IRENE

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 170140, 17 February 1921, Page 8

IRENE

A SPARKLING PRODUCTION. Some there are who would deny that a musical comedy run on tradition.' i lines and with no censured "cuts ’ can lie popular, and at the same time paint a.moral. “Irene.” as produced under tlie direction of Messrs J. and N. Tn'.t in the Theatre Royal last night-, did this very thing. The plot was unfolded in its completeness almost io the standard of a drama, it showed how | a. young Irish colleen.'the daughter 'of I an illiterate mother, by retaining her I .self-respect and charms with which 1 Nature endowed her, broke, through the | invidious bar of caste. She was an- i ployed in a furniture shire in New j York, and was sent: on a message to the. ; home of a. rich young man. Doi.al 1 Marshall. He is charmed with her naivete and simple directness, and obtains for her and lier two girl friends,

I positions as mannikins'in the services > • oir a malo modiste, Madame Lucy, ’ilic 1' three girls make the establishment, and i | are, by the kind offices of Marshall, 'introduced into the homes of New • York’s Jour hundred. The men all i fall in lcvo with Irene, hut most of i thorn cannot overlook the fact chat - she worked for her living. Marshall ; alone perseveres in his suit, and the . inevitable ending climaxes a happy i story, y , The attention to details that goes to irako perfection was marked from s the opening scene, laid on the verani dah of Marshall’s house. The bewifchi ing seascape formed a background for > m jovial happy group of evening dress > loungers, care free, with the foils of - the day past, and a long evening bes fore them, giving the same feeling by , ; contract, to tine audience. They grace•f fully depart and the vacuum is filled by I I Irene, insouciant, provocative, with a i sally on her lips and roguish smile enters —a fitting dramatic well-timed ap- , pcarance. Then the contrast —a. tenoi ment house in New York, two storeys ■! showing, eight feet heights, iron fire , j escapes, cleanliness going hand in 11 hand with hard times, and a spirit mi--11 daunted and inured to the surround- , hogs. AVit-lu these two settings the I 1 castte worked their charms and the i 1 chorus backed them up to the full, > supported and helped forward by a. , strong and well-balanced orchestra. I j Nowadnvs the biograph brings to the town wee.dv—or is if bi-weekly ? —the I world’s licjL in stageland—the dancer, I the tender heroine, the wicked vampire, the vapid youth, the sterling i hero,-or the double-dyed villain. Thus . the visiting company has a keener audience to face and has to stand the comparison of this night's performance ' against one picture of a. scene chosen • out of perhaps hair a dozen snaps. To p say then that the Irene chorus in style, verve, and ensemble were up ■ to• the picture standard is not a small compliment, and then when superadded. von have the life, appeal, and thrill which only personality can give—it is easy to imagine that a delighted and packed hotmc, passed the three hours last night unconsciously and indeed insensibly. ■ .The dresses were an outstanding feature. and even to lie who has no eye for the human form gracefully robed, the colour scheme charmed without explaining the reason why. As Irene O’Dare, Miss Dorothy South was the centre of every situation, and the pivot on which the musical and story edifice turned. She lias iy captivating and winsome stage manner, builds up tho character she unfolds as the plot ages, and has an enunciation that gets every word home, flavoured with just a. tinge of Uncle Sam. She. sang ■'Alice Bine j Gown” iu a pleasing soprano voice, I using judgment in her phrasing, and . I git iug intensity ti> her message. Her 1 “Castle of Dreams' 7 and “To he | Worthy - ’ were also artistically given I as were the duos with Mr "Robert Jew- | rtt “Irene” and “To Love You." Velina, i Hinkle with the chorus gave two splendid number “Hob,lies” and “Castle of Dreams,"’ an I there was a number of concerted items and chorus monologues, il such monologue heeit'a.tions by a ‘

chorus can so bo called. As a young lover who courts all tilings last save love, Mr Robert Jewett as Donald Mur shall, speedily made his every entrance a welcome one. ills declaration bt devotion was well done, and lie did not -ttirn the scene to pathos when Irene asked him to say it again. He also sang with passion and appeal, and "as - strongly redemandod. Air Thomas Pauncefortc, as the friend of tho lover, with Air (.’master CTute as the male i modiste (Madame Lucy) had the co _ mecly in their hands. Air Glut© is a specialist in pantomime dancing, and . both artists showed that broadness is not necessary to obtain the roars of the audience, Air Henry Gordon, Air.Rawdon .Blendford, and Air Alelton Owen also were .suitably placed, the firstnamed giving a good impersonation oi the disillusioned lover. Aliss Peggy Maloney, Alarion Earle, Irene’s shipmates, and Aliss Alice Dentlv, Donald’s Stepmother, and other supports, also played well up to the leads. Aliss Georgia Harvey-, as Irene’s mother, Airs O’Dare, gave a highly coloured, and were it not intended as wide farce too highly coloured, a representation of the mother of sweet Irene, the relationship as suggested denying tho theory' of . heredity. Aliss Grayce V. C-onnell was the pair for Alls O’Dare, and played up to the super slum housewife required. Tho orchestral music was quaint jazz like aimed at bizarre effects, and helped to sustain the atmosphere intended by tho author.