“LAUGH THAT OFF”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 749, 23 August 1929, Page 14

“LAUGH THAT OFF”

TYPICAL HOMELY COMEDY LOVE IN A NEW YORK FLAT “Laugh That Off,” a comedy in three acts, by Don Mullally. Presented at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening by J. C. Williamson, Ltd. CAST Robert Morse .. .. .. .. Alan Bunce Arthur Lindau Reginald Newson Mrs. Connelly . • . • .. Gertrude Augarde Leo Mitchell Frank H. Fox Emmy Sadie Bedford Peggy Bryant Ruth Nugent Mike Connelly .... George Henry Trader “Can’t I sing if I feel like a little music?”—“lf that’s music, I’d like to know your idea of torture.” “I wanted to make love like Shakespeare, and it just ended like ‘Have a drink’.” These are two typical jokes from “Laugh That Off,” another of those comedies from U.S.A. which has no other purpose in life than to make people laugh. It seems to have been written to a familiar recipe, and provided with scores of jokes which are fired off at such regular intervals that the audience continually simmers with amusement. There is no doubt, too, that the American idiom is the perfect vehicle for such jokes. That was proved last evening, when comparisons could be* made with the voices and accents. M.r. Bunce rolled wisecracks off his tongue with such evident enjoyment at having made them that it was impossible not to laugh. The story is a simple one, hardly strong enough for three acts, but cut to that length by an industrious author who has filled it in with a sentimental picture of the characters preparing for a merry Christmas and declarations of love before the final curtain. Everybody in the play “makes good.” Nobody could possibly be unhappy, because that is not in the best traditions of wholesome, clean, homely comedy. In a flat in New York three young men live together—sworn to friendship in all and any circumstances. Life becomes a little more eventful when one of the “gang” returns to the flat with an attractive girl he has met casually on the street. Her honesty of motive is not disputed, and the girl becomes one of the “gang,” and housekeeper to the boys. The inevitable follows. Each one falls in love with the pretty housekeeper, but never declares it. War comes, and two of the boys leave for the front. On the eve of their departure the housekeeper also disappears, taking with her the savings from the joint cashbox. Of course the boys think the w’orst of her. Two years pass. It is Christmas Eve. The boys come back from the war, and the flat takes on its old familiar air. Emmy, the slatternly drudge who struggled with grammar in the first act, has developed into a perfect lady. The housekeeper also returns, laden with Christmas presents. She had not stolen the money—she merely borrowed it to go to Hollywood and become a famous motion picture star. Even the chattering landlady has relented to the extent of forgiving her hus-

band, and the curtain comes down on a scene of friendliness which can be seen only in comedy of this kind. Mr. Bunce runs away with the play as far as laughs are concerned. He has an easy manner, and an engaging way of getting across the footlights without any effort. Mr. Fox, whose voice was hardly that of a “roughneck,” played effectively as the most laggard lover we have seen for many a year. Miss Nugent seems to be perfectly at home in comedies like “Applesauce” and “Laugh That Off.” The parts aj*e ready-made, but effective for all that, and she has the air and manner to make all that is required of them. Mr. Newson is sufficiently individual always to give them a good performance. Mr. Trader’s Irish character was admirably sustained. Miss Augarde’s Irish accent became rather too woolly at times. Miss Bedford, as the drudge turned lady, could have made much more of a part which bristled with possibilities. Audiences will “Laugh That Off” until Monday evening. “Pigs” will be played on Tuesday.