"THE THESPIANS"

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 59, 3 December 1920, Page 10

"THE THESPIANS"

A NIGHT OF COMEDIETTAS. Mr. J. Culford Bell presented his elocutionary pupils at the Town Hall last evening in four comediettas. Of the four comediettas, "Engaged," an old favourite, easily ranked firsO, both in intrinsic quality and performance. In tin's playlet Mr. Bell lent the weight of his experience in the role of John Hibbert, whilst Mr. Alf. Kingston, who showed distinct promise, played the young ariiist. In "The New Butler," in winch a young man answering a matrimonial advertisement, mistakes the flat, and intrudes upon a young lady who has advertised for a butler. Mr. Kingston and Miss I.innic Nicholas figured wi'lli n fair measure of success. The comedy is not a very bright one in it-:elf, and it needs speed and brightness to extract what humour it possesses. "Married," a sound oneact play, with good chances for the two ccniiral characters, Charlotte Bell, an actress, has thrown a spell over a young airman (then at the front), and in reply to a feverish declaration of his love and desiro to many her, she has foolishly answered in the affirmative, though _atrendy married. Tho young man writes ti'ii'molian-.ily to his lather, Sir Henry Parker, and ho and his uncle Simon Free. K.C., are perturbed at the prospect of such d marriage. The baronet leaves Free to sottlc with the actress, and the essence of the li'tle play, is the sceno between the two—firstly, tho barrister's examination of the girl, and the clever way sh? turns the flitua:son. Finally slip agrees to accept .£2OOO to cry off thp engagement, but before leaving explains herself nlausibly. tells of her niarriedstnte, and lastly tfars up the cheque bofore her exit. Miss Moana Mackie was fres and unconstrained in her acting up to a point, but scarcely succeeded i.n representing the theatrical fascination elio is supposed to exert. Mr. E. L. Jones (who was so good ns the Bishoi> in "What Happened to Jones") hardly conveyed the eminent K.C. Mr. Alan Cousins presented a. somewhat pugnaciouslooking baronet. "The Actrress" involves the determination of a wilful young lady to break off her brother's engagement to an actress, which she endeavours to effect by posing as- another of his inamoratas.' The scheme breaks down when the iconoclast discovers in itie actress an old school friend. This playlet employed Mis=es Ina Wymyss. Amy Apted, Madge Lyon, and Gladys Manderson. Of these "young ladies''the lwst performance was the Miss Wilkins of Miss M,adge Lyon, who has possibilities in elintjictcr work. '