"CHARLEY S AUNT"

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2728, 24 March 1916, Page 3

"CHARLEY S AUNT"

A SUCCESSFUL REVIVAL

"Charley's Aunt," a farcical comedy in three acts, by Mr. Brandon Thomas. Cast— I<ord Fancourt Babberly Mr. Norman Aitken Steven Spettlguo Mr. Kenneth Aitken Col. Sir Francis Chesney Mr. W. W. Crawford Jack Chesney Mr. 0. Bcntley Russell Oharlcy Wycklmm ...' Mr. Herbert F. ."Wood. Erassett Mr. Tliipps Williams ICitty Verdun Mies Ruby Scott Amy Siiettigue Mies Marie Fix Ella. Dclahay Miss Pauline Brown Donna Lucia D'Alvadorez Miss Mabel Hardinge-Maltby Though it is nearly a quarter of a century old, that riotously funny farcical comedy, "Charley's Aunt," retains much of the brightness of its youth, and the audience which assembled to witness'the amateur "Charley's Aunt" Comedy Company essay tho farce at the Grand Opera House last evening found plenty of food for laughter in the ex-> traordinarily humorous situations and clever characterisations it embodies. The public may not bo aware that when it was first produced in London, on December 21, 1892,; the comedy ran for tour years, and was played 1460 times. How many times it has since been .played all over the world is not known, but it has established a record that will not

easily be beaten, and during the last few months has been once more revived in London, New York, and Australia.' Last year the amateurs who appeared in the farce last evening toured the entire Dominion with it, and established new records everywhere. It is hardly necessary at this stage to recallthe details of its merry plot, which involves the impersonation of Charlev Wiekham'a aunt by Lord Fancourt Babberly, in order that their love affairs may progress with due decorum, and how the real aunt turns up to keep the tun going for another lap, when ordinarily a prompt exposure would bo expected -to ensue. For a first performance for nearly a year the comedy was briskly played, and if laughter unconfined be any criterion of the merit of the performance, then those concerned have cause to congratulate themselves. Mr Norman Aitken, who appeared once more as the bogus person "from Brazil, where the nuts come j

from" give's a really very clever and well-studied performance, and shows a praiseworthy restraint in refraining from burlesqueing ,a role that offers many temptations for the indiscreet actor. In roice, gesture, and pose he was quite tho old lady—was, indeed, a much better Donna Lucia than he 'was a Lord Fancourt Babberley. Miss Mabel Hardiuge-Maltby brought the height of lior experience into play in presenting the real Donna Lucia as a very charming and cultured lady, and Misses Ruby Scott and Marie Fix were ■ well suited as tho inamorata's of those gay young' sparks, Jack Ohesnoy and Charley Wickhaw, played glibly' and ivith ease fiy Messrs. Bentley ltussell and Herbert F. Wood. A very arauaing and convincing bit of character work was submitted by Mr. Kenneth Aitken as Stephen Spettigue, a performance that stood well out from the ruck, and Mr. U'. V. Crawford was satisfactory as Colonel Chesney. > Miss Pauline Brown gave promise as the 'ingenue Ella Dellahay, though i she hardly had tho measure of the theatre's acoustics, and Mr. Pliipps Williams was moderately amusing as Urassctt. A capable orchestra, under the direction of Mr. Maurice Manthel, played appropriate selections during the evening. As tho performances, which are to bo continued to-night and to-morrow night aro in aid of the Soldieic' Hostel at Newtown, large audiences should result A .special matinee performance is to bo given at tho Opera House to-morrow, in aid of comforts for the men in camp —a good and sufficient reason, apart from the merit of'tho performance, for a bumper house.