SEYMOUR HICKS COMPANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18945, 17 February 1925, Page 12

SEYMOUR HICKS COMPANY.

The debut of Mr. Seymour Hicks and Miss Ellaline Terriss, at the Opera House to-morrow evening, under the direction of the Hugh J. Ward Pty., Ltd.. will be. looked forward to with interest by Auckland theatre-goers. The season, which will be one of 14 nights, will be notable, not only for the fame of the principals, but for the wide variety of the productions. The initial programme will comprise a doubio bill, and probably no better illustration of the range of Mr. Seymour Hicks' art could be given than will be afforded by the presentation of two plays, in such direct contrast as are '''Sleeping Partners" and "Scrooge." The. former is a lightsome French comedy, and the other a Dickens episode of dramatic intensity. Playgoers should enjoy some vivid character acting by Mr. Hicks as the wrenching, grasping, covetous old sinner, whose, conversion to generosity and good nature was effected by a series of visions revealed to him on Christmas Eve. "Sleeping Partners," which will occupy the longer part of the evening, is particularly suited to Mr. Hicks' genius, and is said to be an extremely witty and clever French play. A gav voung bachelor of Paris has been stalking a pretty married woman for 18 months, and at last has succeeded in inducing her to visit him at his, flat at night, while her husband has gone, off on a little amorous adventure on his own account. Administration of a sleeping draught instead of sal volatile to the lady sends her to sleep in the bachelor's rooms until the next morning. How she escapes, and how her husband helps her to wriggle out of the awkward pass to which her folly has brought her form the material for some very- amusing situations,