REPERTORY PLAYERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19946, 13 November 1926, Page 23

REPERTORY PLAYERS.

HIS TEMPORARY WIFE. Nickolls and Lestog’s laughter vehicle, “His Tcrnorary Wife,” or Jane, will bo the piece do lesistance for the premier of the | newly-formed Repertory Players, who com- , ir.ence a vwo-night season at His Majesty’s I Theatre on Friday evening next. It is some years now since the piece was first performed in Dunedin, but it has been an enormous success everywhere. The fun chiefly centres round Charles Shackleton,. an impecunious man about town, his maid Jane, and his valet William. Shackleton has been living beyond his means, and has been over-drawing on his trustee, to whom he has often written stating that he is hard pushed for money as a result of the extravagances of . his wife. One can then imagine the flutter that is caused when the lawyer communicates with Shackleton informing him that he intends to come up to London to remonstrate with the wife on her extravagance, Shackleton is put to his wits’ end to secure a- wife at once —a temporary wife. His fiancee (Lucy Norton), in the absence of any explanation, refuses the i imperative demand for a speedy wedding, and at last Shackleton, in despair, persuades Jane, for a handsome monetary consideration, to act the part of Mrs Shackleton during the visit of the lawyer. WTlliam, however, who has secretly married Jane that morning, is not immediately apprised of this arrangement, and naturally becomes very jealous as the plot takes shape, and complications ensue when a Mrs Chadwick, prompted by William to save his master, also agrees to act tho part of Shacklcton’s wife, ah unknown to Shackleton. To make matters worse, tho young spendthrift has told his lawyer that he is a happy father, and on the lawyer’s arrival and the removal of tho initial difficulties a baby has to be secured Jane borrows the necessary child, and the lawyer, though at times puzzled at the cross purposes with which he is faced, has been won over to pay all the accumulated debts, when, in the third act, William, arable to restrain his jealousy, to use his own words. “.‘Blows the gaff” and enlightens the lawyer on a number of things. AH however, ends happily, Shackleton is to marry at once. Jane is restored to William and the baby is restored to its anxious parents. Miss Bessie Thomson, who has recently returned from London, where she has been associated with most of the luminaries in the theatrical world, will appear in the principal role of Jane. Mr Lampen will be Shackleton and Mr A. R Gard’ner William. A fine snorting cast includes Miss Winnie Beck. Elsie M'Peak, Mrs A. R. Gard’ner, Mr H Hunter. jvjr M'Laren. and Master Leslie Moller. The box plans will he opened at the Bristol on Tuesday morning.