"AREN'T WE ALL?"

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 64, 12 September 1924, Page 5

"AREN'T WE ALL?"

MR. BOUCJCAULT AS PEACEMAKER

The inconsistency, if not hypocrisy, of the pot calling the kettle black is the basis of the light London comedy presented at the Opera House last evening, and .entitled "Aren't! We All?" It is by Frederick Lonsdale. and the time is t.ho present/day.; but tlie demonstration of the fallacy of condemning others for offences of which" we ourselves are not guiltless: will, serve for .all the time human nature: is as it is. As Lady Bancroft once wisely said, "Ib is .better to be daring than dull," so Mr. Boucicault —for on his shoulders rested the. fabric of the^ production last evening—made "Aren't We, All?" daring, and the very antithesis of "dull.' The daring was seen in the emphasis placed on a word, sanctioned and used ,by Shaw-in his comedy, "Pygmalion,", when Eliza Doolittle refuses to go for .a; walk. The play kept the •audience'laughing all the evening, and-that .hot' at crude buffoonery and slapstick,and red-nosed comedy, but at delicate and sometimes subtle wit and I humour.', with--'slight .touches of pathos. The/whole was excellently done, but out of consideration for. those who will see it during; its all too brief run in Wellington it is not here proposed to give away the show. Suffice: it to say that there is a most excellent moral to the story, even if :at quite the end some sensitive ears may. receive a shock. The reason why the comedy was such a success last evening (as it has been wherever Mr. Boucicault has producedit) was the admirable way in , which .it was played. Leaving interest in the play itself alto-, gether out of consideration, it is an1 intellectual treat to watch how every detail has evidently been well thought out and made perfect.. In the first scene,is introduced a couple of guests masquerading at a ball as George Robey and Charlie Chaplin.; They do it all very well, : and evoke shrieks of laughter-; but' they are superfluous, and their exclusion would not ".affect, the cohesion of the story. ■ However, ■ that is by; the way. Mr. Boucicault- himself lias one of those parts which he much, affects and plays remarkably well and with great conviction, that is; the role: of peacemaker, repairer .;of "shattered ideals, 'rivetier of broken loves,' healer of-wounded affections.. Then there, is a part for Miss Irene Vanbrugh of a woman essentially of this \vorld,; a'widow hi whose eye there is not a trace of green to be detectedi- a woman with' a plan,' purpose, or design, which the onlooker knows from the outset she will, accomplish. She does so in the-end; but x under circumstances that^it would be unkind to those who will, yet see""Aren't We All?"' to disclose., .Mr. Reginald Wykeham, has' a .part;of;a vicar in which-it is quite.'easy to see an'incompetent actormaking Kipself ludicrous;'".' Instead, although steining . probability; to near , breaking ■ point, ho gives "awholly satisfactory rendering of the.character;-.. By the way, why is it, that the i clergy" 'of . the Established Church)- and none other, are held up to ridicule on'the English, stage? It is high time ;.,that they were' niade human on the stage or relegated to the limbo of moth-eaten jokes; and; obsolete songs. Then there was the juvenile lead, a slightly foolish .. but most affectionate young husband, .played with consummate art- by Mr. , Martin .Armstrong.; there was, too, his 'young and : pretty . wife,. like.'-. himself , slightly.. foolish but genuinely .fond ;of her husband. She was impersonated '-with.-great, ability by_ Miss Janet Eccles.-' As the sensitive vicar's wife, Miss Lena Halliday was., excellent. She,; has ..shown.. herself 'to be a ..;;. thoroughly sound 'and -highly accomplished actress in every part in. which.; she has been, cast' during the company's season.' A small part of an' Australian visitor v was exceedingly well played by Mr. Pirie Bush. As a footman Mr.' Conyngham- has :appeared in several of the.plays during the Vanbrugh^Boucicault season, and always with distinction' as a faithful copy of what a domestiic really is- in an English house^—not as tho'stage so often reveals him tobel' ;"Aren'-t' We All?"- will be repeated for the rest of the season. Suppositions that; because in "His House in Order"! a: full-length; portrait of an old ■gentlemanl appeared over the fireplace in She first scene of .that play, the company will be seen here in: "The Truth About Blaydes,'.'. are .baseless. -That, comedy will first, be-seen'- it.is understood, in Australia..-j ,--.,.., ','-.. ■-