A DELIGHTFUL PLAY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13791, 24 October 1908, Page 9

A DELIGHTFUL PLAY.

J. M. BAKKIE'S LATEST.

Judging by the criticisms of the London Press, IMr IJarrie's latest play, "What Every Woman Knows," seems to be the finest thing he has clone for the stage, finer even than that masterpiece of satire, "The Admirable Crichton." The mere story of the new play makes delightful reading. The Wvlies are an honest, self-made, and kind-hearted Scotch family, who, though they cannot read them, have bought a library of learned books. To the Wylios' house there comes, as a burglar, John Shand, a railway porter who is also an undergraduate. Shand is in the habit of stealing in at the dead of night to study from the "Wylics' books. . He is discovered, and tho family agree that he is too good a young fellow to hand over to the police. They decide to give him money for his studies if ho will undertake to marry Maggie, the daughter, who has never had a suitor, and perhaps never will liave, because she lacks "charm."' Shand has no alternative but to consent to the arrangement, and a contract is duly executed. This first act is describee] as a masterpiece of delicate, whimsical humour. Six years pass. Shand has got on with a vengenance. He becomes M.P., and marries Maggie, whom he does not love, but who loves him dearly. He makes a rapid advance in the House, and becomes one of the young men to be reckoned with by any Cabinet. His speeches in the House are full of happy touches, which come to be known as "Shandisms." Curiously enough, outside the House, he never uses these illuminating phrases. He boasts that he has no sense of humour, and has never laughed in his life. The truth is that he is directed and inspired unobstrusively by his clever little wife. She it is who is respoiv sible for the "Shandisms." Then conies temptation in the shape of Lady Sybil Lazenby, for whom Shand decides to sacrifice everything. Maggie discovers this, but instead of bringing about a crisis in the convential wav, as every other heroine would, quietly says that .she will not stand in the way of her husband's happiness. Hut she secretly arranges that Shand and 7-iady Sybil shall be thrown together for a fortnight, while Shand is preparing a speech which is to make or mar his career. What she anticipates, happens. Lady Sybil finds Shand a bore, and Shand becomes tired of Lady Nvfiil. Moreover. Lady Sybil, who thought she could inspire Shand, finds that she cannot, and the draft of the speech tails to give satisfaction. Shand is miserable, but Maggie produces a brilliant speech, which is hailed as the finest thing Shand has done. Thus does light come to the blind man, and he sees how much he is in his wife's debt. "You see, dear," says Maggie, "it is not true that woman was made from mans rib; she was really mado from the funny-bone." John laughs for ihe first time, and the curtain falls. The play is described as "something that only one man in the w oriel could have wrillen. and lie a very prince among his fellows."