THE THEATRES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18575, 25 September 1928, Page 3

THE THEATRES.

“ ROOKERY NOOK ” DRAWS BIG CROWDS. “ Rookery Nook,” which is now being presented at the Theatre Royal by the J. C. Williamson Cornedy Company, is one of the brightest and funniest plays that has ever been staged in Christchurch. It is an adaptation of the story by Mr Ben Travers, who has achieved fame with a style of humour of his own. There is no moment that has not its humour, and no phrase but continues the action and gives the plot a fresh intrigue. The excellence of the play is due as much to the high standard of the acting as to the brilliant book. “Rookery Nook” will be repeated to-night. “ THARK.” Two men in bed on a cold, stormy night; quarreliing about the apportionment of the bed clothes, taring to get to sleep for fear they will be called on to “ lay' ” a ghost, and attempting to assume a fine show of courage when mysterious sounds and appearances disturb them. That is the funniest scene in “Thark,” a play full of irresponsible fun, which will be presented at the Theatre Royal on Thursday evening. It probably will be accounted the most amusing of the . Ben Travers farces put on by the English Comedy Company. Cyril Vernon has a fine part as a gay dog of a baronet. The baronet, his wife, his nephew, his ward, another young lady whose ankles have intrigued him during the absence of his wife, a bustling widow to whom he has sold the haunted house, “ Thark,” and : her namby-pamby son are the chief characters, though a couple of servants and a newspaper reporter have their share in the frolic. The baronet's little affair with the lady of the ankles, brings all the characters to the haunted house, and the result is something unusual—a funny gh<xst story*. Hastings Lynn, who is now an established favourite, makes a good foil to Cyril Vernon. Minnie Rayner makes her usual comic appearance as the lady wbo buys the haunted house. Others who share in the hi lari tv are Leslie Victor, Willa Lyndberk, Don Farrell. Jane Comfort, Beth Mackey, Helene Simon, Willie Clifton and Victor Fitzherbert.