“ELIZA COMES TO STAY ” AT THEATRE ROYAL TO-NIGHT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18045, 4 January 1927, Page 7

“ELIZA COMES TO STAY ” AT THEATRE ROYAL TO-NIGHT.

MISS ZILLAH BATEMAN TAKES PART OF ELIZA. “F.llza Come? to Star.” the third «->f j the. comedies which will be presented by the Joseph Cunningham English ! Comedy Company, under the direction nf ! J»lek White and Eric Edgley, at. the : Theatre Royal, commences a season of ! three nights this evening. The comedy, which is full of subtle satire and clever I dialogue, has a tilt at the proneness of i society to judge by appearances. The j story describes the horror of a young i bachelor when he discovers that a girl I well described as a " perfect, fright,” has been willed on to him, and Ts coming Ito stay. After a week, the bachelor can j stick it. no longer, and flees to Paris. i Eliza then undergoes a decided change for ihe better, and when her guardian returns from abroad he decides that the best thing to do Is to marry Eliza, who I now calls herself Dorothy. Miss Zillah 1 Bateman has ra-rely had a. role In which she has been able to express her versatile talents as an actress to such a degree. The change from the gawkish Eliza to the beautiful Dorothy is nothing short of remarkable, incidentally. It also gives the public the opportunltv <>f hearing Miss Bateman’s beautiful soprano voice, as she introduces the well-known song, “Annie Laurie,” in the second act. All theatre-goers who have witnessed the two preceding comedies, and enjoyed Mr Frank Bradley’s art in portraying the elderly men of the pieces, will now have an opportunity of I seeing him as a young lover. On Thursday next is a farewell night to Miss Bateman, when a signed photograph will be given to every member of the audience. Box plans are at The Bristol.