LONDON SHOWS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 113, 6 February 1919, Page 2

LONDON SHOWS

, A_few bright lines about current shows m London.is contained in a private let. ter received in Wellington. The writer says:—

The Iroedom of the Seas" (in which the late Billie Carleton was, appearing is a product of the war. It is not a great play, but' the acting was superb. Everybody fitted their part like well, made glows, and there were no "stiffs.-" The Boy" (musical comedy version of Pinero's "The Magistrate") has been running for two years. Why, I don't quite know, as it is like all other'musical comedies. Tho comedians, Berry and Rawlins, aro very <ood, and, Nellie Taylor sings very well. "Tho Law Divine" is quite ono of the smartest things I have seen for a while—just the 1 story of a wife-devoting her. whole exist, enco to war work to the utter neglect of her husband; who naturally turns to tho other woman. The other woman's mother tells the wife a few home-truths, which causes her.to change her energies from winning. the war to winning back her own husband. H. V. Esmond, Jeseio Winter, ajid Marie Illingworth are great in this' play. "The Chinese Puzzle'' is a good show. The Chinaman in, tho pieco is a big gun, whoso sayings aro smartly unconventional. The part was well played, but I take off my hat to Ethel Irving (whom wo saw in New Zealand in "Lady Frederick"). She is as clever and sweet as of yore. "You Never Know, You Know," is 1 a Frenchy farce, something like ''Who's 1 the Lady?" • It is played with lightning speed, and tho swift entrances and exits, amaze and delight throughout. \ I also went 1 to a suburban music-hall, where Neil Kenyon was the head-liner. 'Ho is a Scotch comedian, and I like his.stylo very much.