STATE THEATRE.

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 72, 26 March 1934, Page 3

STATE THEATRE.

It would be almost impossible to Imagine a faster-moving, more brilliant comedy than "It's a Boy." which heads the bill at the State Theatre tuts week. The story, full of nonsensical situations, is written1 around .lames SUissiott (Leslie Ilensou). bachelor friend of Dudley Lcake (Edward Everett Hortonh The lun begins when Joe Piper (Alfred Bunion) visits Lcake' on his wedding day and announces | that he (Lcake) is his "dear daddy," and Sl.ippett endeavours to rescue Leake from thi- | affectionate Piper. A youthful indiscretion si-iires the timid Leake inlo believing the young man's claim, and the friendly Skippett gets into every kind of scrape in his. hard-working ellorts to keep Piper from meeting the bride. One of the biggest laughs of the show is a [scene in which Leslie Heuson disguises himself as a famous woman author, fashionably attired and tottering about on ridiculously highheeled shoes. . Unfortunately, he meets the genuine novelist jit the bride's house, and she, determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, forces him into fantastic statements, regarding the success of her books. Their simpering chat is hilariously funny. I.eslie Hensoh has plenty of scope, to display his sparkling, subtle, rapid-lire repartee. Edward Everett Horton gives an excellent portrayal in his role as the worried, nervous bridegroom, about to be niacled. and Albert Burdon as the youth who claimed him as his "dear daddy." • These helped by a clever body of s\ippor(iii».nlaversnotably Wendy Barrie (the bride-to-be)' Heather Thatcher (the real novelist), Alfred Drayton (the irate fathec, of the bride-to-be), liobcrt.son Hare (humorously butlerish). give an excellent display of team work. The supporting programme is of an exceptionally hi"h standard. - An added attraction on the- sta»e Is the appearance of Harry and Douglas Foster, the talented juvenile tap dancers. Mir.s Dorothy baniclls. prominent Wellington dancer, gives exhibitions of toe tapping.