“SCANDAL”

Gisborne Times, Volume LIX, Issue 9575, 28 July 1923, Page 5

“SCANDAL”

SOCIETY COMEDY AT OPERA HOUSE.

The much-talked of .society comedv, ‘'Scandal," which opened to a very well filled house in the Opera House last night, is a play which it is impossible to witness with indifference; one cannot avoid being moved. While essentially a comedy, there are yet a number of .powerful dramatic touches, which, for the most part, are handled with ability and judgment. The story is known to most followers of modern fiction through the book of the same name, and concerns the adventures of a New York society girl, Beatrix Vanderdyke, of the butterfly type, who has grown weary of the endless round of conventional plea •sure seeking. The glamour of Bohemian lite, aa she has read and heard about'it, attracts her, and she takes the opportunity of her acquaintance with Sutherland Yorke, a fashionable portrait painter, to sample some of tlie thrills of Bohemianism. Visiting him first for the purpose of sitting for her portrait, she, later, pays secret visits to his studio by day and by night, not for the sake of romance, but just for the sake of breaking the restrictions that hedged her life, and in search of a new sensation - lor her already jaded nerves. Her presence at the studio is discovered by her family, who follow her and load her with reproaches and denunciation for thus tarnishing the family honor. Though at first defiant in the face of their censure, she realises how seriously she has compromised herself, and finally invents the fiction that slip has been secretly married to an old friend of the family, Pelham Franklin, who occupied an adjoining flat, and who was really the person whom she was in the habit of visiting. Franklin, though, aghast at the situation, plays up like a sport, but the most terrible complications ensue when the family insist upon taking them at their word. Finally, after a most unconventional honeymoon, the pair discover that they love each other and decide to get married. In thinking ot the plti>, the first thing that, inevitably comes to the mind is the famous bedroom scene, which keeps the audience in a state- of mingled enjbarrassmer.t, amusement, arid admiration as it unfolds itself. It is impossible but to admire the author’s daring, and one passes over for the moment whether lie dared too much, to admits the compelling strength and dramatic forcefulness of the scene. But the question must arise as to whether the interpolation of such a scene on the stage is justifiable. The author always leaves himself open to the charge that he is endeavoring to ensnare interest by appealing to what are hardly the most lofty emotions of human nature.

Eric Harrison proved a very good choice for the part of Pelham Franklin, the man who found himself entrapped into a bogus marriage with the irresponsible society girl. The dramatic parts he sustained with, much ability, some of the situations being of peculiar difficulty. It was in the comedy, though, that tie was seen at his, best, the .serio-comic touches introduced in the scenes where he is being baited by bis teasing "wife,*’ being really fine pieces of work. A very difficult role was taken by Miss Boris Duane, who filled the part of Beatrix Vanclordyke. and it is to her credit that she was so successful in its interpretation. Her work in the first scene was not up to the standard she displayed in the later stages of the play, her rendering of the coquetish would-be Bohemian in the artist’s fiat being somewhat unconvincing. Fator, however, she was seen to much better advantage, as in parts of the bedroom scene, but more particularly in the last act. where she caught the spirit of the part with great accuracy. In the lighter kinds of expression, she also displayed capability, much of tlie humor of the production being entrusted to her. Beatrix’s formidable family was represented bv Grahame Newton and Arthur Orhell as the aunt. Miss Horonia Vanderdyke. and Major Barnet Thatcher respectively. The former gave a good interpretation of the heavy guardian of the family honor, watchful and repressive of youthful exuberance, but withal, genuinely fond of her wayward charge. As the fussy Major, Arthur Orhell appealed irresmtibly vo the audience, who must have wished that greater opportunity was a [forded jnm for the display of his abilities. Harold Moran, as Sutherland Yorke. gave a laudable presentation of the part of vlu* successful artist, somewhat self-satis-fied with his art. and snugly eonrola-c-ent at his reputation as a lady-killer. Minor parts were successfully taken by Lucie Carter as Mrs. Brown. George Broad as Powsey. Bogina ’Waterhouse a* Mary MacGregor, and Arthur Attains as Hobson. “Scandal’’ will he presented again in the Opera House to-night', when a full house is assured.