"ELIZA COMES TO STAY."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18891, 5 January 1927, Page 8

"ELIZA COMES TO STAY."

AMUSING COMEDY FARCE. In the opinion of many who have seen the three plays produced during the present season of the Joseph Cunningham English Comedy Company, the best has been left till the last. This is the comedy farce "Eliza Comes to Stay," which received an enthusiastic reception in the Theatre .Royal last night. The piece, which was written by H. V. Esmond, is by no means new in theme, but is so smart and humorous and made such an instantaneous success when produced in London that it is not surprising to be told it was regarded as the funniest that had been seen there since "Charley's Aunt" set the world a-laughing. The household of the Hon. Sandy Verrai, a young bachelor enjoying an income of £IOOO a year, is thrown into a state of excitement when it is learned that a girl, a daughter of a friend who once saved his life, is _ being sent to make her home with him. Anticipating her to be a child of tender years with golden hair and innocent blue eyes, he proceeds to lay in a store of toys and other juvenile forms of entertainment for her, while a nursery is improvised. Imagine his surprise when the girl turns out to be a dowdy young person of about eighteen vears, her clothes being of the weirdest style, and her hair done up in a "bun." As if she were not unattractive enough already, she is observed to possess the most atrocious manners. One glance at her suffices to fill the Hon. Sandy with pity for himself, while her undisguised admiration of him does not tend to make him any easier. Her attire, as she explains, has been de- ! signed to render ner "safe," and one i glance at her leaves no doubt that her object has been achieved. But foreseeing trouble in the future in the change that is likely to be made in the young lady by her residence in the house, Lady Penny'broke, the Hon. Sandy's aunt, induces bim to go abroad for a trip. While he is away a wonderful change is effected in the girl. She learns to dress herself in chic attire, to sing and speak faultlessly, and in short becomes "dangerous." Prior to this he has been moved to mirth when it is related to him that his oldest friend has become engaged to her. However, as _ the girl has only consented to the marriage under pressure, and as the Hon. Sandy shows that he now wants her himself, she adroitly seoures her release from her promise and the way is made clear for a happy ending. The play served to show the strength of the company's acting. Miss Zillah Bateman scored a triumph as Eliza. She was first of all a dull, impossible type of creature, most unprepossessing, i with a figure and demeanour that j were amusing, later undergoing such I a complete metamorphosis as to make [ one wonder if she were really the same actress. As a comedienue she ha* little if anything to learn, and she is gifted with a pleasing soprano voice, as she showed when she sang "Annie Laurie." Mr Campbell Copelin gave satisfaction as the Hon. Sandy Verrai, his performance having much to do with the success of the production. Mr Frank Bradley's interpretation of the part of Montague Jordan was a meritorious piece of work that deserved the appreciation it received, and Mr Norman Carter, as Alexander Stoop Verrai, gave another able characterisation. Miss Sylvia Clifton, as Miss Vera Lawrence, and Miss Beryl Barraclough, as Mrs Allaway, also acted convincingly. At the conclusion of theperforniance, Miss Bateman made a brief speech, in which she stated that it had been intended to present "Outward Bound" during the present season, hut such would not now take place until a return season was played next month or in March.

"Eliza Comes to Stay" can only be staged again to-night and to-morrow night, when the season will end. At the final performance, a handsomelymounted souvenir photograph of Miss Bateman will be presented to each member of the audience.