GRAND OPERA HOUSE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 12660, 21 January 1927, Page 8

GRAND OPERA HOUSE

“IS ZAT SO?” The fame of the comedy now getting such a great hearing at the Opera House preceded it from Australia, and a representative crowd settled down to witness an original and amusing comedy full of clever dialogue and laughable situations last night. The story deals with the adventures of “Chic” Cowan, a romantic pugilist, who lost a fight by dreaming about a girl’s ankle in the middle of the contest, and “Hap” Hurley, his trainer, who despairs of his pupil ever making good on account of his fondness for the other sex. The two are down on their luck, and without much prospect of things altering when they happen to befriend a drunken man who invites them home. They arrive shortly after the footman and butler in this establishment have left, and are offered the job by their new-found friend, who really wants them in the house in order to get back into condition in order to thrash his brother-in-law whose conduct to his sister he resents. The house into which they are brought also shelters the little girl that “Chic” befriended some time previously, and “Hap” falls heavily for the little typiste, who is Mr Parker’s secretary. A strong dramatic interest is infused into the comedy by a series of events in the Parker household, in which “Chic” and his manager take a big part in unmasking a scheme and bringing everything to a happy conclusion. The play is really a laughing boxing comedy with Cupid as referee. There is an actual prize-fight on the stage in the second act which provides great excitement. Richard Taber and Hale Norcross, as “Chic” Cowan and “Hap” Hurley share the honours, and the dialogue between these two is at all times entertaining. They dominate the play throughout the first act. Miss Daphne Bairn' played the part of Mrs Parker very capably, and Miss Ellen Handley was very effective as Florence, the girl in love with “Chic.” Mr Barrie Livesey scored well in the part of Clinton Blackburn, and Claude Saunders very capably portrayed the unthankful part of Parker. A capable cast supported in one of the brightest and most original comedies seen here for some time.

“Is Zat So?” will be repeated tonight and to-morrow. Box plans are at the Bristol.