"NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 135, 3 March 1919, Page 6

"NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH"

LAUGHABLE FARCICAL , COMEDY "Nothing But the Truth," a farcical comedy, in three acts, by James Montgomery, Cast :— Robert Bennett M, B. Fignian E. M. Ralston Mac. M. Barnes Richard Donnelly Kenneth Brampton Clarence van Dusen Pirio Bush Bishop Doran Leslie Victor Gwendolyn Ralston Lolita Robertson Mrs. B. M. Rflkton Emma Tenrplo Ethel Olark Primrose Caryll Mabel Jackson Nellie Wilson Sable Jackson Lucie Carter Martha Eunice Vert On Saturday evening Messrs. J. C. Williamson, Ltd., presented a r.cw comedy and a new company to the Wellington public, and 'both threaten to be popular during their brief slay here.. The piece is a breezy and extremely lavghiiblo farcical comedy, particularly American in its structure, and full <f good healthy fun and bis laughs right through. "Nothing But the Truth" is as clean as a ■whittle, and the action pipes along merrily enough. Thero are patches where the whirr of tho machinery may be heard by tho attentive ear, but it is pretty well drowned by gales of laughter that corns with refreshing spontaneity from the happy non-nnalytienlly-disposed playgoer. "Nothing But tho Tnith" is built upon a simple plan. A typical knot of Wall Street stockbrokers, more or le=s concerned in _ the firm of E. 11. Balston and Co., are lightly discussing the ethics of tho business they are concerned in, when Robert Bennett, tho junior partner, puts forth the amazing theory that a nan would get'on just as well, end perhaps a little better, if he told the unblushing truth always, and supports his contention by quoting tho fact that no oiio would believo there was an America until Columbus discovered it, and the suggestion that peoplo could speak to each' othnr over a wire wns laughed to scorn until Bell demonstrated the fact. That Mr. Bennett should voice such a 'belief is comical itself, as his elephantine partner lias just used the telephone to sell somn quicksilver stock he knows to bo worthless. The group are so satisfied that none could tell ' th» truth always and live, that they all want to wager that Bennett cannot tell the truth for twenty-four hours. The temptation to accept is accentuated owing to Gwendoline Balston having entrusted some 10,000 dollars of everyone's money (collected for the purpose of erecting a seaside home for children) to Bennett to double on the Stock Exchange, telling him in her innocence that if he can double it, her father, Ealstc-n's own partner (and the one most insistent on the absolute necessity of being a disciple of Ananias), has promised to double the whole amount. Bennett hesitates about risking the charity money, but after a shriekingly funny lump-swallowing moment, he surprised them all by accepting a 10,000 dollar vrager that he will speak the truth, the whole truth, und nothing but the truth for twenty-four hours. Bennett commences smilingly, . but as harassing and embarrassing questions are hurled at him from any and every quarter which he has to answer truthfully, he becomes a haggard, haunted creature who wants to steal away somewhore and hide. Ho is kept awake all night by his' tormentors, he is subjected to all kinds of mean tricks and fraraes- ', up, but he holds on with the endurance \ of a Shackleton, Richard Donnelly and ; Clarence Van Dusen. who are in.on the wager, show a pretty gift of invention. 1 One pretty girl with an appalling voice 6ings a song- at Ralston's home (where what you think yourself," persists Donnolly asks Bennett what he thinks of 1 her voice. "I think what you think," 1 answers Bennett. "But I want to know ' what you thin kyourself," persists Don- ' nelly relentlessly. "'I think it's awful!" says Geo. Washington the second, and ' the lady develops hysterics as the re- • 6ult of his candour. Later, he has to | express an opinion of the same young ! lady's hat—a monstrosity of up-to-date- • the truth is blurted so bluntly ' that Mrs. Balston begins {to believe Ben- " nett (who is her daughter's fiance, it ' must be remembered) strangely rude,- and ' tells him so. The climax .happens when ! a .couple of sprightly _ dames of no iru- " rjortance, who have baited old Ealston in ' His office, into momentary giddiness the p day before, exhibit their gaudy persons in ' tho Ealston home, having been told by 1 the sportive Van Dusen that it is Bache- • for Donnelly's country home. There Mrs. " Ealston overhears Donnelly and Van Du--3 sen referring to the office incident of the ! day before, and becoming immediately 3 suspicious questions them. They lie, but • Bennett tells the truth. The girls are " closely interrogated, and one, in order \ to get out of telling the truth, recites a i 6lab of melodramatic gush from a play ■ site has appeared, in, which- makes the ; > affair appear ten times worse. In the r meantime Bennett's capacity for the I truth is such that other stockbrokers and clients learn through him of the utter 0 worthlessness of stock Ealston is trying f to 6ell them, and the old man kees 50,000 '■ dollars in one hit. As the time limit - nears the liars pursue their victim with i> . the zest of hungry tigers after prey, but '. just as they ask him to say how he in- - vested Miss Ealston's money the clock ■ strikes the fateful hour. He has won- - but at what a cost! Incidental to the comedy is the amusing episode of the worthless stock sold to. a worthy Bishop by Van Diisen, who had acquired it from Ealston. The Bishop consults Bennett. ' who tells hTm that if he yells loud " enough he would get his money back. And the Bishop howls, and poor old Ealston pays, whilst Van Dusen grins. The comedy is very smartly played. >' Mr. Max Fignian i 6 a likeable comedian : of the-Nat Goodwin type—fresit, clean- }' cut, illuminative in expression and ges- ' ture, restrained in manner, and intereste ing personally. His by-play in 6 tho office scene, when nervous as to the 1 result of his wager, was very funny, and the house was kept rocking with -laughter 1 to the end of tho act. Mr. Figman is well f supported. Mr. Mac M. Barnes as the. 3 ponderous B. M. Ralston put rip a per- ' formance quite upon a par with that pi '- the star. Not only is he physically f fitted for tho humorous role, but ho jets 1 tho most out of it in every regard. Miss 9 Lolita Robertson has not so very mucn - to do other than to look nice in pretty 3 frocks nnd behave charmingly, and she ■ succeeds admirably in both. Mr. _E. • I Pirio-Bush (who is a- Wellingtoman) r lias cultivated the American style coni- . pletely, and gets the real native into tho 3 role of the hard and rather supercilious 1 young Van Dusen. It was a cool, welli rounded, finished bit of work. Mr. Kens neth Brampton was well suited as Don--8 ! nelly, nnd Mr. Leslie Victor gave one of s his 'delightful character sketches as tho ' Bishop who is temporarily fleeced. Miss' r Emma Temple, whoso, work is always so > satisfactory, got the reception of the ■ evening, and was to the manner born as ■ Mrs. Ralston. Miss Nellie Wilson and f Miss Lucie Carter figured as the two i "toughs," Mabol and Sable, and' Miss i Primrose Caryll . (daughter of Ivan i Carvll) extracted <a lot of fun out of the ' role of Ethel Clark, the girl with Hie s terrible voice. "Nothing But the Truth i will bo played until Friday night . i On Saturday and Monday evenings next • (the last two nights of the season) nn- - other fine comedy will be produced. This 1 is the stage version of Harold MacGrath s i world-famous novel, "Tho Man on the r Box."