ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18020, 20 February 1922, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

"MR, PIM PASSES BY."

The English comedy more than holds its own in Now Zealand; it would be surprising if it did not do so. This does not mean that the American comedy of the best type does not make a w\de appeal, but the theatre-goer is well aware of the fact that even the best American comedies frequently compromise. They often lack a standard, notwithstanding

very great merits. In "Mr. Pun Passes By," presented by the Marie Tempest Company at His Majesty's Theatre on Sfc*urday evening, we have an English comedy worthy of the talent of Miffi Tempest, but making no compromites fcr the sake of a laugh that does not have its origin in the natural action or dialogue. Mr. A. A. Milne has conformed to that school which is prepared to stand or fall by the comedy alone, and how well he has succeeded was amply demonstrated by the reception accorded the play on Saturday. Of courf©, it cannot be gainsaid that "an artiste of the genius of Miss Temple, supported by such a brilliant company as sne possesses, might achieve success with an indifferent instrument, but in this case there is nothing wrong with the instrument. It is a perfectly constructed comedy, and every character is as clean cut as a cameo. Nowhere does it approach burlesque, because it all hinges upon an idea which' is far from comedy—the imagined re-appearance of a husband who is dead. In the midst of placid, happy English country life comes this awful thing, and though it proves to be nothing worse than a dear o d gentleman's bad memory for names, the play for a moment becomes one of aching intensity. Miss Tempest, whose greeting by l;he> audience showed the affection in which she is held, played in the delightful manner which m&keß her the living spirit of comedy. So great is her art that art is the last thing one thinks of. The audience feels that it is an unseen spectator of a charming piece of English homelife, and promptly falls in love with the gay little lady wlio holds the reins, so to speak, and manages everything, even her dogmatic, conservative husband, without anyone being conscious of the fact. Her good-humoured raillery at the "what was good enough for my fore-fathers is good enough for me" idea is exquisite, and to see her resume the sewing of the banned curtains is a revelation in the realm of silent eloquence. Mr. Graham Browne's country gentleman is a splendid study. When he is not "having a look at the pigs" he is laying down the law about changing curtains, snorting in a polite sort of way, about new'ideas in art, forbidding his niece to marry a young painter, and being as affectionate as Ik, knows how tc be. When the terrible Bhadow falls, all his inherited ideas about the church, the law and the country, rise up to torment him. and we see him ready to sacrifice all happiness for what he thinks is right. Actors of Mr. Browne's talent are rare. In the role of TJinah, the niece, Mis-s Marie Key makes a decided success, and it will l>e surprising if she docs nofc- travel far in stagelandT Acted by Miss Dorothy Hamilton, Lady Marden is a highly amusing personage. She is 65 years of age, she rides horses, she is interested in the pigs, she never had a nerve in her life, and she would have made a great curry-and-rice general had she been born a man. Mr. Ashton Jarry was de'ightful in the part of Mr. Ca-rraway Pim, the dear old gentleman whose passing by caused such a commotion. The part of Brian Strange, Dinah's devoted lover, was well taken bv Mr. Frank Allanby. The comedy was preceded by a one act nlay, "The Dumb and the Blind," a quaint and amusing study of Cockney life, in which Mr. j Graham Browne, Miss Doris Gilham, Miss Kathleen Gardiner and Mr. S. McDonald.'took part. The programme will 6e repeated for four more nijhts. The succeeding piece, " Tea'for Three," will be staged on Friday, Saturday, and Monday, with a matinee on Saturday.

OPERA HOUSE.

I A raried programme will be offered to patrons at the Opera House this week. The whistling doughboy, Bob White, will make his first appearance to-day. Tomorrow evening, two nfrw turns will be included, Irene, an American comedienne, and the Kennedy Brothers,' in a vaudeville offering, being the newcomers. A now programme will be presented by Videau and Kirby, the English burlesquo pair. Other artists are Rastus and Banks, Shaw and Keith, Burton and Dyer, James Teddy, the Darwinians, Hal, and Keating and Ross. :