HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1572, 10 June 1920, Page 34

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

“DADDIES.” ‘ AN ALL-APPEALING COMEDY. Like an oasis in the midst of problem, crook and triangle plays comes “Daddies” with its happy sentiment and simple appeal to human ■nature. “Daddies” was given its first presentation at His Majesty’s Theatre on Tuesday night, and the large audience by their delighted appreciation proved that the spirit of childhood, the theme of the story, struck an answering chord in every man and woman present. The comedy is written around a New York bachelors’ club, several of the members meeting at a dinner to congratulate themselves on keeping their vows to remain single. Wives and children are a special abhorrence to them, and they renew their celibate resolutions. There is one backslider amongst them who has to forfeit 5000 dollars, hs he has fallen a victim to the sister of’ his host, Robert Audrey, a pronounced bachelor. His mother, a sweet old lady, obsessed with a creed that every man should have a home of his own, suggests that if they will not marry they should each adopt a war orphan. So the four of them agree, and then the fun commences. Dour, crusty James Crocket, hardest of all to convince, and stipulating that it must be a boy, has a precocious, inquisitive little girl named Lorry thrust on him, who pesters him with questions and makes his life a regular torment, but in the end entwines herself round his lonely heart. Then there is Henrv Allen, who_ has triplet boys assigned him, and Nicholson. whose share is a six-year-old small girl whose father had died in France. Robert Audrey, determined . to do the thing, properly, buys a shop-

■ load of toys —dolls, Teddy-bears, etc. —ready to amuse his expected little ' charge, but .gets something of a shock when she turns out to be a miss of some seventeen summers'. The power and quaintness of the comedy lies in the way. each protege finds the soft spot in the hitherto adamant bachelor, and is the means of con- . verting him. directly or indirectly, to the- rank of benedict. It is a play that makes you laugh unrestrainedly and yet makes your eyes blurred at times with its tender appeal. As one of the characters says, “There’s something about a child.” Miss Ernita Lascelles as the “child,” Ruth . Atkins, is the central figure in the love scenes, and she acts with much ■ charm throughout. Her emotional reserve is apparent in her speech to ■■■ her guardian to take up the cause of the orphans in the ravaged towns. Mr. Herbert Ranson as Robert ' Audrey. Ruth’s benefactor, puts in clever comedy touches that definitely impress one, and. is artistically convincing in his earnest moments. Mr. George Bryant has a heavy burden to bear as the protector of Lorry, and his handling of the little tyrant—or, rather, her handling of him —is highly amusing. “I want my daddy,” she screams at every turn, and the subjugation of the crotchety bachelor is adroitly expressed by Mr. Bryant. Little Elvie Powrie is a delight as Lorry, .her aptitude for acting being

remarkable, and her masterful ways and pertinacity with the picture book, for instance, keep the audience in roars of laughter. Miss Georgia Harvey capably impersonates the kindly Mrs. Audrey, who sees her cherished ideas consummated, and Messrs. Harold Moran, Louis Mac Hilton and Charles Lawrence make up a trio of desirable daddies. The comedy is mounted with commendably good taste.