AMUSEMENTS, MEETINGS, ETC.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19358, 13 July 1925, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS, MEETINGS, ETC.

11 CHARLEY’S AUNT ’ ’-TO-NIGHT Wanganui is already evincing the keenest of interest in the forthcoming production of “Charley’s Aunt” by the Wanganui Amateur Musical and Dramatic Society, and judging by the booking at 11. I. Jones and Son’s on Saturday morning, the Society’s greatest difficulty is going to be to provide accommodation for patrons. To-night, “Charley’s Aunt” will make her first appearance. The production is under the personal supervision of Air F. O. Bridgeman, whilst the cast (appearing on another page) is one of the strongest ever associated with the Society's enterprises. The action of the play starts in one of the numerous Colleges in Oxford. Three undergraduates Lind themselves seriously in love. Jack Chesney (Air Basil C. W. Dean) is laboriously trying to compose a letter to the girl of his heart. Miss Kitty Verdon (Miss Ethne Swan). Then Charley Wyckham (Air A. Shepherd) arrives to seek assistance in composing another letter in the same strain to Miss Amy Spcttiguc (Miss Moira Pawson). Charley then announces that his aunt, whom he has never seen, is arriving from Brazil and is coming to Oxford that day. Jack Chesney is seized by a brilliant idea which, is to ask the girls to lunch and bring Charley ’s Aunt, Donna Lucia D’Alverdorez (Airs Forsyth) to act as chaperon. A note is immediately sent to Chesney’s College scout, Brasset (Air George Clapham) to invite the girls to lunch, which invitation they accept. These arrangements are upset by a wire to say that Charley’s Aunt is unable to come, but Lord Fancourt Babberley or Babs is prevailed upon to play the part of Charley’s Aunt for the afternoon. “Babs,” which part is played by Mr Wilfred Thomson, and which promises to bo his most successful character, has been playing an old lady’s part in some amateur theatricals, and so he has the clothes and is able to stop ie/o the character without delay. The situations then come upon, us fast and furiously, and screamingly funny episodes take place. “Babs” is able to impress on the girls that he is a charming old lady, but matters become complicated with the arrival on the scene of Sir Francis Chesney (Air S. H. Smedley), Jack’s father, who. having inherited a title and a lot of * debts, is persuaded by his son to look out for a wealthy wife. He decided (hat Charley's aunt, who is a Brazilian millionairess, will fill the bill. Then arrives Mr Spcttiguc (Air L. Lind), an uncle of Amy Spettigue’s ami guardian of Kitty Verdon. He is also impressed by Donna Lucia’s millions, and the two older gentlemen begin to court the pseudo aunt assiduously. So the position grows more ami more complicated, ami the audience is kept in roars of laughter as (he situations unfold and the play is ' brought to a happy ending. THE SEASON EXTENDED. Tn view of the phenomenal booking, it has been decided to extend the sea son to Thursday night. Seats already booked cannot be changed. EUCHRE AND DAXCi. The Castlecliff school committee held ( a very successful euchre and dance in the Castlecliff Town Hall on Saturday evening. The euchre resulted in Mrs J. Lockett winning the ladies’ prize, with Mrs Pctherick runner up. The gentleman’s prize was won by Mr P. Kora, Mr Dan Bukkcr being the runner i up.