“ARABIAN NIGHTS.”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXII, Issue 2805, 25 November 1931, Page 5

“ARABIAN NIGHTS.”

A WONDERFUL PRODUCTION. STAGED AT TURUA. On Thursday evening last, at Turua, a large and appreciative audience, which occupied almost every seat in the Public Hall, listened with rapt and amused attention to a three act play entitled “The Arabian Nights,” staged in aid of the Anglican Church funds, by the All Saints Dramatic Society, Auckland. A credit to actors and actresses, and a triumph for the producer (Mr Gerald A. Hall), the'play received a great hearing, and it could safely be pronounced as the most successful entertainment featured on the Plains for many months. The stage had been very ‘neatly decorated for the occasion to depict the morning room in Mr Arthur Hummingtop’s London home, where the whole of a somewhat complicated sequence of events takes place. Arthur Hummingtop (Mr R. Watson) is a young married man whose wife is away for a holiday, and her mother-in-law (Mrs W. Averill), stern, commanding, inquisitive, and scheming, places herself in temporary charge of the household, where she can keep a close eye on all Arthur’s actions. His movements confined to the bare necessaries of existence, Arthur spends most of his time reading, and while so engaged “swallows the whole of the ‘Arabian Nights’ at one sitting.” The story of the Caliph of Bagdad, so affects his "impressionable nature” that he emulates that worthy ruler, and disguised, goes for walk in the park. Hero he meets a young girl in distress, sets her on her right path, but unfortunately leaves one of his pocket handkerchiefs with her. Here the sequence of events is temporarily interrupted. Hummingtop receives word that his niece, whose sole guardian he has become, is on her way from America to visit him. He communicates the news to his mother-in-law, who is overjoyed because the niece, Daisy Maitland (Miss Betty Walker) is a rich heiress, and she sees a good opportuity to marry her only son, Joseph, to advantage.

Hummingtop is awaiting the arrival of his niece when he receives a visit from the lady of the. park, Rosa Columbia, who has called to return, his handkerchief. Caught in a trap, Arthur makes the first mistake’and introduces Rosa to his mother-in-law, Mrs Gillibrand, as his rich niece. Now complications have begun properly. They are intensified by the arrival in quick succession of the real Daisy Maitland, Humtningtop's wife, and an old artist friend, Ralph Ormerod, who is in love with Daisy. Hummingtop is caught at every turn. He no sooner invents an explanation for one situation and earns mometary relief than his fabrication \ shattered by an unexpected ariival of one of his relations, or some incriminating piece of evidence that Mrs Gillibrand has hoarded up for use against him. Involved to an almost impossible degree, Arthur suddenly decides to tell the truth, no matter how preposterous it may seem —“the plain, straightforward, honest, manly truth." He discovers, however, that having started by lying the only course is to lie to the bitter end. The truth succeeds only in bringing troubles upon his head in greater numbers than before.

Poor Hummingtop’s unenviable situation continues through three acts of humorous dialogue and action, until ntatters finally straighten themselves out. Arthur is pardoned by his wife, and Mrs Gillibrand is punished by her son’s secret marriage with Rosa Columbia, the girl f of the park, to whom he had paid attentions thinking she was Daisy Maitland, the heiress. The whole play was faultlessly acted and the characters adapted themselves to their parts with precise ease, and a naturalness that made the play all the more enjoyable. The above brief outline cannot do justice to the acting contained within the play. Mr Bert Watson, in the leading role as Arthur Hummingtop, acted wonderfully, and included sevi ral local hits in his dialogue, without damaging its sequence in any way. Each player must be congratulated upon a display which comes but too rarely to the Plains. The Rev. W. W. Averill acted as stage manager, and at the conclusion thanked the audience for an attentive hearing. Music was supplied by Mr and Mrs Williams and family, of Thames. In the early part of the evening, before the play commenced, items were rendered by artists from Thames: Mr Beech, solos, “A Political Meeting” and "Gad-About Mama”; Mr R. S. Thomas, “Selections from Christmas Carols” and “Impersonation of children at an Elocutionary Competition.” Mr Williams rendered

two very pleasant violin solos. After the play the Rev. E. Ault, on behalf of the people of the Plains, thanked the artists for their voluntarydisplay, and expressed the hope that they would be able to make another visit. Mr and Mrs W. Averill met old parish friends at supper, and a very enjoyable few minutes was passed in reminiscences and recollections. The proceeds, to be devoted to the church funds, are estimated at ■well over £3O.