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Observer, Volume XL, Issue 8, 25 October 1919, Page 13

Just returned from active service, Mr. Trentham C. Webster, solicitor, who notifies he has resumed the practice of his profession at 31, Shortland Street. The attention of readers is directed to the advertisement of Mr. W. J. Saunders, watchmaker and jeweller, who has started business in Shorts Buildings, Queen Street. There is no mistaking the impression made by Miss Emelie Polini on her performance in "De Luxe Annie." The part of the unfortunate lady, who through an accidental blow on the head loses her memory of the past, and takes up with a notorious "crook," is one demanding a great deal of talent over a wide range of expression because essentially Annie, or Nan Delmore, as she is called in crook circles, is a good woman morally. Something psychological in her make-up keeps her "straight" in one respect, whilst it permits her to be the partner in clever confidence deceptions, practised on susceptible old gentlemen. The rainbow passions that illumine the play are those reflected in her beautiful love for the young architect, who is designing her new summer residence (who in reality is her husband, trying by subtle means to recall the memory of his errant wife), her devotion, in another sense, to Jimmy Fitzpatrick, her working partner, and in the appealing 6cene at the end, when, after an operation on the brain, the veil is lifted, and ohce more she is able to recognise her husband, whilst Jimmy, who has a dog-like devotion for his partner, becomes an utter stranger. The play is fascination throughout, and the extreme naturalness of Miss Polini is an object-lesson to all strugglers along the dramatic way. At the conclusion the curtain had to be raised and lowered six times before the applause of the big audience died down.