MARIE TEMPEST SEASON

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 166, 9 April 1921, Page 9

MARIE TEMPEST SEASON

“THE DUKE OF KILLIECRANKIE’’

“The Duke of Killiecrankie,” a farcical comedy in three acts, by Captain Marshall. Cast — Mr. Henry. Pitt Welby. M.P. Graham Browne lan Douglas Macßayne Frank Harvey (Duke of Killiecrankie) Mr. Ashley Hicks Ashton Jarry The Countess of Pangbourne...Doris Gilhair. The Lady Henrietta Addison (her daughter) Dorothy Hamilton Mrs. Macßayne Armorel Kemp (Housekeeper at "Crag-o’-North”) Alexander Macßayne ... Keppel Stephenson (CaretakeiU Mrs. Mulholland Marie Tempest

Nearly a score of years have rolled by since we saw "The Duke of Killiecrankie,’’ originally in Wellington with Florence Hamer, Rose Musgrove, and Wilfred Draycott in the leading roles, and it does the author credit that it still retains a certain freshness and piquancy in design, if ths action is at times somewhat turgid. That cannot be said of the dialogue, which is witty and smart to a degree. It is our experience that writers of comedy on both sides of the Atlantic, have something to give one another. The Americans are very smart and resourceful in creating motion and "situations,” but the dialogue of the best American playwrights is not to be compared with the best English. The ideal comedies of the future may be written by a combination of the two forces —if such an entente were possible. Sufficient to-say that in the case of "The Duke of Killiecrankie” all the resources of a skilful producer nnd an almost uncanny inventor of "business” (in Mr. Graham Browne) has obscured any possible defects in the way of turgid action. The comedy involves the love affair of a young and volatile Duke, who, becoming tired of lovers’ delays, decoys Lady Henrietta Addison to his castle in the Highlands, resolving in a mediaeval way to keep her captive until she marries him. Of course, in this case, the Duke is the soul of honour, and provides his lady love with a chaperon in-the person of Mrs. Mulholland, a bright, winsome sophisticated widow with money, whose heart and cash are pursued by Mr. Henry Pitt Welby, an impecunious M.P., and well-favoured foppish eccentric. The immured quartet. make things very interesting in the Highlanders castle, and the Duke is so persistently charming and Welby so amusingly assinino that the episode ends in the only possible way. Miss Tempest is adorably piquant as Mrs. Mulholland. There is that about her in manner, inflection, expression, and gesture that is apparently entirely free from anything in the way of studied effect, which the sophisticated realise is only the result of careful study—the technique of acting in full play. Every point in her performance told; every shade of expression had its full meaning; every gesture, or movement, was just right. Of Mr. Graham Browne’s clever and polished mumming one never tires. His elegance and charm of manner as the assinine Welby reach a high level of excellence. As a farceur he is the exact and proper compeer of Miss Tempest. Mr. Frank Hnrvey made a bright, breezy, terse, and manly Duke, and Miss*Dorothy Hamilton, as the decoyed Lady Henrietta, made an. admirable foil for Miss Tempest in her acceptable portrayal of the outraged English Miss of the "Family Herald” type. The curtained and tapestried scenery, and ingenious lighting effects, were always restful and artistically appropriate During the entr’acte® Miss Nellie Black played several violin solos delightfully“MRS. DOT" TO-NIGHT.

If it were possible to have a plebiscite taken to decide which is the most popular play in the whole of Miss Mane Tempest’s great repertoire, "Mrs. Dot would, it is claimed, head the poll. During her previous tour Miss Tempest scored her greatest success in this role, and the box office returns were tatter for this piece than anv other produced at that time. “Mrs. Dot” is one of the cleverest and most delightful comedies staged during recent years. The part 'of Mrs. Dot gives Miss Tempest every opportunity to display her magnetic charm, her vivacity, her conversational gifts, and her genius; and for the time being she lives the part. Mr. Graham Browne, like Miss Tempest, presents a lifelike representation of every character he portrays, but ‘/in no part, said a critic recently “is this very talented and very polished actor seen to quite the same advantage as in_ the rote of B enkensop” in “Mrs. Dot.” The full strength of the company is required for the representation. Mrs. Dot deals with a voting wi<tow, with pots of money, who is in love. The audience are shown how a widow’s wit, wiles, and expeinei.ee more than counterbalance the prettiness. youth, and ingeniousness ot her rivals“ When a woman knows what she wants,” says Mrs. Dot. “she usually gets it,” and the play is a cleverly constructed and most interesting story, durin.- which there are numerous inch and humorous comedy scenes. Quite ft feature of the representation of Mrs. Dot are the dresses and the mounting. Mrs. -Dot” was not played during Miss lempest’s last season in Wellington.