ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10802, 19 January 1921, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

" IRENE ” ? MUSICAL COMEDY SUCCESS. MISS DOROTHY' SOUTH IX THE LEAD. .Both London- and New York, as well as other Continental audiences, having acclaimed the success of Janies Montgomery's musical comedy', “Irene.” It was nothing surprising that the production received such a warm reception when initially staged locally at the Grand Opera House last evening by a capable company under the J. and X. Tait management. The fairly large audience which assembled o*n the opening night thoroughly enjoyed the presentation, and recalls at every fall of the curtain were the general order. The .plot of the comedy is laid in New' York, liene O'Dare, an Irish-American shopgirl from a New York department store, is sent to the Marshall home on Long Island in ' connection witn a verandah furnishing contract, and meets Donald, the eligible heir of the family. He il fascinated by the openheartedness and simplicity- of the city business' girl, who “gets talking” and finds a sympathetic listener to w hom to < confide her dislike of such a monotonous life. She longs for an opportunity to secure a position that will'enable her to wear frocks and clothes and play the lady, as she feels sho is capable of doing quite as well as the society customers who frequent the shop. Marshall is attracted by her frankness and naturalness, and seeing ' a chance whereby Irene’s wish may l>e gratified, secures her a position, together with two girl friends from the same tenement, with “Madame Lucy,” a dapper little Englishman, who is about to introduce some new dress designs into America and- requires models to parade and advertise his gowns. A few lessons suffice to equip the raw store girls with the necessary deportment and address. Irene thus receives an introduction into society and makes an immediate hit. with the men folk, Her irascible and strict Irish mother, becomes suspicious, however, and on the evening of a ball at the house ot J. F. Bowden, a New- Yosk business man of some reputation, decides to locate her that very evening, and . test hei* suspicions. Irene has received a proposal from Bowden, and accepted a string of pearls. But Lawrence Hadley, another guest, who recognises in Irene the shop girl he had “had a fling with" two years before tells Bowden of her humble station in life; and their relatione are immediately broken oft. Mrs O'Dare, ill-fittingly attired in one of her daughter’s parade gowns, makes an unexpected entrv as Dons Id Marshall makes a proposal. The old lady does not readily approve of her daughter's suit with one so much out of her own class, but i 6 eventually convinced of the suitability of the match, and all thus ends happily. , The whole story naturally revolves around Irene .O'Dare, the central figure of every scene, and the part would appear to have been created for Mies Dorothy Soutffi, to whom it is designated, so ndturallv and completely does she fill it. The cfiange from the slang and drawl of the city girl to the more cultured expression adopted after ' her rehabiliment is very clever. Miss South also makes • use of a musical voice, and was heard in several catchy vocal numbers, the most popular. of which are "The Alice Blue Gown,’’ “To be Worthy,” and “Irene.” Mr Robert Jewett plays the part of Donald Marshall with much success, and although. he appears to' have a pleasing voice, is noli, given much opportunity to display it. Robert Harrison, a friend of Marshall, who is eternally putting his foot into it, is played by Mr Thomas Pa-unceforte. Miss Feggv Maloney and Miss Marion Earle are responsible for a good deal of amusement as Irene’s tenement companions, and appear together in a number of exaggerated dances. Mr Chester Clute makes a lot of the role of “Madame Lucy,” but fails to give it. the effeminacy that the author perhaps intended. Another good, -voice in the company is that of Miss; Viliua Hinkle, who appears in a minor speaking part as Eleanor Worth. Her best are “Hobbies” and. “Thp Castle of Dreams." Two good characterisations are wrought by Miss Georgia Harvey and Miss Grayce V. /Connell, as Mrs O’Dare and Mrs Chestor, respectively. Miss Alice Bentley has a somewhat smaller - responsibility as Mrs Marshall. Other parts are capably played by Mr Rawdon Blandford and Mr Milton Owen. The jnSegnificent dresses worn by Miss South were much admired by thie{ ladies in |the audience, and the scenery and Staging were generally good. Every alternate scene is enacted on the fire-escape of a New York tenement house. The musical arrangements are in the hands of Mr Maurice Guttridge, who conducts a capable orchestra. > HIS MAJESTY's'*~THEATBE. A POPULAR. PROGRAMME.. A crowded audience attended His Majesty's Theatre last evening, when the new programme was repeated by Fuller'* Vaudeville Company. Prominently popular were the “turns” by Huley and Bent (sketch duo). Ward and Sherman (patter double), Carlton Max (ventriloquist), Yank and Jean (balancers), and Louis Bloy (banjoist). The company will appear again this evening. FASHION PLATE DANDIES. AN ENJOYABLE SHOW. The 'town Hall Concert Chamber was again well attended last evening, .when the talented combination, the Fashion Plate Dandies, repeated their attractive programme. The members" of the company were consistently recalled- for their enjoyable vocalisations. The last six nights of the season are announced. EVERYBODY'S. “THE BRAND OF LOPEZ.” Sessue Hayakawa figures as the leading character in the drama, “The Brand of Lopez," which is proving an effective “draw" at Everybody's. There are also a most mirth-provoking comedy, “School Days" and an athletic subject, "The Olympic Games at Antwerp.'' THE EMPRESS "A MASTER (STROKE.” The Empress Theatre was well patronised throughout yosterday. The “-feature” of the current bill is the drama, “A Master Stroke,” with Bhrl Williams in the central role. The stirring serial. “Smashing Barriers," is a. continued success. THEATRE. THE MAORI MIRACLE MAN. An unusual film entitled “Katana,” illustrating the faith-healing exposition by the Maori wonder-worker, is drawing large attendances at the Britannia Theatre at day and evening. sessions. William Farnum, the popular film "star," is seen to advantage in “The Wonderful Adventure." As an auxilfyrv item, “Tho Vanishing Dagger" is of quite exceptional interest. KING'S THEATRE. “THE WOMAN GIVES." Attractively preheated, to a high-clase orchestral accompaniment. “The Woman Gives," principal pic tu.ro in the current programme at the King’s Theatre, is . pleasing entertainment. Norma Talmadge, in the leading role, maintains her reputation for dramatic ability, her emotional scenes in the picture under notice being of a high standard. “Schooldays," a burlesque comedy, is tu laughable film, and Larry -Semon and his company are refreshingly original in their business. Roberto* Romani continues to prove popular with audiences. There will be a full orchestralmatinee at 2.30 o’clock this afternoon.