"THARK": A FARCE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 51, 7 September 1928, Page 4

"THARK": A FARCE

THRILLS AND SWEAR-WORDS

"Thark" was the tliivtl of tile Ben Travels: farces to be given by the clever company at present occupying the Opera House. Its first performance last evening fully justified its plea not to be taken seriously but as a provocative of hearty laughter, no more, no leas, a mete afterdinner trille, ilimsily constructed, but amusing; moreover, "Thark" is the sort of play that late-comers to the theatre can find amusing no matter at what stage in the performance they arrive. There is no continuity to bother about in "Thark"; it is as funny at the beginning as in the middle and at the cud; just that sort of play that many people can enjoy as aii opera tive to the rounding off of a night at a night club. One thing, however, was made clear last night, and that is the horrible hash an unskilful and mediocre cast could make of "Thark." . ..,,„, The name, of the play is derived iiom that o£ a, country house in Norfolk which a wealthy and vulgar lady has bought; dhd she wishes to get out of her bargain because the place is haunted. Accordingly she comes to London to' interview the former owner, and is confused wit 1 a pretty Bond Street modiste with whom Sir Hector "Benbow, trustee for the owner of the property, has made an appointment Eacii lady is seen by a, different servant, and eaciVw'told that Sir Hector looks forward to the pleasure.of her company at dinner. Lady Beubow unexpectedly returns, and so confusion is more confounded. Sir Hector's nephew, Ixonald Gamble, tries to help him out of the muddle, but makes it worse. All the party decide to test the supernatural phenomena at Thark, and go down .the place. There on a wild and stormy night the test takes place, and the "ghost is discovered in the person of a prying newspaper reporter for the "Daily Snitch, or ome similar journal., What made the audience laugh tout night was the excellent fooling %y Sir Hector the uncle and lionald. the nephew, in their clunffly Ijang and tergiversations; what made it shriek outright was when the Knight .said to an unwelcome young, man visiloe: You can go down the stairs, or take the lift, or fall down and break your —- neck! Words usually expressed in print by — imparted a pungent flavour to Ihaik corresponding to cayenne on grilled kidney/: The curtain £eU_to the exclamaas a performance was in every was'Oß successful as its predecessors ■aiookcrv Nook" and "A Cuckoo n the Nest" Mr. Cyril Vcrnon was well cast for the part- of the fiery and philanderiiiK baronet, Sir Hectoi: Bonbow, and to ni Ml the'firing mort of the swear words which he discharged with great cttcot. Mi Hastings Lynn, in the part of Konaid! the nephew, added, to Ins two prov mis successes. Miss Mmmo Kaync.r shared witl some other of the prmcip.als he pleasure of hearty applause as soon as s c e-uuc on to the stage. She played the m t of the lady who bought the' house Thwk Mi^ J« Comfort was "excellent nhthe small part of Lady Benbow. As Gherrv Buck, the Bond Street giu, ss lielene Simon was captivating and clever in her handling of the character,,not to mention her -tractive per ■onahty.c pec^ 'real man sfrtant L Mr". Willie Olifton Us T unlike a real reporter,, but both parts were well played along conventional lines. As a deluded and bewildered fiancee, Miss Beth Mackey was delightful. Other lesser par s were capably played, particularly that of Lionel lWh, son of the lady who The scenes are entirely interior, but fine examples of -the art. Appropriate music preceded the scenes, tha last piece being a blend of "Tho.Funeral March of a Mai-, ionette" and ."Here Comes the Bogey M«Thark" will' be 'repeated this and tomorrow evening with no doubt as much pleasure to future audiences as it waX to those who were present last nignt.