“THE BEST PEOPLE.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20070, 9 April 1927, Page 25

“THE BEST PEOPLE.”

If only plays which made the audience laugh out loud were admitted to the highest ranks of comedies their number would bo very small. Anyone who wants to,laugh should try “The Best People,” says an Australian contemporary. “Its audacity is justified by its humour. It is excellently handled comedy, and as an evening's entertainment nothing could be better.” This comedy, which is to be presented for the first time in Dunedin at His Majesty’s Theatre for a very brief season commencing on 'Saturday next, with one special matinee on Easter Monday, under the direction of M. E. J. Carroll, concerns the adventures of Marian and Bertie, the new century products, completely emancipated son and daughter of two incompetent persons of wealth, dignity, and social position, Mr and Mrs Bronson Lenox. The girl, Marian, after experimental engagements with young men whom her father would have ‘"liked to kick,” falls sincerely in love with the family chauffeur, Henry, much to the horror of the father and mother, and the petrified amazement of her uncle, George Grafton, who . about as competent to deal with the situation as his sister Carrie (Mrs Lenox). Lcrtie, her brother, headstrong and steadily drinking, yet an essentially decent young fellow, falls in lovo with Alice O’Neill, who is a stage dancer, and who has just gone on the boards, and has been strictly brought up by Mr Lenox s forbiddhiglooking private secretary, Miss Tate. The efforts of Uncle George to prevent cither niece or nephew from marrying beneath them and “disgracing the best people” are extremely funny. There is an English peer, Lord Rockmcrc, the last fiauco to bo rejected by Marian in favour of the chauffeur. The fairy godmother nt the story is Millie, another chorus girl, who is* responsible for much of the comedy. Tu the end Lucie George is defeated! Mrs Lenox says for the last lime, “I can’t bear it,” and Mr Lenox a wise and discerning father, tests both chauffeur and Alice, and finding them ring true, consents to a union outside the "best people.” The company is now at Christchurch, from which city advices are coming to hand not to miss this comedy. The box plans will bo opened on Tuesday morning.