MANY LAUGHS IN “GIVE AND TAKE”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17863, 3 June 1926, Page 7

MANY LAUGHS IN “GIVE AND TAKE”

HARRY GREEN IS FINE COMEDY ACTOR. Christchurch theatregoers last evening made the acquaintance of Mr Harry Green, the Hebrew comedian who came fortified with a big reputation built up by good work in other parts. Through the medium of “ Give and Take,” a three-act comedy that has plenty of incident and a wealth of comical situations, Mr Green was able to give a convincing demonstration of

the fact that his reputation has been well earned. He is an artist with a delicate and whimsical touch that carries he comedy lightly along and keeps the audience laughing all the while. Mr Green does not depend so much on the lines Ire has to speak or the situations in which he centres as on his very great ability as a character impersonator. lie is one of those i richly endowed people who is able to bring his into active life before the footlights, and to give the impression always that he is a perfectly rational and natural being even when the course of events has carried the play into the realms of fit he absurd.

“ Give and Take ” is just intended to be funny, and it is funny. But it would not be nearly so successful a play if it were not for the excellence of the work of the -principal artist. There are few plays in which the main character is called upon to carry so very large a proportion of the work, and there are t°w in which so heavy a burden is earthed with such distinguished success. Mr Green’s interpretation of the role of John Bauer, head of the large canning works, was a fine piece of characterisation. The play is a parody on one phase of modern industrial development—just a pleasant farce whose ample plot affords opportunity on which to hang a wealth of funny incident. Mr Green is the leader of the fun-making. He docs it all with the ease and certainty of touch that are the fruits of a high order of ability. Those who witnessed the open- ! ing performance last evening laughed heartily at him, and it is evident that he is going to be exceedingly j popular with the theatregoers in this I Edward de Tisne gave Mr Green ( good support His was a role that called for considerable burlesque—one of the type that embodied the danger of over-exaggeration. Mr de Tisne interpreted it excellently, and some of the absurdities that he accomplished in dumb show were among the gems cf a fine evening’s entertainment. Jack Bauer, as the son of the great industrialist, and the main cause of all the bother that occurred, was always successful. lie was called upon to make one or two rather long speeches that might have been tedious had they not been well handled, and the manner in ) which he overcame the difficulties in i this respect were among the best j phases of a good performance. Mr Edwin Lester was amusing and capable as Daniel Drum, the banker, while Mr George Hewlett was always successful as Thomas Craig. Mis Vera Spaull interpreted excellently the only feminine role, that of Marion Kruger, the secretary. People who enjoy a good laugh will welcome the season of Mr Green and his pleasant company, and “Give and Take” should win the laughter and plaudits of large audiences during its Christchurch season.