‘JOHNNY, GET YOUR GUN'

Evening Star, Issue 18173, 13 January 1923, Page 2

‘JOHNNY, GET YOUR GUN'

BREEZY, DRAMATIC FARCE. The members of tho audience that attended tho initial staging of ‘ Johnny, Got i’our Gim’ at ILL Majesty's Theatre last night were allowed few moments in which to recover from tho series of laughs in which they were compelled) to indulge. Although described' as a comedy-drama of three acts and a prologue, the play is really pure and, quite unadulterated. American farce, with rapid action, satire, and a brimniing measure of humor, which at tinv'iborders on burlesque. It is delightfully light and amusing, of a different type from anything previously teen hero. In its primary object, however, to exploit tho. possibilities of fun, it succeeded last night in a marked degree, its refreshingly novel Jimof humor arousing prolonged laughter amt applause. It contrasts an alleged, member of the 'English nobility with a real looselimbed, straight-talking, direct-dealing cow. hoy from the West. Johnny is one Wiggins, who in tho prologue is acting in •• Western stuff ”in the moving pictures. To him comes Bert Whitney, who says that Johnny's best friend, Bill Burnham, is in gaol, and that Bill’s sister is in danger of being married to tho Duke, of No-Moor. Johnny does not see. how he can. interfere, until Bert suggests that ho should impersonate Bill, and, by exercising tho right* of guardianship of on. only brother, prevent tho marriage of Janet Burnham, and so give Bert, a disappointed! suitor, a second chance of winning tho' girl for himself. Johnny undertakes tlio task-, and l , going to the gilded halls of tho Burnhams, creates consternation among his supposed, relatives by hie bold, quaint, and crude laannarß. Tinduke he finds an unsatisfactory partner for his sinter, and he creates a stir among the members of tho household by exercising his right of veto. But a scheming My friend of the duke, Mrs Tupper, clopomeait. Johnny, however, nips this in ihr bud by lassoing in true cowboy stylo the duke as he L wing driven away in _ the motor car. Next morning everyone is in n bad humor except Johnny (who in the meantime has found (Jiao to marry the housemaid), whan the family lawyer (Mr Colter) arrives to say that Janet is penniless, the directors of a. company in which her money is invested' having "buncoed” the stock. The duke, of course, will not consider marriage unripr (ho circumstances, which giver Bert the chance to patch up his love affair The irresistible Johmiv, however, gooa further, and in true Western stylo compels tho of tho railroad io disgorge the money stolen from Ja.nct. Everyone Is happy, and Johnny prepares to sot off for the West with Iris bride.

As Johnny Mr Louis Bonnison gave n sample of acting that will not readily lx: forgotten. His quiet humor, most charming smile, easy style, and his deep and sonorous voice at onoe put him on the best of terms with everyone. His “baiting" of the duke, his dealings with the butkr of (he household, and his absurd mistakes of behaviour aroused roars of laughter. love-making scene, too, was skilfully done being carried 1 through by hfm with a naivete that gave point to tho situation. He oould slso command jnore serious attention when the occasion demanded it. Besides being an excellent actor, be has a pciwon.yKiiy that cannot fail to charm. Mr Leslie Victor was admirably cast es tbo pseudo duke, and rave a capital display of his ability. Mias Nellb Mortyne acted well as the snobbish aunt of Janet Burnham, and tho part of tire girl was well -played by Miss 'Dorothy Seacomha, Tho representation of tho butler by Mr George Blunt was also deveriy carried out. 'Mr Robert T. Homans, as iho picture producer in the prologue, also gave an; admirable character study. Tho other inetnWr of iho cast; sr.tnned ,lo know what was expected of them, and combined well to produce what war. really a long laugh from start to finish. Tho pioco will bo played again this evening. -