"THE CHAPERON"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2394, 25 February 1915, Page 7

"THE CHAPERON"

A RACY LAUGHTER-RAISER "The Chaperon," a farce in three acts, by Jocelyn Brandon and Frederick Arthur. Cast:— Hilary Chester Tom Shclford Algernon Brockerihurst Henry <T. ioru Christopher Pwttinger Fi'ank Bradley Admiral Maxwell Edward Landor Paul Konienski Harry Sweouov Colonel Redwood ....:. Reginald Kennoth Schwarz Claud Vernon Butler Fred SVitohui Louisa Pottinger Alico Hamilton Harriet Maxwell Siuna St.. Clair Doris Mayne ". Blwyn Qarvov Cnrtis3 Clarico Hnrdwick Rosamond Gaythorn Ethol Dano The excellent impression made by the Beaumont Smith Comedy Company in "The Glad Eye" was endorsed most emphatically at the Grand Opera Honse last evening, when a new farce of a (listirictly racy order, entitled ' The Chaperon," was produced, to the accompaniment of shouts of laughter from all (juatters of the _ auditorium._ The Chaperon" is a wildly energetio farce, ■well packed with frantic humonr that knows no repose. The action is hilariously speedy, and after the first act, which is also intensely humorous, every scene is charged with the sparkle of life at full tilt, and comical in the ludicrous complexities that follow the indiscretion of Mr. Christopher Pottinger, M.P. The j fun vortex is in the country home oi I that erring M.P., whose considerate, I wife has invited a couple for a week-end visit, believing them to be man and wife when they are really nothing of the sort. These are two young people, j Kosamqnd Gaythorn and Hilary Chester. she_ happened to meet in a- restaurant dining with her husband: Really the one i is a giddy little girl- who hopes to advance the interests of her,lover by beinc sweet to the susceptible politician, ana the other is just a man about town seeking' %f:y diversion likely to suit his volatile nature. , As it turns out, they had to pretend, that the conjugal state oxisted to get the M.P. out of difficulty on the unexpected appearance of his wife. It is then, that Mrs. Pottinger invites them to her home, where trouble blooms as gaily as the flowers in Bpring. proprietor of the restaurant, who ls parBefore the atmosphere is finally cleared there is .a giddy whirl of exciting scenes, in which Mr. and Mrs. Wellington Jones (the names the joung people assume) become tied up in a. comically embarrassing situation. - The comedy is brightly written, and gives plenty of scope for clever characterisation and resourceful 6tage management, demands that" were fully met in both cases. Miss Ethel Dane as Eoßamond Gaythorn is'most winsome and _ dainty in manners, and acted with a vivacity and charm .that fully met every expectation. Her prolonged "hysterics" in the scene where, owing to a storm and a motor breaikaown, it becomes necessary to provide night accommodation for "Mr. and Mrs. Jones," was capitally and there was always restraint where it was an easy matter to over-act. Mr. Frank Bradley proved himself a sound comedian as the'gay M.P., acting throughout with' comical unction aad a, lull comprehension of the humour of ■ the part. As the flippant Hilary Chester, Mr. Tom Shelford was aggressively at home, and there were times when hifi performance slid from farce to the wildest of burlesque, as when he sets himself out to delude that suspicious gorgon, Harriet Maxwell. A quiet character sketch of much merit must be attributed to Mr. Edward Landor, and once more Mr. Henry Sweeney revelled in the polite extravagances of the Frencliman as depicted ni English farce, this time as Paul Kominsky, the restaurant proprietor with a reverence for the proprietress. Mr. Henry J. Ford as the Hon. Algernon Brockenhurst appears satisfactorily for a few moments at the beginning and end of the comedy, and Mr. Reginald Kenneth is adequate as Colonel Redwood.. There is one deeply-graved comedy sketch that appealed to everyone by reason of its. unusual strength and completeness. That waa the! Harriet Maxwell of Miss Sinna St. Clair, an anstere. dominating, and fearfully suspicious .'highbrow," who looks for doimiteness,' in everyone, and finds it not. It marked Miss St. Clair as a very capable character actress, with a distinct gift for comedy and rare capacity in "make-up." Miss Blwyn Harvey made Doris Mayne a likeable young lady of the "clinging ivy" type, quite the reverse_ of the Louisa Pottinger of Miss Alice Hamilton. ■ 'The Chaperon" will be played this and to-morrow evenings.