Theatre Royal.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2955, 29 November 1900, Page 3

Theatre Royal.

“WHY SMITH LEFT HOME.”

Mr Charles Arnold’s company have another good thing in a second of Broadhurst’s pieces, ‘Why bmith Left Home,” which was performed last night to a much smaller audience than it deserved in comparison with What Happened to Jones.” It has not equal smartness of dialogue, but a more reasonable plot, and as effective situations in a quieter way. The hero of the piece, John Smith, was admirably played by Mr Willoughby, and was amusingly supported on the male side by Mr Lester as a hen-pecked French General, and Mr Thomas as an old major, and some parts of Mr Denton’s Robert were very clever The appearance of Mr Arnold in the second act, as a German count who has great difficulty in expressing himself in English, put a fresher complexion on the con’edy. He had not a great deal to do, Lut whilst on the stage he was the head and ’front of the performance. There was rather •a preponderance of feminine parts, and the “leading ladle# well. -The prim-innocence d the guileful maid Julia

(Miss Frederic) was marvellously taking as she bargained away her employer’s five hundred dollars to hide a mistaken kiss, and Miss Booth as a lady cook, “ secretary” of the Cook Ladies’ Union, will be a lasting memory. The audience did not laugh so heartily as the night before, but they gave abundant signs that they were enjoying the performance. This evening “ What Happened to Jones” will be repeated and at popular prices, so that a crowded house may be looked for.