"HIS HOUSE IN ORDER"

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2254, 14 September 1914, Page 7

"HIS HOUSE IN ORDER"

BUCKLER-PACET COMPANY. ' "His House in Order," a four-act play by Sir Arthur Irving Pinero. Principal characters:— Filmcr, Jesson, M.P G. K. Soupcr Hilary Jesson Hugh Buckler Gcraldine Itidgcly Lilian Lloyd Derek Josson Master Jack Butler MdlLe. Thomo Eileen Robinson Nina .... Violet Paget Lady Eidgely Tempo Piggott Major Maurewarde Prank Neil Sir Daniel Itidgely Arthur Cornell Pryce Itidgely Kenneth Brampton

Mr. Hugh Buckler and his very admirable company of players are to bo congratulated, first, upon the laudable ambition which lias inspired them to launch high-class productions of dramatic genius upon a public whoso capacity for concentrated mental effort at tho theatre has been sapped by a long series of musical and other comedies of the tinsel and glitter, puff-pastry order; and seoond, upon, the success which-has attended their courageous effort. A peculiar kind of mental indolence " lias come to bo regarded as a characteristic of the Australasian in the mass—tho individual preferring rather to be entertained by a passing show than to engago in a recreation in which the exercise of some mental effort is in itself a source of intellectual enjoyment. Regarded from this point of view, the enterprise of the Buckler-Paget company in touring with a repertoire, the general standard of which ,is indicated b.y Pinero's "His House in Order," and George Bernard Shaw's "Fanny's First Play," was rather a precarious one; that success has attended the adventure shows that wo can and do appreciate, good plays, and that all that is wrong with us is that wo are too indolent and easily pleased to insist on a mora regular share of the good things that are going. With tho additional handicap of opening his season in Wellington at a time when the public mind is in a. very unsettled condition on account of tho war, Mr. Hugh Buckler, has every reason to feel satisfied with the iirst night of "His-- House in Order" at tho Grand Opora House on Saturday. There was a large attendance, the audience was delighted with the play, and more than pleased with' tho efforts,of tho company to sustain tho motif and ideals of the author..

The central figure in the play is Ninaj second wife of Filiner J'esson, M.P., and a typical rosy-cheeked athletic looking English girl, whose hair i 3 not always just- so, and 'whose "doggy" hands' and other ovidenco of the outdoor life contrast.strongly, provokingly, with tho prim orderliness and domestic sy'stem of the dear departed— au automaton of mechanical perfection' in domestic routine. Her advent as mistress of Filmor Jesson's household has rudely disturbed the placid atmosphere that has hitherto prevailed, and upset tho priggish repose of mind with which Filmer, M.P., was wont to regard himself as lord of a perfect household, run by a clock-work system of which he held the key. Filmer, moreover, is merely Nina's initial difficulty. Tho late paragon,- Annabel, is unhappily survived by a father and mother — Sir John and Lady Ridgely—sister and brother (Geraldino and Pryco llidgely), who in .their priggish conceit as examples and counsels of domestic and social perfection have been allowed by Filmer Jesson to pervade - his household—to put;. "his houso in order" — while poor Nina is pushed into the background, snubbed, elbowed aside, and suppressed ,on all occasions. Filmer Jesson—being a fool as well as an intellectual' prig—sees nothing ,of Nina's misery, sees only "his house in order," until his brother, Hilary, "a regular buck" of a. fellow," with a hearty robust miud and innate love of fair play, arrives'.on' a visit, sums up the situation, and in the development of subsequent events plays a great part-in the salvation of Nina, and tho routing of the Ridgelys. Master Derek Jesson, playing in his- late mother's old boudoir,', discovers a ■ wallet containing letters Which tell in damning language a story of Annabel's duplicity and. unfaithfulness to Filmer Jesson, her husband, her illicit infatuation for Major Maurewarde, who, it appears, is the father of little Derek. Not knowing what tho wallet, contains, tho boy hands it to his step-motlier, Nina, who, reading, tho, letters, realises that an instrument, terrible to contemplate, has been put into lier hands, wherewith to shatter ' the statuesque paragon whose domestic virtufjs have made life miserable to her, and restore her to her rightful spliero as mistress of her household. Then ensues a great sceno between Nina and Hilary Jesson,' her friend, who appeals to her to stay her hand and surrender the letters. Sho dees so. Major Maurowardc, who is a guest at tho very unobtrusivo villain —has a stormy interview with Hilary, and leaves precipitately, after a rather pathetic parting from littlo Derek, with whom he lias been great "chums." Hilary, exasperated at the continued persecutions of Nina, who suffors in silence, disdaining to use her power, at length discloses the secret to his brother. There is a terrible scene, bitter explanations and admissions, and Filmer Jesson, M.P., finally puts his houso in order in tho, best st-nso of the word.

. It is a great play, a moving and instructive story, a liberal and eminently desirable addition to the experience of every theatre-goer. Mr. Hugh Buckler, as Hilary -Jesson, is a typical and likeable English gentleman, aud withal a citizen of the world, of broad sympathies. His was a strong part, strongly played, yet never overdone. Miss Violet Paget, as Nina, was admirable. Her great triumph is in the third act. when she finds the letters, and spiritedly defends her right to use them when challenged by Hilary. As Filmer Jesson, M.P., Mr. Gerald Souper was well suited to the role and tho immaculate self-esteem and priggish intellectuality with which he invested himself made an excellent foil to his brother's bluff common sense. Mr. Arthur Cornell, as old Sir Daniel ltidgley, gave a faithful picture of the prim, self-satisfied .old fogey, in deadly fear of his wife, which the author designed for tho role. Lady Itidgely, a jealous and tyrannical old termagant, is excellently pictured by Tempe Pig-, gott. The role of. Miss Geraldine, the immaculate sister of tho immaculate departed, is sustained successfully by Lilian Lloyd; Pryce Ridgley, the fatuous prig and stupid eye-glassed conceit which Pinero conceived for the role of .the dear departed's brother, was an excellent piece of work by Mr. Kenneth Brampton, who made the best of his limited opportunities. Frank Neil, as Major Maurmvarde, was not very convincing. His voice was too colourless, and his manner too stiff. In his hands, rather an important, though in the beginning, unobtrusive, part, lacked something in the general perspective. As Mdlle. Thome, the French governess, Eileen Robinson was distinctly good, while Master Jack Buclder, as littlo Derek, gave a surprisingly good interpretation of the role, and demon-, strated much promise of future successes. To Mr. Frederick Hughes is duo some acknowledgment of an artistic piece of work_ as Filmer _ Jcsson's privato secretary, in tho opening scene with a society reporter anxious to cull entertaining items of gossip for his paper. Mr. Charles Lnwrenco, as Dr. Dillnot, tho local mayor, gave an interpretation suggestine rather a blatapt parvenu than the village dignitary conceived by Pinoro. "His House in Order" will be repeated this evening.