A GREAT COMEDY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1557, 28 September 1912, Page 6

A GREAT COMEDY.

"A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE." , "f No Importance," a comedy by Oscar Wilde. CastLord Illingworth ... Georgo S. Titheradgo Mr. Kelvil, M.P. ....; Harry • Plimmcr 1)1. Daubeny D.D.. E. D. Gilchrist Gerald Arbuthnot Harry Sweeney r "°hn Pontefract'A. ,E. Greenaway Lord Arthur Marsden ...'. Cyril Bell Afrf 01 \ ii""v. Paul Latham «}?: lc ? by Beatrice Day I.ariv TtfmV^ o "' 6l ' ' Li2Ctt<! Parkca r ndl ■ Beatrice. .Usher Lady Stutflcld Knn: (Vtllina Mr^ y A^h°l^ e Pigott Mrs. Arbuthnot itrs. Robert Brough, Oscar Wilde's .brilliant comedy, "A i ol ?£ tt Importance," was produced jy the. Pliramer-Uenniston Company at the Opera House last evening, after a lapse °t fourteen years. Tho plays of Undo wear irell, extraordinary 7, as it niuy seem, for some people were apt to regard Ins writings as an exotic growth which could not possibly stand the test of time, yet last evening's performance lifted tho light layer of the dust of a decade, and exposed tho lustre undintmod. 'The'faults, if one may call them faults, are those which , existed fifteen years ago—that the sotting of the cluster of diamond-studded dialogue is too exposed—tho motive for the questions asked are obviously manufactured to fit the auswer, but they are pardonablo becauso, the means .employed are amply justified by tho results. The sensation of listening to a string of scintillating epigrams was delightful. Lord Illiuglyorth, who is given , tho cream of them, says, for instance—"The book of life begins with a man and a woman in a garden," to which Mrs.. Allenby replies: ' And ends in Revelations 1" The same lady says: "My husband is a soTt of promissory note—l am tired of meeting him." Illingworth again: "The youth of America, is its oldest tradition—it's been going on now for three hundred years." Wilde is. pleased to be-freakish in his reference to America. . "What are American, dry goods?" .is asked, to which IllingVvortii replies: "American novels, Lady. Hunstanton." And.again tho same charming cynic says that good Americans go to Paris when they die, and when they are bad—to America. Yet it is out of tho mouth, of the only American character that the virtuous is made manifest. Thero is an act and a half of brilliant talk— and then tho play. Mrs. Arbuthnot is not aware that the Lord Illingworth, who has-offered, her son-the-chance-of a career by offering to niako him his secretary, is the, man who has wrecked her life, and "WhcTiS' itctftallj r ° GerMd's' n ftifhor. Mrs. Arbuthnot is horrified at the discovery and would break tli-e engagement, but Illingworth, who is languidly pleased with and proud of the boy, defies her to say why she is refusing him so brilliant an opportunity; one, too, which would pivo him the right to engage himself to pretty Hester Worsloy. Gerald, racked botwoen love for his mother and vaulting ambition, has an impassioned soenc, which is ' broken by the agitated entranco of Hester, whom Illingworth has insulted. Gerald, stung where his affections lio deepest, makes to strike tho man down, when his mother cries out— "Don't, Gerald—ho 'is your father!" Tho situation is ideally dramatic, and forms a striking contrast to the preceding quiet but artistic "curtains." .The final act is strong throughout—a highly emotional scene between Gerald ana nis mother, happily solved by the interventiou of Gerald's "little Puritan," and another between Illingworth and Mrs. Arbuthnot. Gerald enters after Illingworth has gone, and, picking up a glove, says—'"Who is it that has been here?" "Oh, someone, a man of no importance—come!" ' Of outstanding oxcellencc was tho performance of Mr. George S. Titheradgo as Lord Illingworth. It was ono of- thoso rare examples of artistic acting that is only witnessed once in a dcoade or so, and the trend of plays do not appear to be producing tho type—Titheradges of the future. Under a veneer of languid nonchalance, thero was tho lion of society, blase, tired, to whom nothing is sacred, and most things a bore.. Yet beneath it all lay that strength of character and touch of breeding which adds 'to the fascination of the man. Mr. Titheradgo summoned up the artistic- forces of his bost days to present a perfectly-drawn character. Every tone was adjusted to a nicety, every look and .gesture achieved its point. Such acting is good to sec. The cast was otherwise effective. Mrs. Brough drew the part of Mrs. Arbuthnot with strength, dignity, and womanly insight. She was movingly emotional in her big scene witb Gerald, and at the end. where sho strikes Illingworth across tho face with his own glove, she was finely dramatic, without a suspicion, of the theatric. Miss Beatrice Day was admirably suited as tlio frivolous yet brainy society woman, Mrs. Allenby, a character sho invested with a sprightlincss and charm throughout. Miss Lizette Parkcs was capitally placed as tho youthful American girl, Hester Worsley, though she might just bo an English girl as far as her habit and speech were concerned. Sho made a very sweet little Puritan, and spoke her beliefs with understanding. The voluble Lfdy Hunstanton, with a failing memory, was very capably played by Miss Beatrice Usher, who by tho way, looked too young and attractivo for her crown of silver hair. Miss Tempo Pigott was quite excellent as Lady Caroline. Mr. Harry Sweeney was admirably 6uited as Gerald Arbuthnot. Ho lcoked tho part, and acted with power and discretion in the stressful soenc with his mother.' Mr. A. E. Greenaway, in a capital "make-up," extracted somo vagrant humour out of the part of Sir John Pontefract, and Mr. H. Plimmcr fulfilled tho requirements of Mr. Kelvil. M.P. Messrs. E. D. Gilchrist and Cyril Bell, o,ud Miss Ena Collins were effective in minor roles. "A Woman of no Importance" can only bo played twice more—to-night and Monday night. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, October 1 and 2, the last two nights of tho season, "A Village Priest" will bo presented. Playgoers will Ire delighted to renew their acquaintance with George S.' Titheradgo—his most famous role, the lovable, kindly old Abbo Dubois.