“BROWN SUGAR”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 119, 10 August 1927, Page 15

“BROWN SUGAR”

FROM CHORUS TO PEERAGE A “TITLED” COMEDY “Brown Sugar,” a comedy in three J acts by Lady Arthur Lever. Pre- ' sented at His Majesty’s Theatre last t evening by J. C. Williamson, Ltd. ( Cast: > Johnson Jack Dunne. Earl of Knightsbridge . Jackson Wilcox. , Countess of Knightsbridge 1 Margaret Darner. *■ Lord Sloan Ellis Irving. I Lady Sloan Renee Kelly. £ Lady Honoria Nesbitt Gwen Burroughs, t Mrs. Cunningham .. . . Emma Temple. Hon. Archie Wentworth .. Ronald Ward. . Crobie Carruthers .. .. Reg. Wykeham. ! George Edmondson . . . . Hylton Allen. ‘ Miss Gibson Peggy Willoughby. ‘ Frank Snelling Reginald Long.. ] The Pianist Dorothy Marier. c “Brown Sugar” is a mixture of “The A Earl and the Girl” and “The Best A People” in disguise. 1 Even though the author is a lady ' c of title, it has not prevented her from pillorying an aristocratic family. £ Apparently Lady Lever is another * playwright who believes that all chorus girls have hearts of gold and few manners. She must also belong to an age which considered that the use of a modest “damn” placed the user beyond the pale of decent society. There are times when “Brown Sugar” runs perilously near melodrama, and times when it Is quite good comedy, but it provides poor material for Miss Kelly and her company, who are worthy of a better play. Lady Lever has given us the old story of the chorus girl who marries into a titled family. Stella Deering,

bright, unaffected and in the second row of the chorus, becomes Lady Sloan. Her aristocratic mother - in- law declares that she is impossible; her father - in- law suddenly regains his youth. Lady Honoria, w h o apparently has designs on Lord Sloan, snubs Stella and creates a scene. Next the

family transfers to the country seat, where Stella is given a companion to initiate her into the secrets of becoming a lady. Lady Honoria continues to be the perfect cat and again Stella loses control of herself. In the meantime, however, she discovers that her nice young brother-in-law, Archie Wentworth, has fallen into the toils of the villain. She pays his debts, is overheard making a secret pact with the villain, and is accused of having a most undistinguished past. This is too much for Stella, who flees from the aristocratic portals back to London and the stage. But “All’s well that ends well, as Stella’s father-in-law remarks brightly when the plot is unravelled and it is discovered that she has saved her brother-in-law and the family from everlasting shame. Though not so refined as white sugar, Stella proves that “Brown Sugar” can be just as honest and sincere. Miss Kelly, looking younger than ever, made all that was possible ot her part. Her chorus girl was not a “gold digger,” but a very charming creature, full of good spirits and prepared to make everyone love her. There was a pleasant restraint about her more animated moments. Mr. Irving gave another capable performance. He has a nice stage presence and a most likeable manner. Years cannot dim Miss Temple’s seemingly perpetual charm. Mr. Allen was as thoroughly bucolic as all theatrical producers are supposed to be. His appearance was brief but welcome. Mr. Ward gave one of the most enjoyable performances in the play. He has a penchant for playing “nice young ! men” parts. Miss Burroughs looked the cat the author intended, and Mr. Wykeham purveyed the role of villain with sincerity. Miss Damer jwas more aristocratic than anything which has appeared, or is likely to appear, in Debrett. Mr. Wilcox gave an amusing picture of the Earl. The supporting playei'S did all that was required of them. The next and final production on Friday will be “Daddy Longlegs.”