NELLIE BRAMLEY SEASON.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 December 1924, Page 4

NELLIE BRAMLEY SEASON.

... “IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE;” A delighted house witnessed the opening production and the return visit of the popular Nellie Bramley Company, when they staged the bright and breezy comedy, “it Pays to Advertise,” last night in the Opera House. From the rise of the curtain the play went with a great swing, .the versatile young actress arid her talented company giving a presentation which brought out all the points in a t-lever dialogue, telling the story of a wonderful soap scheme carried through to success after’many serious troubles and many most amusing situations. The artists made the most of the;’;great opportunities for fun and laughter, and; the house simply rocked with laughter, as the bale of the great advertising scheme for the “Thirteen Soap, Unlucky for Dill” was unoflded. Nellie Bramley, as Miss Grayson, gives an excellent characterisation of the business girl fallinjp deeply in love and using her woman's wit to help her loved' one to win. through to success. HerV charming . personality allied to her ' naivete and her powdr of seeirig. and making:.the most of the points of every . situation, secured her a great success. , # Her straightforward arid honest impulsive nature threatened at one stage to upset the plans of Rodney Martin and. the hustling Yankee, at whose instigation the tremendous advertising scheme on which the soap business was floated, but there her business instincts and innate cleverness came to her rescue, and she took her full part in the great coup. . Oarl Lawson, as the advertising man, set on foot the huge bluff and created immense amusement by his clever • acting and his creating of funny situations and scenes. He has a style of his own which at once took the fancy of the audience, and his success was immediate and sustained to the end. The scene when he and Rodney and Mary are faced with ruin and, after some tense 'moments, success suddenly comes beyond their wildest dreams, was a triumph of clever acting and brought down the house. - v Mr. George Hewlett, as . Rodney Martin, gave an excellent portrayal of the partner in the great Thirteen Soap scheme, and shows a. fighting rer source when he and his partners are up against, fortune very hard. His best work was done when things looked their blackest. The character of the bogus French countess was an excellent impersonation by Mites Barraclougli, and she made the utmost of the amusing situations in which ishe took part and the clever dialogue running through the Play. Ail the other characters were well sustained, and the play was capitally staged throughout. The company scored a distinct success in eyery way. TO-NIGHT. The great performance of last night ensures the success of the second big dramatic presentation, “Paid in Full,” a story said to be of 'absorbing interest. It will show Miss Bramley and her colleagues at their best in a strong drama, based on a loving woman’s sacrifice. The play itself is fu of surprises, and its intensity calls on the emotional qualities of every performer. The whole play is said to move along with absorbing interest, while in with the thrilling moments are touches of comedy that help to enliven even the many dramatic episodes. “PAID IN FULL.” Tense, stirring, stark drama is the motif of “P'aid in Full,” which will be* enacted by the Nellie Bramley Company at the Opera. House this evening, when their two nights’ season will be brought to a close. Miss Jyellie Bramley, has great opportunities in this play to display her sympathetic and emotional qualites. In the role of a faithful, trusting wife, bound to a spineless male who seeks to degrade her honour to save his own skm, Miss Bramley is eompellingly human and lovable, and wins hearty admiration for her unholding of a difficult part. Tliis drama pits man’s strength against woman’s weakness, and jp roves' the Supremacy of right over wrong. This is apparent in the nu-eat scene in the third tact, where Emma pleads her husband’s cause with mi £ lSea ■ who. bv the wav, will nave his counterpart in Mr' George Bryant ( creator of. the original role in Australia). Then comes an unexpected sidelight on the blusternn?r captain’s chet-arter. giving a most unexpected ending to a powerful scene. The stroim little com T 'any are r id a plav full of the‘realities of life in a masterly way.