HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1504, 20 February 1919, Page 34

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

“NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.”

“BLUNT TRUTHS, MORE MISCHIEF THAN NICE FALSEHOODS DO.”

If you want this verified, spend an evening at His Majesty’s with Mr. M. B. Figman and his company in the latest J. C. Williamson success, “Nothing But the Truth.” “It’s as impossible to live without lying as it is to do business without deception,” emphasised E. M. Ralston, the senior partner in a stockbroking firm, and arising out of the argument that follows, the junior member, Robert Bennett, accepts a wager with Ralston and two others that he will tell the truth and nothing but the truth for 24 hours, staking 10,000 dollars, which he had promised to double for his fiancee (Ralston’s daughter) Then the fun commences. With Washingtonian directness he tells the plain unvarnished truth to such effect that in the space of the allotted time he informs wealthy clients that certain shares are worthless, he tells a charming girl her voice is “awful and her taste in millinery “frightful, he confesses to his fiancee he has kissed another woman, admits to his partner’s prudish wife that her husband has had a gay time with girls, and gives his unbiassed opinion about his partner and colleagues, with the result that he ruins his firm, severs the union of a 30 years’ happily married couple, loses all his friends and his money and breaks his fiancee’s heart. But the fateful hour expires with truth victorious. Robert, however, has learnt his lesson. The test through, the cloak of truth falls from him like magic, and he now lies all round with delightful unction until he has extricated himself from every awkward contretemps and restored happiness all round. Mr. Figman as Robert Bennett had the a,udience roaring unrestrainedly with laughter through the whole three acts. He has an acute perception of the value of facial expression, registering the emotions of a keenly tortured soul with an eloquence as richly mirth provoking as his whimsical actions. Miss Lolita Robertson has a restful and engaging charm of manner that arrests one straightaway, her acting as Gwendolyn Ralston — unable to understand her betrothed’s strange tactics —betokening her as an artist of sincerity and depth of feeling. Mr. Mac. M. Barnes as the portly Ralston had an important part in the laughter scheme, and he made all his points with unerring judgment. Miss Emma Temple as Mrs. Ralston gave one of those gems of characterisation for which she is noted. Miss Nellie Wilson displayed a neat facility for burlesque comedy in the role of an over-dressed performer from the “Varieties,” whose vulgarity she veiled by her own artistry. Mr. Kenneth Brampton, Mr. Pirie Bush and Mr. Leslie Victor, Miss Lucie Carter and Miss Primrose Caryll contributed to a cast of outstanding excellence. “Nothing But the Truth” will be played for the last time on Saturday.