"CHARLEY'S AUNT."

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 36, 12 February 1940, Page 10

"CHARLEY'S AUNT."

Opera House Next Saturday.

A farce that has proved popular on the stages of England for many years, "Charley's Aunt," will be presented by the Celebrity Comedy Company in the New Opera House, Wellington, from next Saturday afternoon. "Many notable comedians have been associated with the title role of this pioneer of masquerade comedies, but Don Nicol, who leads the present Australian find New Zealand combination, in no way suffers by comparison wtih past favourites," states an Auckland paper. "He has, of course, his own following of admirers from previous local performances, but the masquerade char-acter-acting required of him as "Babs" and "Charley's Aunt" in this farce is far beyond the funny business demands of his former appearances. He rose admirably to the occasion of keeping the character portrayal convincing, while at the same time losing no opportunity for hitting up the farcical note. That old musical comedy favourite, Phil Smith, was Nicol's able collaborator throughout the piece." A quartet of talented young players in leading roles of straight acting, required to emphasise the farce, are John Fleeting, Lane Patterson, Shirley Ann Richards and Mary Duncan, while in parts of special intricacy the experienced Charles Albert. Norman Harrington, and Leal Douglas give unostentatious strength to the performance