"THE GAY LORD QUEX"

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2262, 23 September 1914, Page 3

"THE GAY LORD QUEX"

. BY THE BUOKLER-PAGET COMPANY. : "The Gay Lord Quex," a comedy in four acts, by Sir A. W. Pinero. Cast— Valma >...;..Gerodd Kay Soupor Sophy Fulgo-rney Violet Paget Mojquis of tjuex Hugh. Buckler Sir Ohichester Froque Arthur Cornell Captain Bustling :.Keniisth Brampton Muriel Eden Eileen Robinson. duiia, Countess of Owbridje...Tcinple Piggot lire. Jack Bdon Netto Kalston Duchess of Stroud Lilian Lloyd The lapso oi tifteen years since Sir A. W. Pinero wrote "Tho .Gay Lord Quex" has not proved that the comedy is ono of the best attributed to that distinguished playwright. , Witnessing the play after Shaw's . whimsical. satire, "Fanny's First Play," it is almost impossible to avoid comparison as to the craftsmanship of the two. best writers for the stags of the generation, in favour of "the wild Irishman." Pinero wrote many better plays before "Quex," and certainly ono infinitely hotter since, for if the truth must be told, the comedy .does not revive very well. It is a little old-fashioned, and with all Pinero's admitted cleverness, there are dull patches—for Pinero. There are, for example, long confidential talks between characters when the stage is peopled by others, and , the farcical romanticism of the Duchess of Stroud, which we recollect'.as being tickled with over a decade ago, seemed artilicial and rather tedious. As "The Gay Lord Quex" has been seen in Wellington before now, it is not necessary to outline tho amusing adventures of tho wily\ Sophy to. shiejd her foster-sister, Muriel Eden; from the advances of the allegedly gay Marquis in favour of a younger suitor, and her discovery that the former is really hot so gay as he is painted, and that his rival is a bit of a cad. Sufficient to say that the plot culminates in a great third act, whore Sophy plays the spy upon the.midnight meeting 'of Quex and the Duchess of Stroud in order to prove the former's faithlessness to Muriel,' and is' in turn, trapped by His Lordship and forced to hold her tongue at tho ]>eril of. losing her own reputation. This 6Ceno lifts, the comedy out of the ruck of medioontv and givos' Mr. Hugh, Buckler ■β-s Quex aiid Miss Violet-'PagetTas So'pliy aiicapita) opportunity- to.display, the metal of their histrionic postures : iiv many' and varied moods.. Mr. Buckler showed a fine restraint' aud repose,',* and -using his splendid voice discreetly gave full point to-every,line.-' Sophy was hardly sO cattish in parts as -Miss Paget would havo us believe, but endorsed the impression that she is an actress of considerable resource and spirit, just lacking that touch of subtlety that'ioeans so much on the stage. Mr. Arthur Cornell, evidently a most capable character actor, was again entirely pleasing as Sir Chiohester Fraque, who after _ a long spell on the east coast of Africa finds every woman alluring until his outlook is smudged by the.promise of a recurrence of malaria. Captain Bastling is not a well-drawn character, and probably few actors could make any more oi the part than did Mi. Brampton. Mi« Lillian Lloyd strove very skilfully to make the ultra-romantio Duchess of Stroud a possible character, but the task was too heavy even for that clever actress. Miss. Eileen Robinson was too immature personally and. in. stage - experience for the exacting role of Muriel Eden: Temple Piggott as the Countess of Owbndge and Miss Netta. Ralston a,s Mrs. Jack- Eden were quite well placed. "The Gay Lord Quex" will bo played again- this evening, and on Thursday evening the company will be seen in "David Garrick," preceded by the clever curtain-raiser, "The Man in the Street." On Friday another delightful treat is ir store in Arnold Bennett's quaint comedy "The Great Adventure." .