"THE MARRIAGE OF KITTY"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 79, 27 December 1917, Page 7

"THE MARRIAGE OF KITTY"

MISS MARIETEMPEST'S TRIUMPH "The Marriage of Kitty," a comedy in three acts, adapted from ' La Passurelle," by Cosmo Stuart. CastSir Reginald Belsize...Ur. Graham Browne John Travers Mr. Sidney Stirling Norbury Mr. Leslie Victor Hampton • Mr. Frank Allanby Rosalie Miss Ethoi Morrison Madame do Semiano' MiBS Gwen Burroughs Miss Katherino Silverton " Miss Mario Tempest

Marie Tempest in "The Marriage of Kitty"! Wellington playgoers troiu luck's way in having such an attraction for their Christmas theatrical • faro. They will perhaps appreciate ;t all the more genuinely if reminded that such a bill would arouse interest in darkest London or feverish New York. There w.is never a doubt on the part of the largo holiday audienco that filled the Grand Opera House last evening about ihe comedy and its performance. "The- Marriage of Kitty," in which Miss Rose Musgrovo and Mr. Wilfrid Draycott figured some years ago in Wellington, proved to bo a delishtM medium for the exposition of the talent that is not born to blush unseen in Miss Tempest and her company. The motif is French, but its expression is quite English—and quite proper. In brief, Sir Reginald Belsize, "a dear silly thing," has come undor tho spell of a. designing Peruvian widow, Madame do Semiano, in whom he sees all tho graces of a double distilled Venus, but bis wealthy old uncle, who had more acumen, practically forbade the marriage, by stipulating in his will that Reggy must marry within a year a day, but should his wife prove to be a widow and a Peruvian, he would sacrifice the entire fortune left him. In frantic love and feverish despair Reggy appeals to his solicitor, John Travers, to devise some plan whereby he can secure both the Peruvian and the pelf.. After discussing various ways, all of which are futile, Travers hits upon the simple plan of a temporary marriage, Reggy and tho "lay figure" to separato on the day_ of tho deed, and the latter to enter into an arrangement (in roturn for certain monetary award) to agree to a divorce when the fateful date has lapsed. This is where Kitty Silverton (Travers's god-daughter) steps into tho picture. Her father, who had proved "a much younger man than ho was thought to bo," was dead, having left his estate in muddlement and Kitty £90 and a happy, adventurous disposition. She is up in London t-j 'sea what Travers can do for her, and that shrewd man of law pees in Reggy's affair a way to comparative affluence for his ward. Kitty accepts. The marriage duly takes place, tho couple part, and Reggy and his Peruviai inamorato go travelling, whilst Kitty, rolling in the lap of unaccustomed luxury, is found established in a charming villa on tho shores of Lake Geneva. The year has flown, when Reggy suddenly arrives at the villa, hearing that Trayers bas_ arrived there fiou London. In a series of clever scenes, played with exquisite.finish and in tho purest comedy sport, Reggy fiiulc liimself falling in love with his own wife. Enter upon tho happy pa'r, the jealous widow, who has tracked her lover to the villa. Result, wild recriminations, protestations of aifectionj, active volcanoes of temper, hysterics! Finally Reggy realises that he is tired of the Peruvian, and, guided by Travers, she is led to commit herse f to a former admirer, leaving Reggy an honourable means of taking possession of his own wife for ever fiid evor.

Miss Tempest was Kitty to the life— a shrewd, calculating little- woman, who is hungry for love, and yet in her luxurious loneliness is kept wide awake by her abounding senso of humour, tier mummery in the first act gave the audience a' peep into her gifts as a character actress. Before the audience she makes herself an odd misshapen creaturo in order to fit herself for the part m the eyes of the green-eyed Peruvian, In tho supper scene she exhibited all the radiant qualities of a charming woman really in love, and in the impassioned scone with her husband she was extremely bewitching and "huggable." Miss Tempest has the nicesc taste in frocks, and the comedy gives her the opportunity of a varied display. Mr. Graham Browne made tho lion. .Reginald Bebsize a delicious noodle, who though obviously an ass is extremely likeable in his fickle foolishness. His idiotic chuckle, nervous trepidation, vapid argument, and vacant helplessness were clever assumptions in a very able comedy performance. Another fine performance was tho John Travers of Mr. Sidney Stirling, whose finished acting found admirable scope in the amiable yet dignified John Travels. Miss Gwen Burroughs was well fitted as the sharptoned and tempered Peruvian widow. Miss Ethel Morrison as Rosalie (who sympathises so loudly and embarrassingly with lleggy and his wife) was excellent, and Mr. Leslie Victor was to tile manner born as Norbury, The comedy is capitally mounted, and tho stage management leaves nothing to be desired. "The Marriage of Kitty" will be played up till and including Monday evening next. On Tuesday evening Somerset Maugham's comedy ;'Ponelope" will be staged for the first time in New Zealand. >