REPERTORY PLAYERS

Evening Star, Issue 19407, 16 November 1926, Page 5

REPERTORY PLAYERS

‘ BIS TEMPORARY WIFE ' The box plans for the brief season of two nights, commencing at His Majesty’s Theatre on Friday next, opened at The Bristol this morning, and already bear evidence of a big attendance. The fun of ‘ His Temporary Wife-’ chiefly centres round Charles Shackleton, an impecunious man about |;own, his maid Jane, and his valet William. Shackleton has been living beyond his means, and has been overdrawing on his trustee, to whom he has often written stating that he is hard pushed for money ns a result of the extravagances of his wife. Guo can then imagine the flutter that is caused when the lawyer communicates with Shackleton informing him that he intends to come up to London to remonstrate with the wife on her extravagance. Shackleton _is put to his wits’ end to secure a wife at once—a temporary wife. His fiancee (Lucy Norton), in the absence of any explanation, refuses .the imperative demand for a speedy wedding, and at last Shackleton, in despair, persuades Jane, for a handsome monetary consideration, to act the part of Mrs Shackleton during the visit of the lawyer. William, however, who has secretly married Jane that morninig, is not immediately apprised of this arrangement, and naturally becomes very jealous as the plot takes shape; and complications ensue when a Mrs Chadwick, prompted by William to save his master, also agrees to act the part of Shacklcton’s wife, all unknown to Shackleton. To make matters worse, tho young spendthrift has told his lawyer that he is a happy father, and on the lawyer’s arrival and the removal of the initial difficulties a baby has to bo secured. Jana borrows the necessary child, and the lawyer, though at times puzzled at the crosspurposes with which he is faced, Las been won over to pay all the accumulated debts, when, in the third act, William, unable to restrain bis jealousy, to use bis own words, “ blows the gaff,” and enlightens the lawyer on a number of things. Miss Bessie Thomson, who lias recently returned from London, will appear in the principal role gf Jane. Mr Dampen will be Shackleton. and Mr A. R. Gard’ner William. _ Tlie funds accruing from the production are to be devoted to purchasing the scenery designed for the Festival Hal! at the recent Exhibition.