“THE GIRL FROM RECTOR’S.”

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1062, 14 July 1910, Page 16

“THE GIRL FROM RECTOR’S.”

OPENING AT HIS MAJESTY’S ON MONDAY. Mr. Hugh J. Ward and his Company of comedians are assured of a hearty welcome at His Majesty’s Theatre on Monday evening by all those who love laughter and genuinely produced merriment. In Paul M. Potter’s farcical comedy, The Girl from Rector’s,” every artist is seen and heard to advantage, and all promise to sustain their already high and ‘ popular reputation. In the character of Professor Maboon, Mr. Ward introduces humour that bubbles forth spontaneously, and keeps the audience in a state of almost hysterical merriment from rise to fad of the curtain. The part is played in his own inimitable style. Miss Grace Palotta as a bright and vivacious actress excels in her ro.e, wnich brings forth every gift of this beautifm and talented artist, and is considerably enhanced by bright and sparkling musical numbersMisses Celia Ghiloni, Maud Chetwynd, Ruby Baxter and Florence Redfern cause much confusion and subsequent merriment in their various characters; Messrs. Aubrey Mallileau, Reginald Wykeham, R. Greig, H. Wallace and the other members of the Company, are all seen at their best, and are equally responsible for the overwhelming by funny situations and complications that develop as the play proceeds. In fact, “The Girl from Rector’s” can be described as a “hurricane of comedy” which carries tue audience along with whirling force irom beginning to end, and never leaves a dull moment to think of the cares of the outside world. The story of “The Girl from Rector’s,” is as follows:—Miss Loute Sedane, the President of the Night Owls’ Club of New York, only exists for 10 months in the year; during the other two months she is Mrs. Judge Caperton of Battle Creek, Michigan, president of all the charitable societies, the demurest, most austere lady in the town. During the two months when her husband is on vacation from his judging at Panama, she is a moral iceberg and scarcely allows her own husband to kiss her. During the ten months she is in love with Richard O’Shaugnessy, who is a promising member of the Night Owls’ Club. Richard’s mentor in dissipation is Colonel Andrew Tandy, an old fellow whose home is at Battle Creek, and ’who is supposed to be managing a sugar plantation in the island of Martinique. His real name is Copley. Mrs. Copley’s

daughter by a previous marriage is the heroine,’■ and is to be married to Professor Maboon, whom his cousin Richard soon supplants. Engaged to the charming Marcie, Richard turns over a new leaf, bids good-bye to Loute, dismisses Tandy, and generally forswears cakes and ale. Down he goes to Battle Creek to be married when he sees the supposed Tandy in Mrs. Copley’s house and proceeds to kick him out. Mrs- Copley comes in and quells the trouble by saying “Were you kicking my husband out of his own house? He is your father-in-law.” That is a sample of the Complications that arise.