MISS BANNERMAN'S ART.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 235, 4 October 1928, Page 9

MISS BANNERMAN'S ART.

BEAUTIFUL ENGLISH ACTRESS

TRIUMPHANT FIRST NIGHT.

Miss Margaret Bannerman, tie beauti- ' ful English actress, who made her' first appearance before a New Zealand audi- 1 ence at His Majesty's Theatre last night, fully justified all the nice things that had been said and written of her. Her charming personality and magnetism 1 made themselves felt from the moment she appeafed before the footlights, and ' Auckland theatre goers will long remem- , ber her butstanding performance of. 'the maid in the delightfuly amusing san<j£* exciting drama, "Other Men's Wiv£s,'' sented by Anthony PrineepV" iondon >' company. The reception accorded Miss : * Bannerman by a crowded audience was very-.flattering to the. celebrated a tar. Miss Bannerman acted with the distinction that.has placed her at the top of the ladder. Her moet notable success in London was achieved, jn "Our Betters," which 4s to be staged here later-,in the season. Seldom is there heard an artist with such perfect enunciation, butf, added to this Miss Bannerman has the poise, the looks, the natural deportment and ' the rare intelligence which enable her to meet every situation that'a difficult role demands. lii our 'courts, in public ife and on the stage there is a marked carelessness of diction, and it is refreshng and exceedingly pleasant to have on he stage an artist who pays.such great ittention to enunciation. New Zealand, ind the world generally, needsmore ir? : -ists to educate the public ih the art>f speech and it must have moat gratifying to;; Miss Bannerman to find <has in 4hia, far-flung post of Empire her ifforts were so fully appreciated. There s a" spice of romance even in the title, 'Other Men's- Wives"; a play specially written for Miss Bannerman by Walter Elackett. It is an exciting and. laughible story, with plenty of sparkling diadgue and a mystery plot concerning murler .and robbery that thickens'every ninute.. From the moment' the curtain •ises "things happen"-—fun, mystery,.ex-, ntement. Miss Bannerman charmed throughput the performance. Her frockng - was gorgeous, and two sets of astonishing pyjamas were not the least nteresting portion of .her wardrobe. In these days;«{ quick transit nobody nore surprised than Anthony Peel 1 and Angela Worthing .when their motor car woke down and they were to -emaiu .at a French seaside - hotel on i stormy night. Here-there are eomplirations arid; mystery. ■; A murder has taken place in an ; - adjoining room and i diamond robbery has been committed, * n which the pert maid of the hotel ippears to. be, involved. She subset juentlyl declares, "I am an inuocent girl, mt not inexperienced." , A detective haunts the hotel, whose specialty is livorce and not robbery. An interesting phase is that the tangled skein threatens to enmesh Anthony Peel and Angela Worthing in divorce proceedings, 3ut finally a clever denouenieiit' raises i sliouf of laughter and the bewildering Irania is brought to a satisfactory contusion. _ i

Miss Bannerman gave a finished performance, playinj; her part with grace and distinction. Every gesture pror claimed her mistress of her art. There was no posing. Every movement was perfectly natural,; while the, clearness of speech ensured the lightest whisper being distinctly, heard in every part of the house. That Miss Bannerman made a deep impression on her audience was evidenced by the applause she received at the end of each act .and the ovation at the conclusion of the performance. The company is exceedingly well balanced. Miss Lily Titheradge, who was. last here with the Brough company, and who is reappearing for a short season after a long retirement, comes of a ! famous family of actors and actresses and is the sister of the' celebrated Maud Titheradge. She gave a splendid performance in the role of Angela Worthing Her comedy work was very good and ihowed that her temporary retirement ,had not impaired her stage work. Mr. Louis Goodrich, as the detective De Brett,' acted splendidly. He has outstanding ability and handled the varying situations that arose with tact and talent; Mr. Ellis Irving, as Anthony Peel, made the most of a difficult part. Mr. Herbert Millard, Mr. Kay Souper, Mr. Geoffrey Millar and Mr. Arthur Cornell all acted their parts with credit. "Other Men's Wives" will be staged for the rest of the week and will be replaced by "Our Betters" next Monday. ' J