PLEASING FARCE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20106, 28 November 1939, Page 5

PLEASING FARCE

OLD PLAY REVIVED “CHARLEY’S AUNT” CO. CHANGE THIS EVENING The abundance of humourous situations in the pleasing farce, “Charley’s Aunt,” presented last evening by the Celebrity Comedy Company was appreciated again by the attendance at the Opera House.

Although it was recognised that the farce was an old one, the company preserved it in a manlier that appealed even to the older members of the audience who had seen the production many years ago.

The cast was a strong one and each of its members lived their part, making the plot even more appealing to the audience. A splendid pertormance was given by Don Nicol, the popular Australian comedian, as "Cnaney's Aunt,” and he had all the support he required from the other meriibers o, the company. The leading iady was Miss Shirley Ann Richards, a fascinating Australian film star who was making her first appearance in New Zealand.

In order to bridge the period between the acts when the scene shifters were busily engaged in preparing foi Hie next act, the company presented some Gisborne talent, whose musical items were greatly appreciated. Messrs. H. A. R. Patterson and T. Fleming played popular airs on piano accoraians at the first interval and Stuart Sheet’s orchestra played several numbers at the second break, one of the company. Miss Maisie Wallace, being the vocalist.

“Up In Mabel’s Room”: To-night

The season of the company in Gisborne will be completed this evening with the production of an unusual type of American comedy entitled “Up In Mabel's Room.” Laughable situations abound in the plav, in which there is much crisp American dialogue.

The essence of the play is the attempt of an innocent bridegroom ti retrieve evidence of an old and very mild indiscretion. His bewildered efforts to clear himself from the cloud of suspicion involve practically every member of the cast before he accomplishes his task. ,

The bewildered groom's part is taken by Don Nicol, who, as Garry Ainsworth, 'arouses the sympathy of his fellow guests at a house party in a beach home near New York, and the suspicion of his wife, a part taken capably by Miss Maisie Wallace. The trouble occurred over an earlier romance with an attractive widow, Mabel Essington, played by Miss Shirley Ann Richards, when he had indiscreetly sent her an unfortunate choice of present. His attempts to retrieve that present before it is seen by his wife give the opportunities for the humour on which the play is built.