"A NIGHT OUT"

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 24, 29 January 1923, Page 3

"A NIGHT OUT"

BORROWED FROM THE FRENCH.

"A Night Out," the musical comedy played for the first time, at the Opera House on Saturday, was introduced as. from, the French. That fact was made abundantly clear as the play proceeded, for there were incidents and little details in scenery and costumes, to say nothing of names like ringlet. Paillard, Marcelle, and Matthieu to the characters, . that bespoke its origin. , The dialogue, of course, would have to be watered downto make it agreeable to the average. British playgoer's digestion, and certain situations that arose in the play a3 originally designed would have been made to conform to average British theatrical proprieties.- Even so, the adaptors are entitled to considerable praise for preserving something of.a decidedly French flavour, and their efforts in that direction were ably seconded by the producer, the cast, and ill concerned in "A Night Out"' as presented on Saturday. The theme of "A Night Out" is as old, or nearly so, as the hills—^the.revolt of a henpecked husband, his little adventure in gaiety, a quiet little supper for two in a quiet little hotel in a quiet little quarter in Paris, and the breakup of several quiet little parties in the quiet little hotel by an unexpected visit from the police with consternation, complication, prevarication, and explanation, all resulting in a pretty kettle of fish. In the cast on Saturday it was evident that "A Night Out" was in the hands of highly skilled craftsmen. Mr. W. S. ■ Percy was Pinglet, a, part; that seemed made for him, although he could-;be,re-lied upon to make it fit to himself without ruck or wrinkle. He was responsible for most of the. laughter, and he had .thfe best of opportunities. He is too-well known to need introduction, but it may be permitted to Tefer once more to his remarkably clear enunciation. That is by no means i his only asset, but in the case of such a. comedian it completes the enjoyment of all he says and does if he can be heard distinctly and without shouting. People do like to hear every word of -a joke, and, after all, they are entitled to hear every word. No matter how venerable the joke may be, there is always someone in a crowded house who hears it for the. first time, and the outburst that follows- cets all the rest laughing. There 'is no need, either^ to strike a laudajtory note in introducing Miss Maud Fane. Her joyous, bound on to the. stage is followed by an outburst of applause that rings true and signifies her great popularity. ■ Not alone upon her good looks and trim figure does she depend for her success, for she can dance, act, and sing. Unlike many of her compeers, she really can* sing, for she has a beautiful and cultivated voice.' Her singing of the tuneful, but not otherwise remarkable, song, "Avaloa," cm Saturday captivated everybody, and she was recalled again and again. In Mr. Cecil Kellaway a restrained but exceedingly capable and original comedian was- revealed. He approached nearer than anybody in the cast to the French idea of the, stage. provincial come to .town. and prepared to -enter wholeheartedly into its delights". Mr. Cyril Eichard. as a "dancer, in the pierrot scene, to the air of "0 Columbina," from "I Pagliacci," wasas graceful as he was genuinely funny'in the character of.a jiawky boy hnving an unwonted . fling. Miss Millie Engler as'Madame Pinglet was well cist, playing fully up to the requirements of the part. Miss Madge Elliott, a. dainty soiibrette, has a congenial role in Victorine. a flirtatious domestic; Mi\ Field Fisher was a screamingly" funny waiter. In the nbt^NVery prominent parts of Paillard and Rene, Messrs. H. Wootton and Ronald Hogue -respectively, were'excellent. The whole company appeared to be animated by one spirit, to put forth their best, to make the thing so, and it went at full speed from first to last. In Mr.. Wootton the company is strengthened by a'fine baritone.; in Miss Gwennie Withers,and Mr. jack Hooker it has two expert dancers of their kind —they do a sort of apache turn, called "La Danse dcs Chiffoniers." v The scenery is exceedingly pretty as to a, couple of sets, and generally efiectiva. ihe dances, marches; and groupings wera admirable. The music is evanescent, but tuneful. It was thoroughly to ihe liking of the crowded house on Saturday night as shown by the readiness to join in tha choruses. "A Night Out" must have entailed a lot of work in bringing it to the point reached at. Saturday's performance, but as an entertainment it was not meant to be taken seriously; quit? the other way. Everybody seemed to feel .that way about it,, and shed copious tears of. laughter. Others, no doubt, will do the same on its repititioh this and succeeding evenings. "A Night Out has unmistakably hit the popular taste. '„.-.' -1 ..','." .'.';'', .' ': .: "