrow; a technical term from the theatre. Its genesis and that of iU kind is to be traced in American magazine stories of a certain and well-defined type, to which the celluloid drama is much indebted. That there is a genuine demand for plays like "Scandal" is well understood Iby theatrical managements whose business" it is to meet the public taete; and, thai it was sound in its judgment of what the public likes was abundantly proved last might, for the play, was an unqualified success, if its reception is anything to (go by,-if the laughter and applause Were genuine and rang true. ..There was" not a tittle of: evidence to the contrary. The public's theatrical taste je mysterious, unfathomable, but not immutable. How much it has changed was suggested by the performance at the Opera House last night, being given point to, strange to say,' by. two members in the cast; unconsciously of course, namely Mrs. Robert Brough and Miss Emma Temple. Their ' appearance in "Scandal", could not fail to remind old playgoers of other days and other standards of taste. Of these George Titheradge, is said to have said: "I can forgive managers here for not always producing the best plays wh«n I look at the result of the BroughBoucicaulte Company's work. For ten years we struggled—playing the best ■we oould get. We made plenty ■of money—and lost it all. W« only had our salaries."

As Ariatophanet rmd to permit a character to step out oftlw play, and take the audience into his confidence1, so "Scandal" conceals no secret* from those who see it. All is open and above board; nothing is done "off stag*," nothing loft to the imagination! or to be inferred. Even the sanctity of a bridal bedroom is not taken into account. On tile contrary, it forms the background for the one strong scene in the play, and at this tha audience—*s no doubt it was intended, and as it did last night—gasps and catches its breath. Here the curtain falls.

Those who have read tin* book of which "Scandal" is the dramatisation will • know how it all ends. Those who have not will be able to learn by seeing the play, which -was superbly acted*, taking it* true character into account. The tense moments were kept tense, the many points of humour were duly emphasised. Considerable skill was shown 'by Mr. Frank Harvey and Mist Maude Hanaford in skating over remarkably thin ice. Mr. Harvey presented tinee distinct personalities in the three successive acts, Mies Hanaford one through all three of them. ■ Both aeemed to strive, not without success, in making the improbable seem not unlikely. ' The other, and quite subsidiary, parts were conscientiously filled, especfallj by Mm. Robert Brough, Misses Emma Temple and Rosemary Bees, and Messrs. Kenneth Brampton and Raymond Lawrence, and a quite young actress, Miss Duane, who showed uncommon ability in q minor part, that of Regina. "Scandal" has all the elements of immense popularity. It' will be repeated this evening and the rest of the week, when the success it has achieved ac a great attraction elsewhere will receive further endorsement*