'HIS TEMPORARY WIFE'

Evening Star, Issue 19409, 18 November 1926, Page 6

' HIS TEMPORARY WIF E'

TO-MORROW EVENING'S PERFORMANCE The repertory players present ‘His Temporary Wife ’ to-morrow evening at His Majesty’s Theatre and following Saturday evening. The plans for both performances denote big houses. Great interest is centred in the first appearance of Bessie Thomson, who plays in the title role. Miss. Thomson has been in London, where she has appeared in several stage successes, and naturally big things are expected of her tomorrow evening. ‘ His Temporary Wife,’ a brightly written comedy in three acts, the joint work of Messrs Nicholls and Lestog, is Full of humorous situations and witty dialogue. The various incidents hinge upon the desperate attempts of one Charley Shackleton, a specimen of the type of financially embarrassed man about town, to'po&e before the trustee of the fortune “ he is the conditional heir to ” as a married man.' Shackleton has at the time he is first introduced to the audience already been drawing large sums from his trustee, and has let it be assumed that the rapid spending of them was the natural consequence of the social obligations of a fashionable married couple. When the trustee signifies his purpose of visiting Shackleton, with the avowed intention of upbraiding his w r ife for her extravagance, life for that young man begins to be interesting. The housemaid (Jane) is persuaded to undertake for twenty-four hours the role of “ his temporary wife.” The fact that Jane had only that morning been secretly married to the estimable butler (William), with whom she hopes in the golden future to settle down in ideal bliss as joint proprietor of a desirable milk walk, tempts Tier to play the role of Mrs Shackleton, but gives the devoted William ample opportunity to suffer the pangs of justifiable jealousy.' The cast is a good one. Those supporting Miss Thomson are Major Lampen, Mr A. R. Gard’ner, Mrs A. R. Gard’ner, Miss Winnie Beck. Miss Elsie MTeak, Lester Holier, H. Hunter, and A. C. M'Larcn. The box plans are at The Bristol.