“A NIGHT OUT.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18801, 2 March 1923, Page 3

“A NIGHT OUT.”

IRRESISTIBLE MUSICAL COMEDY.

Of the famous musical play to he presented here by the J. C. Williamson Musical Comedy Company, headed by Maud Fane and W. S. Percy, on Thursday next, the Sydney Morning Herald writes: “That a successful farcical comedy can be readily cut down to the requirements of musical pieces has boon shown over and over again, as in the recent instance of ‘The Boy,’ and now *A Night Out’ has been produced at His Majesty’s on similar linos, bo uproarious laughter. The audience was most hilariouslv joyful over each fresh develonment, and if this was largely due to the humour of Maud Fane arid W. S. Percy, recognition is also duo to the efforts of many other artists, and to the inherent merits of the French original. This play, ot the Palais Royal type, entitled ‘L’Fotcl du Libre Echnngo,’ by Georges Feydeau and Maurice Desvallieres, convulsed Paris nearly 30 years ago, duly reached London and New York, and was twice performed in Australia, first by Harry Paul ton and handsome Alma Stanley in 1897, and then by George Giddons (who created the character of Pinglet in London) and Ethel Knight Mollison in 1903, under the title of ‘Oh. What a Night.’ The musical comedy version has boon cleverly adanted by George Grossmith and Arthur Miller, who follow the original very closely, but arrange for a good deal of spectacular effect in Joseph Pinglct’s art studio, and precede the final scenes with a ballot which rests the laughwearied audience, and refreshes them before the screamingly funny situation of the exhausted return home which ends the story hew musical comedies ever tell you whore their names come from. ‘A Night Out’ is the first clear one in a succession of ambiguities. It has a plot running through a mass of pretty choruses and scenes towards the usual O.K. end. The ballets, prettily dressed, are a maze of whirling legs. Maud Fane acts well and has sufficient vivacity to carry her through the wild night out at the unpretentious and haunted Hotel Pimlico. Madge E'liott and Cyril Ritohard are quite prominent. Fide Allen sang several songs sweetly. ‘A Night Out’ is the best musical onmedv since ‘Going Up.’ W. S. Percy carries the many embarrassing situations of the mmedv with n grin that’s catching.” “A Night Out” will he played for the first five nights of an II nights season, and will be followed bv “Mary” and “Oh ! Lady, Lady!” The box olans for “A Night Out” will be opened on Monday next.