“OH, MRS. BLUGGINS”

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1932, Page 4

“OH, MRS. BLUGGINS”

KAPONGA COMEDY-DRAMA.

LOCAL TALENT ACT CREDITABLY.

The Kaponga. Amateur Theatrical Society presented an original comedydrama,“Oh, Mrs. Bluggins,” on Wednesday and last night. The presentation, which was made-by talented local people, was replete with humoious incidents. ■ The play was written by Messrs. C. A. Corder and W. J. A. larnell, who iwere producer and stage manager respectively. It concerns the family oi

Samuel Blqggins (Mr. A. Melville), a wealthy retired soft soap manufacturer who endeavoured to enter. society by means of marrying his daughter Semolina (Miss M. Guy) to a foreign nobleman, Count Nicholas von Aspro (Mr; A. Riley). Mrs. Amelia Bluggins, (Mrs. W. Carrington) is delighted at the prospect of securing a title for her daughter, and incidentally for herself, and gives a house party in honour of the count. As a special feature of the evening a crystal-gazer introduces an entertainment and to aid the proceedings the

lights are extinguished. Mrs. Bluggms suddenly finds that her valuable necklace has been lost and Old Simpson (Mr. P. Harding), a cantankerous neighbour who has pushed his way. into the party, suggests that the count be searched. This is done and tho stolen necklace is discovered and the ’count exposed as an international criminal who has been the object of a keen ; police search. Old Simpson turns out ■to be Inspector Brown, of Scotland Yard, who adopted his disguise to track ' down the criminal, while the crystal ■ gazer reveals himself as Albert Hooter 1 (Mr. Wk Taylor), the locql police. ser-’ ■ <reant in love with Amber (Miss. L. Jackson), the maid in the Bluggins household. Susan Jenkins the cook (Miss A. Fary), Skinny Perkins the groom (Mr. C. A. Corder), and ’Oppy ’lggins the butcher’s boy (Mr. R. E. McCarthy) provided, merriment. For the seeprid act, the drawing room at the Bluggins home, subsidiary parts were aptly taken by

a number of guests, these being Mi S. Illingworth (Miss V. Fever), a society dame, her daughter (Miss R. Jackson), Miss Martha Hardcastle (Miss A. Fary) a retired schoolmistress, Dr. Johnson (Mr. T. R. Reid) the local medico, his wife (Miss M. McCarthy), Mr. BrookThomson (Mr. F. Rodie) a' lawyer, Mrs. Brook-Thomson (Miss J. Guy), the Rev. Archibald Brown (Mr. R. Gwyn), Mrs. Brown (Mrs. W. McCook),, Mr. P. Smith (Mr. J. Tattersall). the undertaker, and Mrs. Smith (Miss H. Guy). Incidental music was played by an orchestra comprising Mr. ■ Antoni Bonetti (leader and first violin), Messrs. 0. E. Champtalqup and A.; Sargeson (second violins), Mrs.'A. Barley (’cello), Mr. H.' A. Gallagher (’bass), Mr. Fl L. Egarr (flute), and Mrs. R. G. Cook (piano). Assisting with the house management were Messrs. R. G. Hill, G. Lilley, L. Brewer, A. Webby and L. A. Wells. The scenery was painted by Mr. v J. Tattersall,