COMEDY DRAMA

Evening Star, Issue 21292, 22 December 1932, Page 9

COMEDY DRAMA

' SPORTING WIDOW' COMING TO REGENT A really brilliant cast, and, to say the least of it, a surprising theme, will be found in ‘ The Sporting Widow, which will be initially screened at the Regent Theatre to-morrow. The delightful comedy is of the best, and to follow the course of this very sporty widow is to have a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Alison Skipworth, veteran of the stage, an artist as well as an actress, and a humorist by instinct, demonstrates delightfully just the kind of bluff a “ sporting widow ” needs, to get her scheemes over quickly and with charming finesse, Richard Bennett, a master of quaint comedy roles for thirty years, and possessing rare skill as an interpreter of character roles, portrays the kind of trusting husband _ who doesn’t know a gouge from a gimlet, or can’t tell a harp from an old harpie. Alison Skipworth iplays the role of a countess—a countess of adventure along the highway of opportunity. _ the -travellers are prospects —pay dirt, so to speak;' for the countess is an accomplished gold-digger and swindler. What she can’t get by finesse—she takes anyway. As the picture opens, the countess is preparing for departure. Tea is being served to old friends and acquaintances. The small talk, led by the countess with the grace and dignity of high station, touches upon Paris, London, Budapest, the gay places where wealth and fashion abound. There|s excitement, fluster, for the countess is leaving—not homo, but gaol. She has just completed her last term for swindling, and the hunt for more saps is on again. As she bids_ farewell to the warden, she hands him a watch. “ It’s just a token of remembrance to an old friend —a priceless antique given me by the Empress Eugenie,” she says. Later the warden winds the watch and finds it has no works. “ The darned crook! ” But that’s the countess! Instead of the usual short subjects, the entire first half will be devoted to a delightful pantomime by pupils of Miss Lily This bright little show is a revelation of _ what local children can do. and credit is due to them and to Miss Stevens for the result achieved. Mr Ted Heaney, accompanied by Miss Rita Holmes, will entertain with his piano aceordion during the short interludes in the pantomime.