THEATRE ROYAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 28 April 1925, Page 5

THEATRE ROYAL.

“SO THIS IS LONDON.”A BRIGHT PRODUCTION. When the Elizabethan navigators and adventurers, men such as Sir Walter Raieign and Sir Humphrey Gilbert, were busy founding new Englisn colonies which subsequently grew into the United .States of America, tney doubtless little thought that the people of that region of untold wealth called El Dorado,' or Golden Land, and the people of the English-speaking countries throughout the world would take so long, as they have done in arriving at a complete understanding of one anothers speech and action, and in composing their little differences of thought and ways. Perhaps they were right in so thinking, or more likely they never gave the matter a thought at all; but one thing is certain: tnat the rich humour , 01 the presentation of the Engnsn and Americans in contrast, as seen and beard at the Theatre Royal last night, wueii the J. C. -Williamson Company showed ‘“irio This is Donaon' 1 was very Keenly appreciated oy a Targe farm enthusiastic audience. . Tt was a >case of “awfully jony—what!'/ Uf Amerieuu “tall” talk and ftngnsh fngiuity tiiere was plenty, ana tno ‘-qaiCK-*.j.o c-nanges iroM, grave to guy ana ouck again, till tne peak point of comeay was reacncu, ivut-u it came to a case of tne Americans ‘•turning on r\iagara rails” in oruer to “go one

bOLLer” tuan tne staiid-oh, conservative slow-going rMigiisn were aenght ful. Jtxpiosive iuuguter rang tnrougn tne buuuing from curtain rose to curtain fall. . an the nature or tilings it could not be otherwise, ana the grotesque burlesques,' on London and i\ew York will not soon be forgotten here.’ It may v be asked what ait the pother was about. Tt was not about very much, ft \appeared that a winsome little Englisu girl, , one Elui'or Beauchamp, tne only daughter of the haughty bir Percy Beauchamp, had fallen in love with one Junior Draper, only son of Mr and'Mrs Hiram Draper, on an Atlantic liner, when they were, crossing over from America 'to', England. Taking-after his father, Draper Jr. was a hustler, and the love affair of -the two 1 young people moved so rapidly that before the end of the voyage they were engaged to be married —all unknown to tneir unsuspecting p'arents. uneu tne secret came out, nowever, tne ran uegan—-ran tnat is tor the onlookers, out not tor the joutnful pair inn) were most concern-. ,ed. Ehgmnd and America, as represented uy tne parents of tne luvestruck young coupie, were siiupiy furious ana aid not ihaice words m giving expression to tnea - feelings, xiie young American Was- intormeu that he can marry the Engnsn girl, '■ but not with his father’s money; the father being at a loss to understand what he termed ills son’s idiocy m wanting to marry an imglisn girl, when the American girls were unsurpassed';'while the stately,' stih-as-starcli Hnglish father almost expired. v atq the mere notion of his daughter, making an ■alliance with, a young-man from the country which _he described as being peopled with those who “blare througu their noses and are for ever chewing gum.” .He is struck with. horror and disgust, and his good wife, who has to appear to accept his view, has- a somewhat difficult task in doing this and at the- same time shielding their daughter from the stern parental wrath. But’love knows no language and thefe follows a, pretty duel between the young people and their objegting parents. . A charming - widow, Lady Duckworth, appears on the scene, and as an international go-between who hates flag-wagging, and who is fully acquainted with the English for a dinner before proceeding to .business of 1 an important nature, brings the contending parties together in a most tactful way when all their differences disappear like mist before the rising sun. All ends in the happiest possible way. In three bright, acts the comedy Was presented, }vith appropriate music and settings, and witn such principals as the celebrated Thurston Hall (who, as the rich and boastful American with an endless fund of Yankee smart talk, rich in humour, was never out of the picture), Reginalt Carrington, as Sir Refcy Beauchamp (who, as the dignified and stand aloof Englishman, played a difficult role with ease and skill), Leslie Barrie, as Hiram Draper Jr. (the impulsive and very bright young American\ lover), Miss Helenor Bevan, as Elinor Beauchamp (an equally impulsive lover who though English, was “wild” with delight over all things American), Miss Joan Crossley, as Sady Beauchamp (who played with restraint and diguity the part of a mother who had.to serve two masters —her husband and her daughter Madge North, as Lady Amy Duckworth (who was' tact personified and was very happy'in her work all through), Miss Gladys Webster, as Mrs Hiram Draper (a typical American iifdy) ; Kenneth Brampton, as Alfred > Honeycutt (a smart man of business), and the Subsidiary characters, it was no matter for surprise that it was* a delighted audience which: trooped out of the theatre at half past ten.

“THE BROKEN WING.” It was the general verdict in 'Wellington that “The Broken Wing,”' which is to bo staged to-night, is a more entertaining comedy drama thaii “So This is London.” Besides being full of comedy and brimful of witty and clever dialogue, “The Broken Wing” relates a charming love romance. A sensational effect happens in the first act, where some aviators crash their aeroplane through the roof of a Mexican building, .and the subsequent adventures of one of the aviators furnish the them© of the play. The developments include a little issue as to wives, and the presence of Mexican desperadoes and a pretty girl, provide all the ingredients for most entertaining comedy drama. As the Mexican desperado, Mr Thurston Hall displays a subtle humour, which completely outshines the little villainies which fall to his lot. Mi*'Hall extracts every' ounce out of his part, and Miss Gladys Webster is said to be charming as Inez.