UNREFINED GOLD

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 130, 6 June 1927, Page 12

UNREFINED GOLD

MISS RENEE KELLY IN "BROWN SUGAR"

Very sweet, but somewhat unrefined, the ex-chorus girl who married Lord Sloan was nicknamed "Brown Sugar" by the spiteful Lady Honoria. Honoria, herself a disappointed candidate for the Sloan matrimonial stakes, had a reputation foi- refinement without sweetness, and sa the play proceeds it becomes, evident that evea her refinement is of a merely superficial character; but she is at any rate the possessor of a superciliousness with, which she is able to persecute the slangy, indiscreet, but loyal ana beautiful girl from stagelana. Lord Sloan himself (Mr. Biles Irving) is a devoted if somewhat colourless husband, and. his lordship's father the Earl of Knightsbridgo (Mr. Jackson Wilcox) also ranges himself on the side of his daughter-in-law, but the Countess of Knightsbridge (Miss Margaret Darner) and the female side of the Knightsbridge set, led by the aforesaid Lady Honoria, are all leaguered in a feminine vendetta against "Brown Sugar"—all except Mrs. Cunningham (Miss Emma Tompie) who, originally chosen' by the Countess to. "coach" the unwanted bride m matters conventional, turns out to be not only a social retoucher but a true friend. This brief outline of the theme of the comedy produced for the first time at the Grand Opera House on Saturday, evening is sufficient to disclose a part excellently suited to Miss Renee Kelly's sparkling comedy and impulsive personality. As Lady Sloan, that vivacious artist did justice both to the brown side and to the sugar Bide of a quaintly-conceived character, and she blended the leggy "show girl" ana the true-hearted woman in a manner that will make the performance live pleasantly in the memory of the large and appreciative audience that gathered on Saturday evening to greet this third offering of the clever comedy company in which Miss Kelly is the star. To be sufficiently bad-mannered to shock society, 'without losing the good opinion of one's audience, is not an easy feat even for a pretty woman; and all that need be said is that Miss Kelly'B complete success is quite sufficient proof of the quality of her art. The turning point of the plot is Lady Sloan's soliciation of a thousandpound cheque from her husband for an unstated purpose, and Lady Honoria's eavesdropping disclosure that the cheque later found its way to a bookmaker; but the bomb bursts on the right side of the fence when it is revealed that the purpose of the payment is to save a gambling member of the Knightsbriage househohl (the Hon. Archie Wentworih, playea by Mr. Ronaia Ward) from the dishonourable consequences of unpaid gambling debts. Meanwhile the persecutions of her "social superiors" have driven Lady Sloan back to the stage, from which she is rescued only by the penitence of the Countess of Knightsbriage, who helps to retrieve ber aaughter-in-law by the annulment of a stage contract cunningly arrangea %y 'a theatrical manager (Mr. Hylton Allen). Wellington audiences are always glaa to welcome back Miss Emma Temple, who found a sympathetic part as the mentor who mothers "Brown Sugar" and shields her from the arrows and darts of malignant feminity. In the quite opposite role of Lady Honcria, Miss Gwen Burroughs played with spirit, and was quite fascinatingly nasty. Mr. Ronakl Wara has a comeay line of his own in the way of giHed youths, ana his Archie Wentworth was a bright spot in a bright play. It fell to that oxperienccd actor, Mr.-, Reginaia Wykeham, to impersonate the bookmaker, ana to Mr. Hylton Allen to provide a neat little sketch of the tricky theatrical manager; both these sharks have reaeeming points, ana are thus saved from the monotony that too often attaches to the bad men of the stage As the Earl, Mr. Jackson Wilcox showed further talent in the way of character acting The popularity of Miss Kelly ana her capable company is very satisfactory, because this part of the world is by no means over-supplied with artistic combinations of their quality ana standard, and there is Toom for the clever comedies they present. "Brown Sugar" confirms the good impression formea when the comedienne ana her supporters made their bow in "Polly With a Past." The play will bo repeated this evening.