ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11163, 20 March 1922, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

“THE SIGN ON THE DOOR” , AN EXCITING PLAY? MTfiH MAUDE HANAFORD’S RETURN SEASON. Interesting, exciting, and at times hair-raising, “The Sign on the Door,” by the American journalist playwright, Charming Pollook, contains all that a dean, gripping, moving play could desire. Prologue and all three acts are full' of powerful incidents, and the highly dramatic conclusion in each, forced home with ma sterfuT realism, impresses the onlooker with its direct suddenness. Wherever it has heen played, “The Sign on the Door” has met with intense success. The title of the original production on Broadway was “Thd Room-at the •Rita.” The proprietors of the famous apartment establishment objected, and although their wishes in regard to the name were met, the action of the concluding acts is still laid at the (Rite. After a successful season in Amerioa, the drama was staged with a capable oast in Sydney, enjoying a run of ten weeks. London claimed ft for a while, and at the Playhouse Miss Gladys Cooper established for it a popularity which has added to the fame ib achieved in the States. As now presented! in Wellington by Messrs J. C. Williamson, Ltd., It has Miss Maude Hanaford in the principal role, assisted by a debutant to New Zealand audiences in Mr William J. Kelly.

Miss UanaPord’e part in the prologue is that of a young stenographer, who, in her innocenoe, is taken by the son of her employer—a suave blackguard of society, without a redeeming feature, except that he is perfectly acted by Mr Kenneth Brampton.—to a restaurant of ill-fame. It is raided by the police, and an enterprising newspaper photographer secures a snapshot of the couple as they ore removed and _ before they "jump” their bail. Five years later the girl is Wappfty married to a prosperous widower, with a daughter, who is also fi&out to f&ffl into the seducer’s dutches. The wife discovers by accident that the girl is to meet her villainous admirer dandastinely in his rooms: the husband also intends to visit Mm to avenge the honour of a friend whose wife has been betrayed. The Wipe resolves that at all coats she must, stewe her stepdaughter, and the stegs da sot for the big soene in the room at the R&tx. She arrives first, and forced into an unenviable position by her tormentor, she takes refuge in the bedroom when her husband’s' knock is heard. From there she Overhears the quarrel between the two men, which ends in shots, the throwing about of decanters, and the death or the seducer from a bullet from his own revolver, which the husband has secured. This latter the horrified wife witnesses. The husband arranges the body to suggest salable, pins oh the door a hatioe the other man haa Written, announcing that' he is not to be disturbed, and locks the door from the outside. The wifb emerges fraom the bedroom and finds herself locked in. Realising that she must spend a night in the. room with the body, _ anxious to escape, and desirous of saving her husband, she disarranges her clothing, scatters the furniture, and raising the telephone receiver, calls for help and fires .two mare shots from the revolver. When the door is hurst in she hysterically declares that die has silled the seducer because he attacked her. It is a powerful climax, but more dramatic action, including a stirring final iuspi natJ on, (follows; the excitement is kept up tflli the very close of the play. The police are confronted with the spectacle of husband and wife taking the blame, and) each apparently trying to shield the other. ( Suddenly anotnef visitor is snnounc- , ed—the mysterious lady who has failed to keep her _appointment. The wife knows that it os the stepdaughter, and in her agony tries to prevent her entrance, knowing that her husband is in ignorance of the Identity of tee woman she has been trying to shield- The lights ora lowered; the district attorney poses as the dead man’s valet, learns that the visitor has come to say that < sue has changed her mind, and h)as brought her girl companion for safety sake, and just as everything seems cleared up, that damning photograph of five years before is discovered by the ponce. How this adcntkmaS Complication is disentangled it would be hardly fair to say. It is Mr PoMook’e most ingenious device, and it would) (be unfair to those who wish to see and enjoy the play to reveal it. One or two words from the attorney set matters completely , right, and the play ends at the same top speed at which the action has run 1 from the first minute. Miss Hansford’s work was excellent. Hie change from the innocent girl to the loving wife was well done, Irat her greatest moments were those following the dimax, when she aqted in the grand manner the woman who is tom with grief and despair. _ For some three lujWotes, during which the unfortunate wife rapidly works out a scheme for , assuming her husband’s guilt, no word was spoken—nothing heard but her i frsnzted sobbing and nervous breathl rog- It was a tense situation in which Miss Hanaford rose magnificently to the oooamon. Her emotional acting while under police cross - examination was equally masterful. These were the best of several leading incidents in her pmormnnoe. They were so humanly soteu teat Miss Hanaford must have made herself absolutely '‘oblivious ■ to everything around her and felt herself tee actual victim of tee cruel dreuml, stances of the plot of.tee story. She was completely wrapped up in tie character she was portraying, and that . her efforts were euooeseful was testified by tee hearty and sincere applause at the eonohudon of tee third act. Just as exodlsnt was the work of the other i P r _?' l *g op i 6 t a in the triangular duel " — Mr William J. Kelly as the huteand, and Mr Kenneth Brampton as the suave adventurer. Mr Kelly is a distinat stage type, tall and of athletic frame, and he commands a natural style teat must ensure his popularity. He is an American, and was specially engaged to take tee part in Australia, and his Interpretation, of tee character the fond and oaresstng husband was admirable. Mr Brampton was quite convincing as the excellent villain, who believed teat everything was right that was not found out, and that self-pre-servation was the only thing teat counted when others were concerned. All tee shrewdness and cowardliness of the human .rat were portrayed In Mr Brampton’s ■ character sturdy. The scene between the two men that ends in the murder of the adventurer could not have been improved upon. The supporting roles are capably played by the Misses Doris Duane and PhvMis Coghlan, the step-daughter and her friend, and Messrs Sydney Sterling (the attorney), Refe. A. Long, Charles Wheeler, John North wood, Herbert Leigh, Harold Moran, Frank Oarlton, Alfred Charles, and Frank Paul. . The season will be of a week’s duration only.

MARIE TEMPEST SEASON. “TEA FOR THREE.” On Saturday next, at the Grand Opera House, J. C. Williamson, Ltd., announce the farewell appearances or Misa Marie Tempest, Mr Graham Browne and their world torn - company. The initial attraction will be a new and brilliant play in three acts, entitled “Tea for Three.” Of “Tea for Three” the critic of the “Sydney Evening News” writes: —“When yon have been in love with, another man’s wife before they married, you want to nourish the sentimental memories of that fading romance: and the way to do it is to gaze into her eyes over afternoon tea every Thursday afternoon. Such rosemary love ends in making the husband furiously jealous, lest you and his wife may some day tread the primrose path to a decree nisi. This is discovered by the wife (Marie Tempest) and the friend (Graham Browne) in the new play, ‘Tea for Three;’ by Roi Cooper Megrue. So the rabid jealousy of the husband (Ashton Jarry) had to be di-verted—-or deluded—by one device or another. Just how the two Platonio lovers tamed the husband" must 'be left for your solution when you see the play. It is a play which necessitates some sharp notes of melodrama in a smooth fantasia of delightful talk. How Miss Tempest shines in the talk, all her devotees (whose name is Multitude) may well imagine. She is inooanparable —the chtUTO .of her lilting conversation is happiness for the oldest and youngest playgoers alike. And so can Mr Browns talk. One of hie duties in this play is to make love in pretty language j not by the touohing of fingers and lips, but by the magic of mellifluous words. The play is a comedy with a taste and flavour quite out of the ordinary, and one wifi he sorry for anybody who misses it.” “Tea for Three” will be played for tee first three nights, and 1 will be followed for the succeeding three nights by another new and charming comedy, “Mr Pim Passes By.” During the season will also be presented “Penelope,’ 5 “Outcast,” “The Great Adventure,” and “The Marriage of Kitty.” The box plans for “Tea for Three,” and “Mr Km Passes By ’’ will be opened at the Bristol Piano Company, Thursday morning next.

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE

FULLER’S NEW VAUDEVILLE.

To-night at His Majesty’s Theatre a completely new programme will he presented by Ben and John Fuller. Several now artists are to moke their first appearanoe, and altogether, tee programme should 'bo one of exceptional strength. Prominent among the newcomers are Bradley and Hamilton, an English sketch act from the London muria halls. These artists introduce a eplritualistio _ comedy, entitled “Un* earthly,” white, is said te be quite original and a laughing suoqess from start jjo finish. The Musical Weatherleys are also to make their first appearance in a olaasdoal musical offering. Frolics in Frogland is a decidedly novel vaudeville presentation teat has not previously been seen here. Flora Oomer, the clover EnglhJi comedienne, has been engaged for a further season in Wellington, and tee brings with her several of her London song successes, white, presented in the Flora Cromer style, cannot fall, to satisfy. Since Misa Cromer’s last visit here, she has appeared in the other centres of New Zealand, where her reception has been most flattering. Huley and Bent, who are also London,,mumoateall-artlste, are appearing On to-night’s bill. ■ Theirs is quite a new style of comedy and most laughable, and their act is considered to be one of the comedy successes of the Fuller circuit- Effie' Fellows made her first appearance on Saturday, and was highly successful. Male impersonation is her specialty, and she carries it out in a manner that leaves nothing to be desired. Beaver, the talkative jug. gler, is a newcomer who jokes and juggles. Carr and Manley (a . pair of powerful athletes), Lloyd and Raymond (novelty dancers), and Hartley and Wright (musical comedy dno) are all an their first week art) His Majesty’s, The now bill is well varied, and should appeal to lovems of good vaudeville.

"BIRTH OF NE ZEALAND." PARAMOUNT AND ARTCRAFT THEATRES ON' FRIDAY.

The management of tee Paramount and Artcraft Theatres announce that they have secured, at considerable expense, the right to exhibit for one week only (commencing next Friday) the colossal . historical film classic, “The Birth of New Zealand,” the first super-feiatuire produced in New Zealand. The picture areated enormous interest at Auckland, where it was presented to record audiences at the Town Hall, and elicited enoomiums seldom heard in connection with any motion picture study. The Prime Minister (the Hon. W. F. Massey) wrote: “In my opinion, such a picture, apart from its educational value, would undoubtedly be a splendid advertisement for the Dominion, especially abroad.” Mr Z, F. do Berry, headmaster Palmerston North School: “I desire to say that ‘The Birth of New Zealand’ has greater possibilities from an educational point of view than any other picture my school has seen.” Dealing as it does with the early history of tee Dominion, the pioture should prove remarkably fascinating to local audienoes, far, according to reports, the “graphic revelations depicted with remarkable fidelity include such studies as Captain Cook’s discovery of New Zealand, his greeting by the Maoris, and his subsequent death at Hawaii, the signing of the Treaty of Waitsngi, Hone Hoke's declaration of war, burning of Kororareka, annexation of the South Island, etc.’’ An entrancing story is said to be interwoven with tbo historical events, the whole being in some of the most gorgeous natural beauty spots in New Zealand. The box plans will be opened to-morrow at 8 a.m., aa follow: For Paramount Theatre, Utility, Courtenay place; Artcraft Theatre, Bristol.