ENGLISH THEATRICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1626, 29 April 1903, Page 13

ENGLISH THEATRICAL NOTES.

(From. Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, March 6. ‘‘WHITEWASHING J CLI A ” The three-act comedy by Air Henry Arthur J ones, pruciuceu at die Oarricie last Monday evening, is quite a new' thing in plays. We all know the pro Diem piay, but Air Jones has given, us a puzzle pray. The puzzle is: What happened to Julia 'i and. die author replies: wotiidn i y*-'U like to know ? We-should, but ready, cue might fairly question whether Jones himself knew what did happen to Julia, delta in iy, he never gives us adequate reasons lor the necessity of resorting to tha whitewashing process, we can see none for ourselves, and so far as che story goes there is no "Whitewashing of Julia. ’ io outline the play as briefly as pos.-ioie: Shanc-tonbuiv society, whose acquaintance we make in the rc-n e.-nmeni; tent in Jit grounds of the xJishojya pais.ee on the occasion of the annual Cuiaus’ iund fete, is in a flutter because All’s Juba Wren, a handsome young widow, and lormerly a shining light of Sha-nctonbuiv society, lias, after an absence of two or three years, come back to the parish, bhe has been abroad, and some time ago a. story was spread about a foreign royal duke, a lady’s puli'-box, dressing-bag atm other articles, and Airs Wren. Nobody knows anything, but everybody has heard the story. Is Airs Wren to be welcomed ley her Iriends or to be cut by them i I.hey decide that the proper thing is to give her the cold shoulder unless she gives nu explanation, the prime mover in then decision being Air Levis Pinkney, the son of a local nobleman, the husband of the bishop’s daughter and a considerable prig. Bevis Pinkney -exercises a nood deal of influence over his mother. Lady Pinkney, and overcomes her natural liking for Mrs Wren, so that, without going €0 far as to cut that lady, Lady Pinkney keeps cut of lier way as much as sne cap. But Lady Pinkney’s brother, Mr Stil-ling-fle-et, who.se large experience! of the gex has not dimmed his social lustre nor dulled his wits, lias the good taste to tall in love with Airs Vy ren. to pay assiduous court to her, and to win her affections. Airs Wren- evades Ladv Pinknev’s attempts to extract an explanation; she has asked her lawyer mysterious Questions about the law of morganatic marriages, and the lawyer has given dark hints to Lady Pinkney, but no explanations are forthcoming. Lady Pinknev’s two sons solve the difficulty between them. Edwin, the elder engages himself to Rosie Ren bow, a young lady of superficial attractions and no character, the daughter of an adventuress. Airs Wren suggests the natural means of dealing with Edwin’s case—a postponement for sixmonths, during which the lawyer may use his- skill. Before that period is quite over the iawyer has obtained Rosie’s bond not to molest La win, and produces it on the very day when Stilling-fleet announces hie engagement to Airs Wren. Lady Pinkney is - ready to welcome Airs When as a sister-in-law, but Bevis is resolute to have no dealings with her and no scandal in the* family. His resolution is upset by the appearance of Airs Benbow, who recognises him under another name. For Bevis some years ago was the friend of Rosie, and had to pay her a large sum to leave him and go to Australia, where Edwin has made- her acquaintance. This little disclosure made to Stillingileet at the right moment enables that gentleman to change the tone of Mr Bevis, who is now only too delighted to welcome Airs Wren as Stillingfleet’s betrothed, and to assure liis mother that all has been explained, and that he is nuite satisfied as to Airs Wren’s character. Stillhnrfl-eet before crushing Pinkney has had his private explanation with Julia. She has brought the whole story in am envelope for him to read; urges him to read it, but his deliberate reply is to burn the envelope unopened, and in so doing lie finally crushes cur hones of at last learning the truth about tile duke, the puff-box and Airs Wren. It is not much of a play, viewed from any standpoint, and is hardly likely to hold the bill at- the Garrick for long.

“IiEU REESE” Possibly some adaptation of MM. ITennequiu and Belliaud’s three-act comedy, ‘‘Meureuse,” produced at tlio Paris Vaudeville last week, with Madame JLcejane in the leading- role may find its way £b London, and thence to your part of the world. It is a very lively production, and more than a trifle “risky.” When the curtain rises, the spectator is introduced to a merry party, which is l practising, unknown to host and hostess, for a serenade on. the anniversary of tlieir wedding day. It is in the salon of a country house, and widely different are the characters and tastes of the couple by whom tliey are being entertained. Achilla Laplante, a gentleman farmer wrapt up in his cattle and his crops, does not think it necessary to devote attention to his "wife, who bitterly resents his neglect. By way of. consoling herself, she has taken up with Antonin Gilbert, who is also staying at the house. Achille and she have many passages over his rustic proclivities, and at last, during a scene ill which he expresses his contempt for her sex in general, she asks him what he would say if she were to tell him that ehe had a lover; When he laughs at the bare idea she makes a clean breast of it, and they end by agreeing to- part. It is arranged that he shall' slap her face in presence of the'company as an excuse for a divorce, the signal for the assault being a inference on hen'paid to the hour. The opportunity comes when the guests enter the room playing a lively air and congratulating the “liappy couple” ort the anniversary: Aohille replies, and his wife follows'in - a little speeohun which come® an allusion to the- time, She l exclaim® that. liis : watch i® : wrong,, and he- retorts by slapping; her face: to' the consternation of their guest®;- Six months roll by, The divorce has'been obtained, and Mad*ame has marri ed herr 1 over. The pair are living in Paris,. bubif’ reason to complain- her former husband'® indifference, she bitter]v r resert9'the> v jeak

ous watchfulness of Gilbert. He is haunted by the fear that she may be playing her old games with, somebody else. He h-as had several anonymous letters, mentioning her visits to certain shops, and altercations are of frequent occurrence. But the climax is reached when Laplante presents himself to his distracted successor, so transformed as to be almost beyond recogm it ion. The country gentleman lias developed into the smart man of the world. lie has called to give Antonin an anonymous letter about his wife which had been addressed to himself. and an animated conversation ends by both voting the lady ‘‘iinsupportable.” When, she enters dressed to go out, .Antonin proclaims his intention of accompanying her, whereupon, divesting herself angrily of her hat, she sets to work to write a note, which proceeding increases his suspicions, lie insists on seeing it, she reiuses and throws it into a. subtil twin,, *t.<. door of which, she locks, and when, after having wrested the hey from lier he enters (lie chamber in search of the missive, she turns the key. puts it into her pocket, and leaves him a prisoner. The drawing-room of a. house which Laplante has bought in Paris is the scene of the concluding act. Burning for revenge, ha has not contented himself with sending (ho anonymous letters, but has also forwarded missives breathing admiration to- Aline. Gilbert. His plan is to allure her to his abode, and then to bring ho? husband to witness her misconduct, iibe has no notion who "Aionsicur Georges,” as Laplante' calls himself, can bo; but, stung by her husband’s suspicions, she, having locked him up, rushes to Achilla's house, and is horrified when she finds' herself face to face with her former husband, who has packed off a servant with another note to .Antonin, saying that lie will find her at his ad-dre-sw. Meanwhile, the lady, who approves Laplante’.-i transformation, displays a disposition to listen to his protestations of love. He ha« been acting ail the time, but suddenly lie is touched, confesses- that he had been simply laying a trap for her and begs' her to believe that lie is now sincere. She is smitttn in turn, aml wlie-n Antonin appears the scene explains* that if is only a little comedy got up to prove the unfairness of his suspicions, tie believes the story, and declares that he has only heeu punished as lie deserved to be. His wife and Achilla suggest that he shall take a fortnight’s trip by way of recovering tone after all this emotion, a»d lie acquiesces, leaving them to flirt in peace. Achille wants his former spouse to procure a. divorce and to 1 return to him. but she argues that they would get on better as mere lovers, and he agrees.