"FRENCH LEAVE"
MISS POLINI IN COMEDY.
Miss Emelie Polini abandoned her sometimes sombre and generally emotional roles last evening: at the Opera House, to appear in a comedy of a more or less farcical sort. "French Leave" was the name of the piece, which has a local interest, in that its writer, Captain Reginald Berkley, a Now Zealander, wrote it while on service in France. The complications arising out of an affectionate young English wife posing as a French girl, a singer, in order to be near 1 her.husband, an English officer, who is on duty somewhere behind the line, form the groundwork of the comedy. Of course, her husband recognises her, and of course, her attitude is expressed in "j'y suis j'y reste"; and, of course, everyone falls overhead and heels in love with her, especially the highly suceptible and elderly Brigadier-General. One can imagine the feelings of her husband (played by Sir. .Frank Harvey) in such a pass. The idea is not quite new, but it is well developed, and was the cause of much hearty "laughter at the many embarrassing situations that would arise in such a- case. Miss Polini appeared to find in the part a welcome relief from the strain of the heavier roles to. which she is accustomed; in fact, she seemed to thoroughly enjoy it herself. Mr. G. K. Souper was excellent, as the General, a, thorough old campaigner. Mr. Harvey loqked and acted the part of the embarrassed husband to perfection. Mr. B. Hatteras, as a. young and highly impressionable staff officer, desperately infatuated with the charming little French girl fas he thinks she is), made a great hit, Sound work of Hi kind was put into the play by Mr. E. Lawrence, as a French officer interpreter; and Mr. Herbert Leigh, as a batman. The play is light in structure, but full of fun from first to last, and it is conrmendably short. "French Leave" was quite to the liking of the large attendance last night. It will be repeated this evening, and played, i n all, for three nights.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19230616.2.103
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 142, 16 June 1923, Page 9
Word Count
349"FRENCH LEAVE" Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 142, 16 June 1923, Page 9
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Evening Post. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in