"THE TRUTH."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1041, 2 February 1911, Page 6

"THE TRUTH."

BY THE AVILLIAMSON DRAMATIC ■ , ' COMPANY. "The Truth," a comedy by Clyde Fitch. Cast :'— Tom Warder Mr. William Desmond. Stephen Hdlancl ...Mr. James B. Atholwood. Frederick Liridon '.. Mr. Cyril Mackay. Servant '.'. ;. Mr. George Chalmers. Mrs. Genevicvo Crospljjny ' "■ ■ • , 'il'iise Susio Vaughan. Evo Lindon Miss' Alma, Vangnan. Laura. Frascr :.Misa -Florence Glec&on. JJecky Warder Miss Kathcrino' Grey. The psychology of lying is : deliriously handled'm the play "The Truth," one of {he most successful .comedies freni the prolific pen of the late Clydo Fitch. After the tension, of witnessing three of fho strongest plays that have reached these-shoves from America,) the delicate touch, in. dialogue, the stibllo twists iu construction, and unorthodox situations in tho action of "The Truth" induced a sonsc of relief and joyous appreciation. It is in every sense true comedy, and a comedy with a moral—that it is wicked and foolish to tell lies. Lots of people have said tho same thing before, but never, most probably, precisoly in tho way, Clyde -Fitch's-sayS it, Another circumstance which made last evening's performance interesting-.wasithe appearanco of Miss Katherine Grey in 'comedy. This talented actress has created a host of admirers in Wellington'by her-unaiiccied naturalism and-placid strength in drama, 'and the interested looked .-with expectancy to her incursion into lighter places of her art. Without exactly scintillating, Miss Grey's performance was satisfying, intelligent to a high degree and devoid of' any trace of staginess. This was tho first performance by tho present cast oi "The Truth," and one which does the company infinite credit. Becky Warder is a born .fibber, she lies to her husband, her friends, her admirers and to anyone who happens to afford her the opportunity ot doing so. It is a natural propensity, running tree in the blood she inherited from her comical old father. There is no real harm in her foolish fabrications until she.is. found out There never is. ■ Fond .ot a miration she Mrb mjh. Fred Lindon, ...while she ndores hei husband, This paradoxical creature reckons without the other woman, Lindon s wife who though on cold terms with her husband,.is exasperated at us daily encounters with Becky. Tried beyond endurance Mrs. Lindon at length exposes Be-ky to her trusting husband, Becky lies as usual and is believed. Mrs.; Lindon produces thundering y black evidence and Becky lies and lies again, but is disbelieved, suspected ot the- worst, and is east out an innocent but lying martyr. She seekr- solace with her sporty, old father, Stephen Roland, who gambles his allowance regularly, and lives in slovenly comfort-in-tho boarding-house ot Mrs Crespign.v, who has fallen a victim to the remnants of his refinement and his dubious sense of humour. He repents Becky's coming, and believes her lie that she has left her husband because he is false to her. In his exhortations to her to go back the old man tells the story of his own. queer life, fractured through his own habit of lying, and when she still persists in staying and confesses tho truth, the old man sides' with.the husband in his suspicion of Becky's conduct. Tho easy-going old fox sees however that his allowance will , cease with a serious rupture between the young couple, and sends a wire to Tom Warder'telling him that his wife is dying. But Becky, cured by her husband's salutary treatment of her lapse, declines to back up the qld man's final lie in her husband's hearing, and the inevitable reconciliation takes place. Some of the most delightful.scenes are those between ■ Stephen Roland and his long-suffering, but, amorous, landlady, Mrs. Crcspigny, two distinctive characters enacted in the best comedy spirit by Mr. J. B. Atholwood and Miss Susie Vaughan. Sir. Win. Desmond as trustful straight-going Tom Warder acts with manly straightforwardness,, enhanced by a pleasant American personality, and Air. Cyril Mackay puts a deal of polished work into a brilliant light comedy sketch as Fred.- Lindon. . Miss Alma Vaiighan makes a handsome Mr?. Lindon, and Miss Florrie Gleeson frets through the lines of Laura Fraser, the friend of the two women in distress." The season will conclude this evening, when "Tho Truth" will be produced once more.