“DE LUXE ANNIE.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19812, 2 December 1919, Page 8

“DE LUXE ANNIE.”

A FASCINATING PLAY. Tho advance notices regarding " Do Luxo Ann«e ■ have .said nothing which, the play itself does not warrant! It is a iaeemaliugplay, containing „» those elements that constitute popular conic.l.y drama. It is out and" 1 out A•' .m cleverly constructed, with i. w ill comedy in it with a .judicious won ■!« ot_ sensation and pathos. Tho story, m Uriel, is that of the misuse of a girl, sultering from a temporary mental aberration, in a. systematic blackmailinnr scheme. Nan Delmore (Dc Luxe Annie) is the beautiful young wife of a chief of police, who, through an in- •'"''>; her hondi has her whole pa«t blotted out including the memory of her husband, and cnild. and become so criminal in instinct as to allow herself to be the ready and resourceful accomplice or « notorious gentleman blackmailer The story begins and ends in ft Pullman car where a doctor cites to his fellow travellers the mysterious case ot De Luxe Annie, and the action of the play is a picturisation of his storv. A S in tyes of Youth," Miss Polini i, tho pivot on which the rest of the play revolves, and, ns in "Eyes of Youth i( she proves herself a consummate artiste. She is practically njKvor oP the Btage, apart from tho brief scenes in -bo Pullman car and throughout tho play she gives n brilliant interpretation of her part. From Mr John Fernside as Jimmy Fitzpatrick, the " crook '' she received excellent support. Cronin the detective, was ndmirablv plnved hv Mr Hnrman Lee. Mr Xorman IVaic'e was eminently satisfying as T)r Niblo a brain specialist, and Mr A. K. fireonaway sustained the part of Hal Ken-; dall, Annie's husband, in a convincing' manner. In minor roles Mr Charles Bertal was amusing as old Munroe. Mr j victor Ritzherlw-rt was goncl Ps t nt , i butler, and Mi<=s Olive WUt.on, as Mrsi Archer, and Miss Georgie Harvey, a garrulous boadinghouse keeper, proved themselves worthv of better parts. The play is excellently mounted and admirl ably produced. "Do Luxe Annie" will bo Btaged nightly throughout the week.