"TILLY OF BLOOMSBURY"

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 27, 27 October 1920, Page 8

"TILLY OF BLOOMSBURY"

LAN HAY'S DELIGHTFUL COMEDY "Tilly of Bloomsbury," a comedy in threo acts, by lan Hay. Cast of characters— Abel 'Mainwarinc ...Thomaa Sidney Mr. itilroy .J, ]). Atholwooil Sylvia Beryl Bryant Lady Marian. Mainwarimr Mrs. Eobert Br'ouch Rev. Adrian Eylanda ....Frank Hawthornp Constance Damer Mattie Brown Richard Frank Freeman Tilly Dorothy Maoville Per6y Pirio Bush Amelia' Dorothr Seocombe Grandma Banks Meta Pelham lt "' 1 Frank Hawthorne Mrs. Wjlwyn Elsie Mciizlpb Lucius Welwyn Percy Bhodcß Jr ' Stillbottlc George Blunt Mr. PumDherston Wilfred Hilary

Perhaps the most remarkable -coincidence in conneeticn with the performnntu of Inn llay s comedy, "Tilly of Bloomsbury by J. C. Wililnmson's New Comedy Company at the Opera House lust evening, is its cousinly resemblance in theme to Iladdou Chambers's "The Saving Grace," played here for the iir.st time m Australasia ns late as Saturday evening last. In one respect this similarity is most interesting as it displays the practised playwright, in contradistinction to a tyro at thj> art, without lessenin(? the main result, viz., that both writers have succeeded in providing capital entertainments. Whilst Chambers has a refinement and suavity of touch both in dialogue and character, thei younger writer has interlaced comedy of suntiiiflit with t!ie brohdest burlesque in a thoroughly delightful fashion. The many thousands who laughed over Hay's "First Hundred Thousand" and his "Happy-Go-Lueky" will long since have appreciated the fact that his gospel_ is that "a merry heart goes all the way." Yet \vith its wealth of humour, Mr. Hay shows that he can' apply the brush of sentiment and ev'sn pathos with no niggard -hwnd, so that in "Tilly" we have great 'bursts of laughter running check' by jowl wif.li highly-spiced sentiment. Last evening's audience found mixture much to it-i taste, more especially as the comedy is in expert hands. Tilly is the daughter oE Mr. and Mrs. Welwyn, of Bussell Square, impecunious through the indolence of lie head of the family, who, (hough a Fellow of Cambridge and a man of birth, is willing to lity on the labour of his honest, ill-educated wife'and daughters. Tilly meets young Bichard on lie top of a bus, and he promptly falls in love with her. The poor girl is brought all unannounced into an atmosphere of wealth and' alleged refinement, and i* inade to Suffer by the insolence of Lady Mainwaring and her glacial daughter, Sylvia. Finding her son serious in his attentions to Tilly, the Mainwarings honour tine Welwyns with a call fit u timo when the broker's man is in charge. Tilly lifts declared .a policy of "wvank" as the only way to support her pitiful pretensions, and the broker's man, being a sport and one who has played tho bind legs of an elephant in a pantomime, consents to enact the part of the butler. This scene develops into a hilarious farce with the butler as chief clown, but a sordid melee between two of tho Welwyns' lodgers destroys the intended illusion of comparative affluence, and Tilly, facing the music, tells the Mainwarings of the pretence of the entire scene, from v/hicli Lady Mainwaring departs in high dudgeon. But Dick is true to his London girl, and love and 'bright young hearts find happiness before the curtain falls.

The company is adequate to all demands. Tilly is brightly and naturally played by Miss' Dorothy Manvillo, who is true to type, nnd quite capable of summoning a lump to the throat in her big emotional scene at the end of the second act. Mrs. Robert Brough's expansive art found dominating expression ill the role of Lady Marian SJainwaring. None better than she knows how to "put the acid in" in those scenes where she has Tilly on the rack, and her grand dame air, and sweeping scorn for the mild geniality of her husband were always eminently offective. Suffice to say that hor rnaiia on tho stage is endorsed by this admirable characterisation. Mr. Frank Freeman, as Richard, scoros with his quiet, gentlemanly style and pleasant personality In violent distinction is, the boisterous plebian shop assistant, Percy Welwyn, slashed in not without cleverness by Mr E. Pirie Bush (a Wellington native). Although written- in a burlesque spirit, the Mr, Stillbottlo (the brokers man).stamps Mr. George Blunt as a character-actor of high ability. This actor, with his many rare touches, unctuous voice, and vivid command of expression, gave full rein to his abounding comedy sense, making the house roar. Thi' parts of tho Rev. Adrian Rylands nnd Mr Mehta Ram were cleverly doubled by 'Mr. Frank Hawthorne, and Mr. Thomas Sidney was in the picture as the hen-pecked spouse of Lady Mainwaring. As the h-less Mrs. Welwyn, Miss Elsie Menzies gave a vell-conceivcd characterisation, and Lucius Welwyn was enacted with dignity by Mr. Percy Rhodes Miss Mattie Brown investod the part of Constance Danier with vivacious charm,- Miss Beryl Bryant lent cold distinction to tho role of Sylvia Mainwaring, Miss Dorothy Seacomb© was pleasingly Mary Pickfordish as Amelia Welwyn, and Miss Meta Pelham infused a lot Of acid humour into the roie of Grandma Banks. The frocking of "nice" people in tho cast was extremely tasteful, but tho scenery showed signs of nard usage An excellent little orchestra, under the direction of Mrs. M. Middleton, provided especially good en 1 trade music. "Tilly of Bloomsbury" should attract good business throughout the season.