"ROOKERY NOOK."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20620, 19 July 1930, Page 9

"ROOKERY NOOK."

A GREAT ENGLISH FARCE. ! No more amusing iilm lias come out , of the talking picture studios than I " Rookery Nook," a delightful version of the famous lien Travels play, which • was seen in New Zealand a few years ago. Its opening' presentation at St. - James' Theatre last evening was an • emphatic answer to those who scout the • ability of the British studios to turn out pictures equal to those produced in America. Few pictures that have been seen in New Zealand have as many amusing incidents, and when it is added that the humour is inherently British in sentiment, that the settings and scenery aro British in character and tliat the cast is British, some idea will be conveyed of the manner in which it must appeal to those e who enjov English comedy, pure and unde- ,, filed. The most noteworthy thing about ■ the film is the fact that it introduces 0 the identical cast which played "Rookery J Nook" in London and is still playing ) other Ben Travers farces at the Aldwych ' Theatre.

These actors, of whom the most celebrated are Ralph Lynn and Tom Walls, hav6 been continuously engaged in these plays for the last five or six years and only the talking picture has enabled the world outside London to enjoy the privilege of seeing them in what practically amounts to an exact replica of the London play. To hear their English voices, so faithfully reproduced by tha St. James' apparatus that not a word is lost, gives as much pleasure as to watch their polished acting, while the ingeni-ously-contrived plot and the uproariouslyfunny dialogue is reproduced practically intact.

Who does not remember the absurdly naive remark of Gerald Popkiss, "We who are hero know it's true, but I ask you, ' Would anybody else believe it ?' " when ho and his cousin in misfortune have done their miserable best to account for the presence in their bedroom of a strange girl in their pyjamas ? How they flounder in a maze of abstruse explanations and excuses, getting deeper into the mire with every foolish sentence, cannot bo retailed and still do justice to its devastating humour. To watch Mr. Lynn effusively greet his suspicious sister-in-law, trying his ridiculous best to conceal tho presence of tho girl upstairs, is to sample farce at its best. To listen to the two inseparables concoct lame excuses, knowing tho sheer futility of their feeble efforts, and finally to see the uttor confusion that falls about their ears when Gerald's wife appears on the _ scene, righteously indignant at what she naturally believes to bo a wicked plan to deceivo her—all these things keep the audience in a state of continual laughter ! from which there is no release.

Mr. Lynn, whoso brother acted his part in tho stage play seen in Auckland, is a humorist who never gjves the audienco a moment's peace, and even without the extremely amusing assistance of Mr. Walls, ho would keep tho wheels of laughter running like tho proverbial brook. But the celebrated pair are assisted by a great band of other comedians, both male and female, who keep the farce running at a furious pace. As if one long comedy was not enough in one programme, tho Management have added a sound-cartoon by Walt. Disney, tiic genius who gave tho screen the " Mickey Mouse" cartoons. " Cannibal Capers,"' as it is called, is so funny that its music can scarcely bo heard above the thunderous laughter of tho house. An especially -good supporting programme also includes " Tlu> 'loy Shop," a pretty doll phantasy in colour. Anyone who seeks sheer unadulterated amusement for his entertain-

ment could not elo belter than to see this programme, which cannot fail to enjoy a successful season.