MARIE TEMPEST SEASON.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17419, 1 April 1922, Page 14

MARIE TEMPEST SEASON.

"TEA FOR THREE." Thi3 day week will see tfye commen«!ment of a series of farewell performances by Miss Marie Tempest, Mr Graham Browne, and tho Famous World Tour Comedy Company, under the direction of J. C. Williamson, Ltd. Of "Tea for Three," the first production, a prominent Australian critio writes:—"A lunch, a tea, a clandestine visit, yellow rosea, and a delusive suicide, linked together by the smartest of conversation, formed tho notes of interest in Hoi Cooper McGnic's comedy at tho Palace Theatre on Saturday. The theme is the old one of a husband too immersed in his own ambitions to realise how little there remains to fill in t.he vlnily existence of his wife. Ho hae assigned her a magnificont house, which lie considers generously all-sufficient for her requirements in the way of companionship and amusement. Furthermore, there is the inevitable lover—the cuckoo anxious to establish himself in tho other bird's neat. The treatment of the comedy romance is, however, different in its estremfely mc ni character, in its wit reminiscent of tlie maxims* of Rochefoucauld and the paradoxes of Shaw, and in tho attempt to find a new angle of view for the 'eternal triangle.' The dramatist's new angle seems to consist in depicting a lover whose glib effrontery is asserting with easy raillery and stinging home truths hiß right to «. permanent seat at his friend's table is without parallel. His argument is based on tho presumption that his affection for tho other fellow's wifo is purely platonic, that he met and loved her long before the husband, and that the latter is too highly conventional, too highly stupid, and too awfully _ boresonio, a person to be the only companion for such a. paragon. Tlie character was placed before tho audience by Mr Graham Browne with an airy flippancy that made it va3tly amusing from a theatrical standpoint. There was a Doris of much charm, easily influenced by the insidious Philip, a« vivaciously portrayed by Miss Marie Tempest, and a husband rejoicing- in the name of Carter, well and carefully drawn ty Mr Ashton Jarry. Thus prosented, the sparkling facets and darkening shadow of married lifo gradually fascinated Saturday night's audience, who left the playhouse happy in seeing the tra.gio denouement averted, and the 'wolf also dwelling with the lamb' once more at 'Tea for Three.'" Also will be presented during the season:—"Penelopo," "'Mr Pim Paasea By," "Tie Great Adventure," "The. Marriage of Kitty," "Outcast." The box plana will be opened at The Bristol Piano Co. Friday *nornwg nest.