AMATEUR COMEDY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1882, 16 October 1913, Page 8

AMATEUR COMEDY.

"THE PRIVATE SECRETARY."

Tho Wellington Dramatio Society are to bo congratulated on their performance of that cheery old farco "The Private Secretary," given under conditions not altogether favourable at tho Concert Chamber last evening. Tho stage accommodation and equipment in tho small hall is altogether unsuited for such. entertainments, and the performance suffers ill places whore it would not wero there more room for tho characters to move around, and for tho easy manipulation of entrances and exits—always an important factor iu a qitick-moviiig comedy. It is a far cry to tho first performance of "Tho Private Secretary" (an adaptation from the German "Der Bibliothokor," ill Wellington. It was originally produced in London by Mr. Charles Hawtroy, about thirty years ago, when it had a phenomenal run for those far away times. A quarter of a century ago it was played through Now Zealand by Mr. Frank Thornton (who used Mr. Hawtrey's adaptation), and about tho same period was played by Mr. George Leitcfi., under tlio title of "Tho Librarian," botli the actor-managers mentioned being very successful in their assumption of tho rolo of tho caricature of a curate, who pleads so ludicrously for his lost bottlo of milk and his bath bun. It never failed to go with shrieks of laughter, and even last evening the broad farcical 1 spirit of tho play made the audienco rock with laughter from beginning to end. Most peoplo will remember tho plight of the meek and mild Rev. Robert Spalding, who is placcd in a series of wildly absurd positions by his name and position (as tutor to Mr. Marsland's daughter) being assumed by tho gay young Douglas Cattermole, who is as fond of fun as ho is deep in debt. Confusion is worso confounded by the arrival back from India of Douglas's wealthy uncle, who, finding tlio curate in his son's town rooms, mistakes him for his nephew, and is profoundly disgusted at discovering him to bo a "nincompoop" and a "noodle." ' This irasciblo old gentlemen is doubly irritated when visiting his old friend, Mr. Marsland, to find his supposed nephow creeping Tound 1 in his goloshes. What with Douglas Cattermolo endeavouring to secrete him to prevent his little game being discovered, and tho old man trying to do the same, becauso ho is ashamed of his relativo, the roverend gentleman gets a real bad time, for lie is never allowed to get further than "Do you know?" in his explanation of his inexplicable situation. . In tho meantime Douglas plays havoc with tho affections of iifiss Euitli j\larslancl, and his friend Harry Marsland with Eva Webster —facts which lead to a happy conclusion, , Mr. Norman Aitken has never done anything better than his clever characterisation of the Rev. Robert Spalding. Whilst there is every temptation to exaggorate, ho exercised restraint. He mouthed the lines with proper unction, and was ever "in the picture" as the worm which declined to turn. Another really excellent performance was the Mr. Cattermole of Dr. Norman Hales, who, with everything in' his favour and an easy natural stage manner, simply rovollod m tho rolo of tlio irasciblo old party from Calcutta. The first act scenes between him and Miss Ethel Lissack (as Mrs. Stead, Douglas's landlady) and tho curato were easily tho best and most laughable in tho comedy. Miss Lissack is to be complimontcd oil lior character, work. She presented a capitally individual sketch of tho (k'ab, tired, nerve-wracked London landlady, who goes to pieces under tho blaze of old Cattcrmolo's wfcjl-curried tongue. y A littlo loss noiso' and more subtlety in convoying tho gross vulgarity of Mr. Gibson would havo improved Mr. P. Devoroux's performance, and Mr. G. T. P. 'Williams (as Mr. Marsland) was Tiai'dly as glib as he might have been. Miss Ruby Scott (as Eaith Marsland) and Miss Mario Fix (as Eva Webster) looked quite nice and acted with spirit, and Miss Iris Lennox acted with intelligence and praiseworthy reserve's the Spiritualistic Miss Ashford. Tho farce was witnessed by an audienco that packed tho hall, and hundreds had to'be refused admission. For that reason "Tho Private Secretary" is to bo performed again at the Town Hall tomorrow evening.