HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3312, 5 September 1917, Page 52

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

"VERY GOOD EDDIE." At His Majesty's Theatre on the 30th tho Messrs J. and N. Tait's Musical Comedy Company presented "Very Good Eddie" to a very large audience. "Very Good Eddie " may probably be be6t described as a comedy-farce, in which the fun is kept moving at a fast pace from tho rise of the curtain to its fall. Certainly the climax of the second act —the piece is in two acts —may appear to some to be a little delayed, but when it is reached it provides one of the funniest situations seen on a local stage, provoking the most blase theatre-goer to hearty laughter. Most of the music is of a very tuneful order; tho chorus work was capably rendered by a beautifully frocked company of girls; the ballets were all of the graceful type—in some instances more of a pretty parade than a dance ; and the staging and the orchestral part of the performance deserve special mention.

"'Very Good Eddie' is distinguished from some of the musical comedies seen here in recent years in that it has a tangible plot. The story tells of the adventures of two newly married couples who leave on a river boat on their honeymoon. " Very Good " Eddie Kettle has married a masterful wife, whom he looks up to as his protector ; Percy Darling is a masterful husband who is considered by his wife as a stalwart reed. The author wills it that the two masterful ones are accidentally left behind at a place of call, and that Eddio Kettle and Elsie Darling are carried on by the steamer. Adventures fall thick and fast on the two timid ones. They discover that they are hungry, but as both are penniless—Good Eddie having entrusted all his money to Mrs Kettle—they are hard put to it to secure a meal until Eddie discovers a friend from whom he can borrow; and thereupon, to assuage his grief, he swallows his first cocktail, the effects of which produce results highly diverting to the audience. The unhappy honeymooners finally reach the Rip Van Winkle Hotel, where they decide to pass as man and wife, and are forced to put many a "bluff" on the bewildered hotel clerk before the arrival of the other pair next morning. When the missing pair do arrive, and witness their matrimonial partners engaged in a little billing and cooing to deceive once more the hotel clerk, a most humorous denouement results. But, of course, explanations follow, and future domestic happiness looms through the dispersing clouds of initial trouble. Mr Barry Lupino, as the very good Eddie, was the head and front of the performance. In all the demands made on him he played with a sure artistic touch. Most of his work was on subdued lines, and was thoroughly effective throughout. In fact, he proved that he is a comedian of great versatility, and he achieved quite a triumph. His entrances on the stage were always watched with expectancy, and he never once failed to maintain a high standard of comedy work. Miss Fayette Perry made a vivacious and charming Elsie Darling, who flitted about with much graco —her duet with Mr Higginson, "Some Sort of Somebody," was one of the successes of tho evening. Miss Georgina Fitzroy made the most of a rather part as Mrs \ Georgina Kettle; and Miss Lillian Tucker proved a wdnsome Elsie Lilly. Mr Frank Greene fulfilled all the demands made on him as Percy Darling; Mr Andrew Higginson was responsible for a clever performance as D ; ck R ; vers, and Mr John Beck, as an hotel clerk of the casual kjnd, who quickly became on the most familiar terms w'th the gueste desiring to reside at the Rip Van Winkle Hotel, took full advantage of the many opportunities which came his way to move the aud'ence to laughter. A lone list of other artists took part in a very bright performance, and one which can be recommended to the playgoers of Dunedin.