"COUSIN KATE"

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 82, 31 December 1920, Page 8

"COUSIN KATE"

A CHARMING PERFORMANCE

"Cousin Kate," a comedy in three acts, lly Hubert Henry Davies. CastHeath Desmond Graham Browne J!cv. James Bartlett Herbert Millard Bobby Spencer Frank Allanby Jfrs. Spencer Doris Gilham Amy Spencer Dorothr Hamilton jane Arniorcl Kemp Kato Marie Tempest

Theso are halcyon nights at tho Grand Opera House, 'lhose who miss the happy combination of such delightful comedies, acted with such irresistible charm and intellectual polish are lo be commiserated with. "Coiisin Katv one of many Tare plays written by Mr. Davies, gives Miss -Marie Tempest and h.>r gifted coadjutor, Mr. Graham Browne, a rare opportunity of appearing at Hielv very best. After many years of play-seeing, one naturally hesitates at straining the superlative, but for perfection in spirit, for natural charm in characterisation, and exact fitness in personality, it would be difficult to match tho perfoimance of Miss Tempest, and Mr. Browne in the second act of this play. Cousin Kate is the dear, gonorous, genial little sheet anchor of tho rather helpless Spencer family.' She comes upon them at a time of great distress, Amy Spencer's Irish lover, Heath Desmond, haying deserted her without explanation two days - before the wedding. Kate arrives with a. glowing account of a stranger she hats chummed up to .on the train, and when she undertakes to put in order "Owlscot"-the house Desmond has purchased against his woddirig—who should enter by tho window but tiu> owner himself, rlio turns out to be the perfect man Kate has met on tho train. There, m a spirit of delicious levity, the two make love-suoh love as only happens to twin souls. Hie awful awakening comes when Kate discovers that her affinity is none other than Heath Desmond himself. Ihen, like the loyal heart she is, Kate protends, with a breaking heart, that she has been acting a part, but byenks down in tho pitiable attempt, and Desmond joys in tho fact. Amy, strajght-laced, mealy-mou tiled, and conventional, has reallv been the cause, of Desmond's ternporary departure, and finds her mcUnatinns drifting towards the ne«' vicar, the Ilov. James Bartlett. and, when, m the last act, Desmond has, against his inclinations, resolved to go through with the marriage, his release comes n^turally, on Amy's confession . tlmt she doubts the lqyalty of her own- heart. Desmond at once magnanimously and gleefully releases her, and tear-si allied Kate comes into her own. l - SeKfom have local audiences in. recent rears witnessed so intrinsically admir'able ft performance. As Cousin Kate Miss Tempest showed in an appealing 7i\nnpr sunshiny qualities, in laughter and tears, that made her the idol of Txmdon. audiences for a quarteT of n century. Every moment, each gesture, nnd the rainbow ill tone colours she exerts so naturally, satisfied every artistic sense. th© less succcs^ful was Mr. Browne as Heath Desmond. The lilt of a 'perfect Dublin brogue, his gentle Taillery about "Silverlocks and the 'fj'ree. Bears," his refinement of manner, /entire abence of effort, and penetrating comedy wnse made his performance one of narticnllir charm. Miss - Dorothy Hamilton was simple, straightforward, and curiously in temperamental accord with the role of Amy. A hundred points in the character she drew shrieked aloud that she the right mate for the mercurial Irishman, and that the smug parson was. Fussy, brainless Mrs. Spencer was cleverly delineated by Miss Doris Gilham. Mr. Frank Allanby was correctly cast as Bobby Spencer, and Mr. Herbert .Millard invested the vicar with all the speoious-riess and selfishness 01 the part, without once overdoing it. The .curtained stage settings wore artistic, and the lighting most effective. .. A competent orchestra, under Miss Nellie Black, made attractive play during the enfracto. . , . , "Cousin Kato" will be played again to. night and to-mcirrow afternoon. To-morrow . evening the company will appear in a special revival of enchanting and romantic comedy, "The Marriage of Kitty," of which playgoers thought so highly whan it was staged here during Miss Tempest's previous tour of Xew Zealand. "The Marriage oi Kitty" is a piece full of subtle humour and clever situations, and withal an •entertaining plot; Tho comedy is so delightfully and simply worked to its litxppy ending th&t its vciy simplicity s'jnws genius in its constructive clemenv. Owing fa the brevity of the season or.iy tho one representation can be staged ot this charming comedy.