IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2910, 24 October 1916, Page 8

IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE

A LAUGHABLE FARCE

"It pays to Advertise," a farce in three nets by 'ltoi C. Alogruo and Walter Hackett. Cast:— / Mary Grayson Myrtle Tannehill Johnson Charles Wheeler Comtesse do Beaunsn ... Nancyo Stewart Rodney Martin Donald Bowles Cyrus Martin Edwin Lester Ambrose Pcale Halo Hamilton Mario .'. Mattee Brown William Smith John do Lacey Miss Burke Violet Wray Goofgo M'Chesney Alfred Charles Ellery Clark Leslie Victor Charles Bronson Maurice Dudley "It Pays to Advertise" is an American product in stage goods that makes lookers-on laugh nearly all tho time, and was just the thing for the mood'of tho big holiday audience that filled the .Grand Opera House last evening. When one says that the farce bears a cousinly resemblance to "Got-Rich-Quick 'Walling, ford" its genre will have been delined. to playgoers. Indeed, it might toe said with- sonio assurance that if- George Cohan had never adapted tbo "Walling-' ford" stories to tho stage, Mogrue and Hoc-kelt. would never have written, "It Pays to Advortise." Somehow or other both in American light literature and her plays 'the "bunco" man or/"confidence trick" man has succeeded tho gentleman burglar type as the idol to bo set upon li pedestal. Such is the vogue in America for such plays, that "It' l Pays to Advertise" would bo docketed and labelled "good got-over bunco stuff." And Hint it does "get over" nono will deny, though now and then' ono can hoar the whirr of Mr. Mcgruo's machinery, and catch aT glimpse of the rather cheap and shoddy sentiment that splurges hero and there as a sweetener. Tho farce, which was very well received last ovening, deals with the efforts of a millionaire soapmaker, Cyra Wartin, to indues his tired son, Rodney, to 1-work. Rodney hates the very sound of the word,, and declines to turn out, until 'he is put on his mettle by Mary Grayson, his. father's typist, with whom ho falls in love. Rodney declares his intontion of marrying the girl, and i old Martin (m.leaguo with Mary,) says that if lie does nothing will be his out of his big soapy fortune. Rodney, in conspiracy with a breezy, optimist named Ambrose Peale, who belioves that tho world was mado for people to advertiso in, then rigs up a scheme whereby to catch the old man on tho hip. 'Tho scheme 'is "Thirteen Soap—unlucky for dirt." Money is secured by hook or by crook, and circus billing is weak ahae--mic fooling compared with tho mannor in which thoy advertise their soap, hoping each day that old Martin will offer to buy thorn out. The new "firm," which includes Mary Grayson, is at its last gasp; and the prison-gates are yawning when a wire arrives from Marshal Melds ordering 50,000 cakes. On top of this comes Cyrus Martin, who feels the loss of his boy, and is just about to buy them out, when Mary accidentally discloses everything—that they have never manufactured a cake of soap, and it is all a "fake" to take tho old man down. Their hopes are built up a bit, on the big order received, when Cyrus tells them it was sent by himself. Even the "Countess," who is supposed to bo over from Paris to purchase the French rights, turns out to bo a "crook," but suddenly the result of the advertising begins to toll, and such is the rush, of orders that old Cyrus Martin, to got tho business, simply has to faco tho power of advertising and absorb the young "firm," which has not a feather to fly with, and which, in any caso, has no factory and no soup to sell tu anyone. »

hie company is an extremely even one of high quality, and we'll fitted in th comedy. Mr. Halo Hamilton, who make his first appearance in New Zoaland, a Ambrose Feale, is a fine, big handsome, breezy actor, with a confident, intimate manner, tha' reaches well across the footlights. Tha ho is magnetic one could feel during hii quick-fire flaming speeohos on the efficaci or advertising. Such is his energy an 9 rushing enthusiasm, that ho persuades everyone in the audience that advertising is an essential of life. Hi 6 exuberant spirit in the scenes with Old . Martin and the French "Comtesse" was on a par with his fresh, early-morning appearance, and clever acting. No actor in the cast, was more entirely satisfactory thau Mr. Donald Bowles as Rodney Martin. In complote contrast to tho big breezy bluff, Sodney is merry, uncertain? and spasmodic in his methods. Though stung into action, ho hardly knows where lie is, and seeks vaguely for an outlet to his burning Tesolve to "make good." With his distrait maimer and speech, and quaint, jerky gestures and attitudes, Mr. Bowles made liodney a most eccentric, yet consistently intciesting and human character. Ho is an actor to match. Miss Myrtle Taniiehill was very bright anil charming as MaTy Grayson, which is all the part demanded. Kemarkably good work is done by Miss Nancye Stewart as the "fake" Comtesse. Her torrential flow of good Parisian French was a pleasure 'to hear. Every inflection and twist was there, arid her acting was in every respect in artistic accord with tho author's intention. Actresses are .few and far between who could play such a role with such finish and charm as Miss Stewart. Mr. Leslie Victor gave a finished little clnracter sketch as Ellery Clark; Mr. Edwin Lester was always in the picture as Martin the elder, and Mr. Maurice Dudley. a.s the man from "Field's," was all that was demanded. The farce, is /adequately mounted, and good music is provided by an orchestra, under tho direction of Mr, J. F. Woodward.

On Friday next the company will present for the .first time in New Zealand Winchell Smith and Victor Haples's comedy, "The Boomerang."