"THE FARMER’S WIFE."

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19761, 12 April 1926, Page 2

"THE FARMER’S WIFE."

DELIGHTFUL DEVONSHIRE COMEDY.

Eden Philpotts’s entertaining Devonshire comedy, ‘The Farmer's Wife,” was presented to a large and light-hearted audience in His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday night The event of the play was not heralded in the usual fashion in association with the name of some actor or actress of unsurpassed renown, but the name of its author, Eden Philpotts, is something to commend it strongly in advance The fact that the play has had a successful run of three years in London was also calculated to rouse the expectations of theatregoers, “The Farmer’s Wife” is a comedy from beginning to end redolent of a certain phase of Devonshire country life, and herein lies the essence of its charm. There is only the slightest of plots, and the interest centres round the matrimonial intentions chiefly of old farmer Sweetland, but also of certain young men in love with his obviously eligible daughter. The pla- abounds i amusing situations, which were most effectively exploited b- those entrusted with the chief parts. One of the most prominent figures round whom the others tend to group themselves is Farmer Sweetland. of Applegarth Farm. _ The old fellow’s pride of possession of his broad acres and sublime self-satisfaction are most entertainingly revealed as the play progresses. His wife has been dead a tittle over two years, and he comes to the deci. i that it is time he took steps to have that honour, able position filled again. To the delight of the audience he discusses the matter bluffly and frankly with his _ model and most worthy housekeeper Aramint Dench, and with the aid of hrewd comments from Araminta he compiles a list of four eligibles set down in order of preference. These are Louisa Windeatt the fox-hunting widow who lives at the top of the hill; Thirza Tapper, the good-hearted little early Victorian spinster, proud in the ownership of a little villa; Mary Hearn, the boisterous postmistress, who’s age u not what she would have it appear; and a fourth whom the amorous farmer goes to visit at Dawlish Tiie audience is permitted to witness the proposal land its effect in each of the three first cases, and these scenes are intensely amusing. In the end Sweetland finds, as many a better man has done before him. that his happiness has not ta be sought for in some distant spot, but is under his own roof in the person of the modest and devoted Araminta. The course of two other markedly bucolic wooings—that of George Smerdon and Petronell Sweetland e.id Richard Co-ker and Siblev Sweetland is also most amusingly traced. In the end, as one would desire, all comes as tight as right could be, and the curtain falls with the prospect of three weddings in the near future. The play is divided into three scenes, ihe first is largely occupied with introducing the audience to the Applegarth farm house, hold, with the clumsy, ill-judged wooings of George and Richard, and with old Sweetland’s ludicrous proposal to Louisa Windeatt. The second act is almost enh.ely devoted to Miss Tapper inimit. able party, a momentous occasion on which Sweetland 'nds opportunity to make two more unacceptable proposals. In the final act everybody comes to their senses, and the course of true love glides smoothly to its goal. Mr Townsend Whitling in the important part of Samuel Sweetland. begaiwa trifle stiffly, but warmed up to put some good work into the proposal scenes. In depicting the painfully injured self-importance of the man who has been rejected, he was at his very best, and had the audience rocking with laughter. In the last scene in which the farmer suddenly seas all his very obvious faults and at the same moment realises the genuine worth of Araminta, he was hardly so “natural or convincing. As Thirza Tapper. Miss Susan Richmond enacted a character that will long remain a cherished memory. She gave a consistent picture of a quaint, dignified little elderly spinster whose sudden sharp little movements, precise manner of speech, and devotion to petty detail could easily be paralleled in real life. She was intensely amusing without ever descending to burlesque, and so realistic was her acting that the character was not without a touch of genuine pathos. Another excellent piece of portraiture was that of Churdles Ash. by Mr Edwin Brett. Churdles Ash is the rough old farm hand with an abundant store of shallow cynical philosophy, with which to express his dislike of womankind. Dressed in livery .for the occasion, and announcing in his own fashion the guests as they arrive, he was one of the chief delights of Miss ■•upper s inimitable party. Mr Reginald Newson as George Smerdon), and Graham Stuart (as Richard Coaker) were well cast in the parts of honest, downright country lovers who did not find it at all a simple matter to express what was in their hearts to the girls of their choice. Miss Daphne Bairn as Sibley Sweetland. Miss Frances Cove as her sister Petronell. and Miss Dons Johnstone, as Araminta Dench, all looked the charming and attractive parts they had to play. There were no great demands made on any of the three in the matter of dramatic skill, but they always luled their nlace in the picture most pleasingly. Miss Emmeline Orford. as Mary Hearn, the postmistress who is “too fond of dressing in mutton lamb-fashion,” and who took hysterics after being proposed to at the party, and Miss Violet Ley as Louisa Windeatt, the widow who found nothing in the world so impossible as to marry old Sweetland, both contributed notably to the more burlesque side ot the comedy. There were a number of other minor characters like Susan Maine, the tearful maid {Miss Yetty Landau) and Valiant Dnnnybrig. the very perfection of gross rudeness (Mr P. L. Julian), who all kept things moving merrily along At times the comedy tends to the burlesque, and in the party scene at least there was some coarseness that did not really add to the fun, but on the whole the play provides almost three hours of unbroken mirth and merriment, of the most innocent kind. The dialogue constantly sparkles with humour. Loyal Devonkms are hardly likely to accept it as typical of the life of their county, but they will enjoy the whole thing not a whit less than do other people. The play, which is artistically and appropriately staged, will be presented again this evening.