DRA MATIC AND MUSICAL

Free Lance, Volume XVII, Issue 913, 11 January 1918, Page 10

DRA MATIC AND MUSICAL

By Footlight

Marie Tempest. MISS Marie Tempest's season at the. Grand Opera House draws to its close. In the last, two pieces produced, shei has given further proofs of her versatility. "Good Gracious, Annabelle," which ran from Friday till Monday inclusive, is as unconventional! in form and substance as in its title, its plot is of the most fragile texture, and in the hands of an ordinary company it would be as dull as ditch-water. But the skill and address with which the leading parts were played by Miss Tempest and Mr. Graham Browne rescued it from that fate and atoned for its nebulous plot and its rather common-place dialogue. # * * ■». "Mrs. Dot," which succeeded it on Tuesday night, was a complete and refreshing change. It is- a sparkling three-act comedy by Somerset Maugham (author of "The Marriage of Kitty") rejoicing in a compact, definite pilot and blest with a dialogue which scintillates with epigram. Miss Tempest was suited down to her finger tips in the name-part. . Mrs. Dot is the young widow of a wealthy brewer, &nd has been carrying on a flirtation with a younger son whose expectations are meagre. They are in love with .each other, and will probably become engaged as soon as he is released from a girl and boy previous engagement to which the girl's ambitious mamma strongly objects. In fact, the aforesaid mamma comes on the scene to break off this engagement when news, arrives that the fiance succeeds to a title and a fortune through the death of a relative,. * # * * In the twinkling of an eye the match-making mamma alters her tactics and holds the disappointed fiance to his promise. Mrs. Dot, however, sets her wits to work to checkmate this purpose and to carry her'lover to the altar. How she succeeds and euchres the other party is the motive and purpose of the play. Mr. Graham

Browne as a confirmed and elderlybachelor who has to make pretended love to the fascinating widow, helps on the fun immensely, and the other parts are well sustained. Miss Ethel Morrison as the ma.teh-making mamma "being seen- in her best part up to date. •s 'If ' •© ® His Majesty's. Ted McLean, who heads the new programme at His Majesty's Theatre for the coming week,. is making his first appearance in these parts, and is said to possess a reputation to uphold. As an actor-author and producer, his work in " the United States has attracted notice, though his pen has mostly been busy with melodrama and vaudeville sketches. Of the latter he will, with Genevieve Lee, present fourin this city, and the quartette will give both artists opportunities of displaying both versatility and talent. "Leave Well Enough Alone" is a domestic comedy with Lee wearing a swell evening gown. "Beyond Price"

is a tense drama, with Miss Lee as a girl thief of the slums, and McLean: as "a man of the world." The other two sketches are "Oatzey" (an Americanism' for "lovey-dovey"), and "She Loved Him All the Time," a farce comedy. *. * * # A host of variety acts will support the two stars. * * ■» * « Signors Belboni and Filippini (the Count Filippini by the way) are touring Australia with an opera company formed from the male choristers of the Gonsalez trope and with a Melbourne prima donna. They intend to visit New Zealand shortly. Their repertoire consists of "Bigoletto." "Traviata," "Trovatore," "Faust," "Carmen," "Cavalleria." and "Bagliacci." » * * * * Alverna, who is just now touring South Africa, with her husband. Mons. Wielaert, the Belgian violinist, writes from the Empire Theatre, Jolmneshurg, on November 29 to convey' Christmas greetings and New Year wishes to the Free Lance. She says: "We are completing a most successful and enjoyable tour through Africa and hope to proceed to America next." '