"WHITE HORSE INN”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 14, 17 January 1936, Page 9

"WHITE HORSE INN”

A CARNIVAL OF COMEDY MECHANICAL AIDS TO SHOWMANSHIP “Du Barry” broke fresh ground in stagecraft in New Zealand. The features of that play were its elaborate setting, the lighting and the quick changes of scenery. It was the legitimate stage’s first attempt to approximate to the swift movement of the film. The public demands an everquickening tempo in its entertainment. This insistent demand is catered for in “White Horse Inn.” The whole of the play is written, or perhaps it would be better to say constructed, to conform to the new conditions of high tempo-. The result is that the play depends to an ever-increasing degree upon the machinery of the stage. Tn this case the revolving stage is revived. This was perhaps first used at Drury Lane in the spectacular and exciting play entitled “The Whip.” The expense and the difficulties of operating tuck a device by a touring comI pany may well account for the long period of over 20 years, perhaps nearer thirty, from its first adoption in metropolitan spectacles to its transportation through the provinces and the Dominion. Such an increase in capital outlay on ‘the purely mechanical side uf stagecraft naturally dictates changes in the plotting of toms. It is impossible to erect such important machinery without a great deal of expense and it could not be faced on the old method of one-night shows. Th© season has therefore to be ex : tended at the points of exhibition. Lart night 's performance of “Wn.. Horse, Inn” registered yet another advance in stage presentation, for the mechanical aids were even more elaborate than anything that has yet been enlisted in Wanganui shows. But it should not be thought that the mechanical side of the entertainment , dominates, for it does no such thing, j Tho players are, after all, the real . play. Settings, backgrounds, revolv- , ing platforms cannot replace bh-e per- | sonalities of the performers. Indeed, ( ihe greater the aid from the equip- j nient tho more the. demand upon the 3 performers themselves and the company which has been brought together . to pretent this performance is certainly ; a very strong one indeed. The star is ( Roinola Hansen, but she does not shine j alone in her firmament. It is not a j one-star cast by any means and the construction of the play does not lend _ ittelf to the dominance of any one individual. This is the characteristic o( f all good comedy performances and 2 “White Horse Inn” is a good coni- , cdy. The scene of the play is the Tyrolean rendezvous whereat are assembled a number of foreign tourists who happen to bo business rivals. This causes complications, in which the proprietress finds herself implicated and tire head waiter and the bc-y waiter, Piccolo, are also engrossed in the singular situations and add to the merriment. Alfred Frith as Ebenczcr Ginkle and Miriam Lester as his daughter Ottolinc afford some splendid comedy and this is added to when his rival’s solicitor, Valentine Sutton, arrives on the scene and eventually falls in love with Ot toll n A The ensembles are unique and refrcrliing, while the chcwing-the cud scene, in which mechanical cows are emploved, the mechanics are again in evidence, even to the rolling of the cows* eve?. It pays to attend to deThe scenery is a feature of the play and is well fa.-hionel to support the up-to-date effort. Alfred Frith is a splendid comedian, white Don Nicol ably blends comedy and pathos. Herbert Browne’s singing is a delight as was Miriam Lester’s. Mban Mack has some excellent contortions and Marie Conan provides him with a good opposite, as the simple thing who lisps. No Extension of Season Notwithstanding the enormous number of letters received by the management asking for the “White inn” season to be extended, Mr. Stanley Grunt, for J. C. Williamson, Ltd., said yesterday that it would be impossible to add to the number of performances allocated to Wanganui, owin<f to arrangements made many mouths ago for a comprehensive season in the Dominion. Therefore only three more opportunities will be afforded. of seeing this famous play from the London Coliseum—to-night, tomorrow afternoon and to-morrow night. Good seats are still available fur all performances, aud particularly for to-morrow’s matinee, to which children will be admitted at half price.