HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1416, 14 June 1917, Page 30

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

“DADDY LONG LEGS.” In these days of the “eternal triangle” plays it is refreshing to come across the simple, straightout love story of one man and one girl so delightfully told in “Daddy Long Legs.” Since the announcement that J. C. Williamson were to stage it in Auckland, lovers of the book have dipped into its leaves with renewed pleasure, and after witnessing the first production on Monday, found that with its dramatisation the story of the waif has lost none of its direct power to tug at the heart-strings. The opening scene introduced the audience to the John Grier orphanage, showing the children, with Judy Abbott in charge, preparing for the trustees’ monthly visit. Judy, after eighteen years of drudgery, is informed that one of the trustees, “John Smith,” has offered to send her to college for four years, the only stipulation being she is never to know the name of her benefactor. Judy “caught only a fleeting impression of the man —and the impression consisted entirely of tallness. . . . The shadow pictured grotesquely elongated legs and arms that ran along the floor and up the wall of the corridor. It looked for all the world like a huge, wavering daddy longlegs.” So “John Smith” became “Daddy Long-Legs” to Judy, and remained so till nearly the end of the chapter. And with the ultimate revealing of his real name —coinciding with the identity of the man Judy had learned to love —-the old, old story was told in all its entrancing sweetness. The production of “Daddy Long Legs” signalised the first New Zealand appearance of that brilliant Canadian actress, Miss Kathlene Macdonell, and preliminary reports have not exaggerated her genius. The whimsical Judy of our conceptions is fully realised in Miss MacDonell. In her passionate outburst before the Trustees against cold charity; in her joyous appreciation of what life could mean amongst happy associations, yet with an undercurrent of sadness; in the varying moods that marked the transition from darkness to sunshine, Miss MacDonell expressed every shade of emotion with delicate sensitiveness. Mr. Charles Waldron, as Jervis Pendleton, alias “Daddy Long Legs,” acted with the smoothness and polish that always characterises his work, conveying in a gesture the kindliness and interest he took in his ward, and quietly but forcefully emphasising the lovable character of Judy’s guardian. Miss Emma Temple brought her unerring judgment and experience to bear in giving a charming study of the kindly Miss Pritchard. Miss Maggie Moore, another Australasian favourite, was outstandingly successful in her demeanour as the old nurse, Mrs. Semple, and had a warm reception from old friends in front. Miss Clarice Hardwicke was piquantly port as Sally Mcßride, and Mr. Louis Kimball infused a cheery note as her brother. Mr. Arthur Cornell, as the crusty Trustee, Miss Olive Wilton as the stately Mrs. Pendleton, and Miss Mattie Brown as the impetuous Julia Pendleton 'fitted in artistically. Master Roy Murphy got a big laugh in the orphanage scene for his “Corn Meal Mush” outburst. A matinee of “Daddy Long Legs” will be given on Saturday. On Saturday night and Monday “The Outcast,” a stirring play, will be presented.