GERTRUDE ELLIOTT SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18577, 8 December 1923, Page 12

GERTRUDE ELLIOTT SEASON

" ENTER MADAME."

I Playgoers who have been able to witness all the pieces in which Miss Gertrude Elliott has appeared at His Majesty's Theatre will long; retain a memory of her charm and the infinite variety of her art. They will post's recollections of her in appealing enioiional drama in which she has been faultless, comedy in which ahe has been perfection itself, and cultured characterisation the keynote of which has ever been complete understanding and naturalness. It is a matter for sincere regret that the sea* son has been so brief. It will terminate on Tuesday evening and there remain, therefore, but few opportunities for the further enjoyment of the cultured lady's artistry. For her final appearance here -the accomplished actress elected to piay . "Enter Madame."' by Gilda Varesi and Dolly Byrne. This received its first production last evening, when it was acclaimed one of the greatest successes of a successful season. It is one of the most delightful comedies seen here. It scintillates with wife, both dialogue and situation, it pre sents characters that are drawn to the life, so much so, that they , leave the impression of having resulted from a clos. study of some originals on the part ,of the joint playwrights. The character of Lisa Delia Robbia, the Italian opera singer, for instance, is an. intimate and searching reflection of a real personage. There is nothing artificial about her. She is the high-strung, super-tempera-mental, fascinating and utterly delightful artist of the footlights, with "a poet soul and a tender disposition. Set in deliciotisly funny contrast to her are her indispensable retinue of assistants dresser, her chef, her doctor, and her prim American female secretary. And out in the cold, as it were, is her husband, who is sick of following her about the world and carrying her pet dogs. Here is a veritable feast of comedy, especially when the prima donna and her entourage are set loose in the "bachelor" apartments of her husband, who has decided to divorce Lisa and marry a gushing domesticated widow.

Since we have to part with Miss Gertrude Elliott it is well that we do so in the atmosphere of merriment she creates in this play. Her study of Lisa sets up a feeling of amazement that this could be the same artist of the preceding works in her repertoire. Yet like all the rest of her portraits this one fits • her like the proverbial glove. The >.a:table woman—for ever breaking from one mood into another, at one moment baiting her unhappy spouse*, and at the next luring him into her net by her very beauty and seductive womanliness, and in the moment after playing with the feelings of the other woman and without effort showing her to be her own ' inferior in every way—this woman lives in thi personality of one of the most gifteu. versatile artists who has ever come from Britain to add New Zealanders to her list of gratified admirers. The supporting cast" in "Enter Madame" is admirable. Mr. William Mollison as the husband cuts a comical figure when poised between his wife and the widow, and is at all times true to character. Miss Lilias Waldegrave as the widow gushes her affectations effectively and is a capital foil to Miss Elliott. Mr. J. B. Rowe is excellent in the role of the somewhat priggish son of the principal characters. Miss Anne McEwen plays prettily ,as his sweetheart. A striking piece of comedy work is that .of Mr. Lan MeCleaa as the foreign chef who is admitted to the bosom of the family, and Mr. Athol Ford* is also good us the gesticulating doctor. Miss Maggie Moore is seen in an impersonation rich in comedy as the dresser, and the remaining parts ana well handled. "Enter Madame" will be repeated this evening and on Monday and Tuesday evenings.' The only matinee of the season will be given this afternoon, when " Woman to Woman " will be staged.