HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1452, 21 February 1918, Page 32

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

THE MARIE TEMPEST SEASON. MRS. DOT.” It is safe to assert that no other visiting star has aroused such whole-hearted and enthusiastic interest amongst playgoers as Miss Marie Tempest, exponent supreme of comedy- A packed audience at His Majesty’s on Saturday night stands as evidence of it, the whole, house sounding a glowingly appreciative note in homage to the brilliant English actress, who entrances all with her magnetic charm and personality, her exquisite femininity and human quality of acting. Somerset Maugham’s smart play, “Mrs. Dot,” was the, vehicle chosen for Miss Tempest’s introduction to Auckland, and with its manoeuvring plot it gave the artist every scope to exercise her rare gifts for handling comedy situations. “Mrs. Dot” is a brewer’s widow, wealthy and world-wise, who is determined to marry a second time, her choice having fallen on an aristocrat, Gerald Halstane. The latter is passionately in love with the widow, l.ut poverty, and his engagement to Lady Sellenger’s young daughter, stand in the way of a declaration. However, Mrs. Dot is not to be outdone, She has enough money of her own to surmount the first obstacle, and for the other she brings her woman’s wit to bear. She has a houseparty of ail concerned. Lady Sellenger, her daughter Nellie and Gerald her young nephew Freddie, and a cynical middle-aged bachelor James Elenkin Sopp. To add to her difficulties, Gerald becomes heir to a peerage, so she has to fight Lady Sellenger as well. She plays Freddie, off with Gerald’s fiancee, and herself • with the’ old cynic, then schemes till she gets out of the mesh, and so' makes the way clear for herself and Gerald. Such is the plot in brief, but between the lines is a rich filling of epigram and wit to supplement the widow’s artifices and tricks tor the obtaining of her heart’s desire. Miss Marie Tempest as Mrs.- Dot simply captured the audience from the offset, carrying everything before her with her delightful naturalness, and her spontaneity of wit, her rollicking methods and sense of humour. If she gloried in the chase for her husband, the audience gloried in it too, and they thoroughly endorsed ,her heartfelt ' comment when she secures her end, “If anybody has ever deserved her husband. I have.” Mr. Graham -Browne, as the cynical old bachelor, who revelled in the fact that he “evaded a woman’s smile with repartee,” made a deep impression with his finished style of acting, the scene in which he makes believe he is turned into a whirlwind of passion, standing out as a masterly piece of work, and marking him a worthy associate for the art of Miss Tempest. Mr. lan McLaren gave an admirable conception of the part of Gerald, convincingly suggesting the unhappy but honourable lover. Mr. Roger Barry as young Freddie Perkins gave the right touch of vapidity to the role, and Miss Nancye Stewart made Nellie Sellinger a dainty little personage. Miss Ethel Morrison was excellent as the designing Lady Bellinger; Mr. Leslie Victor gave a clever character study as the valet, and Mrs. George Lauri as an elderly spinster completed an adequate cast for the comedy which owed its production to Mr. Graham Browne.