"CHARLEY'S AUNT"

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2165, 2 June 1914, Page 7

"CHARLEY'S AUNT"

; REVIVAL OF AN OLD PLAY BY LOCAL AMATEURS "Charley's Aunt," n comedy an three acts, by Brandon Thomas. Cast: — Mr. 11. Spettigue Dr. -Norman Hales Lord Pancourt Babbcrly llr. Normim Aitkrn Colonel Sir Francis Chesney 111 - . Kenneth Aitken Jack Oheßncy Mr. 0. llentlcy liuEttell Charley Wycliham Mr. J. Phillips Brassett llr. Phippa Williams Kitty Venlua Miss Ituby Scott Amy Spetticuo Miss Addio Evatis Ella Delahey Miss Eleanor. Gurney Donna Lucia d'Alradorcz Mrs. Percy Woods It was a happy thought of the Dramatic Soctioii of the New Zealand Nativos' Association to introduce themselves to tho peoplo of Wellington thus early in tho society's existence by presenting "Charley's Aunt." Tho play,requiring as it does only a few capable peoplo for its production, is admirably suited for arc' amateur performance. It is funny enough almost to succeed in spito of indilferent acting, but last night tho clever little party of Now Zealand Natives gavo an altogether admirablo performance of it. After the first act, which is mainly explanatory and therefore not very amusing, the large Audience was kept almost continuously convulsed with laughter. Although "Charley's Aunt" was one of tho best-known of plays to playgoers Df upwards of tsvonty years ago, it is not now nearly so well known, and probably more than half of the people in tho largo audience of last ulght sawit for tho first time. Tho story in its essentials is simple enough. Charley Wyckham and Jack Chesney worked and played - togethor at Oxford, and they had recently acquired sweethearts, 0110 tho daughter and the other the warS of a stern old lawyer called Spettigue. Charley also had an aunt whom he had never seen, in Brazil, and she had announced her intention of coming to visit him. Tho two boys thought of the excellent plan of inviting the two girls to luncheon, "to meet Charley's Aunt," but Charley's Aunt was delayed, and did not appoar in time. Of course, without- some lady of discretion, tho party was an impossibility, and as they wanted to have tho party very badly, they porsitancd a college elmm, Lord. FanCourt Babberly, to dress as a woman, and play tho part. He mado the aunt a very absurd dame, a caricature, but as tho. aunt was reputed to bo worth a million," there were suitors: Babberly r,-as very tired of tho joke long before (t was over, but he fcund tho role not nearly so easy to drop as it had lieen to take up, and, he had to submit to being wooed. Circumstances also compelled him to accept tho hand of the irascible, dignified, -foolish Spettigue, and things were in a hopeless tanglo when the plotters confessed and apologised, aud the real aunt, who had been an amused witness of the joke for some time, and who was not at all like a pantomimo dame, declared herself. Dr. Norman Hales, as Spettigue, and Mr. Norman, Aitken, as the bogus aunt, had tho two fun-making roles in tho piece, and they both gavo very fino impersonations. Dr. Hales drew a splendid caricature of tho clumsy, stupid, stem old lawyer, very madly in love with tho Billion. Mr. Norman Aitken likewise sketched a very grotesque dame, especially grotesque when sho was coquottish, and always laughable. Mr. Kenneth Aitken gave a very fair portrayal "of tho retired colonel, and Mr. C. Bentley Russell and Mr. J. Phillips wero quite adequate in ;tho role's of the. two'agitated ; young men who had plotted. ' Mr.' Phipps Williams played the part of a servant, perhaps .the part of a Very' -'egregious servant,'' but 'he played it very well. Nothing very special is required of the ladies in the cast. The play requires them to wear protty frocks, to look ornamental, to behave nicely, and to speak thoir not very difficult lines as ladies would under such circumstances. Theso requirements the ladies fulfilled. Miss Ruby Scott and Miss Addio Evans, as the two -girls beloved of Charley and the other, were charming and girlish, as their parts demanded that they should bo. Mrs. Percy Woods, the real aunt, and Miss Eleanor Gurney arrived later, and had less to do and say in consequence, but they said.and did it well.,

The comcdv will bo repeated to-night Biul to-morrow night. The only fault, and. a very little fault, to bo found frith the production of last night, was that it was a littlo slow. Doubtless it will be speeded up to-night, as the players feel inoro sure of themselves, and the speeding up will make it an Eminently creditable performance for a -.ompany of amateurs.