WILLOUGHBY-GEACH COMEDY CO.

Gisborne Times, Volume XII, Issue 1079, 22 December 1903, Page 3

WILLOUGHBY-GEACH COMEDY CO.

11 WHY SMITH LEFT HOME.”

A BRILLIANT SUCCESS,

Ono of tho latest additions to farce cbmedios is “ Why Smith Left Home,” which mado its first appearance in this town at the Theatre Royal last night, when it was staged by tho famous Wil-lqpghby-3oach Co. before a large and mirth stricken audience Tho author of tho cornody is Mr Broadhurst (tho author of “ What Happened to Jones ”), who has succeodod in presenting so many comedies of tho most laughable typo before the public. Mr George Willoughby as John Smith, " who though living in Now York yet lovod hia wife,” is a host in himself, and his clover acting last night showed sterling merit as a comedian capable of creating roars of laughter. Miss Roxy Barton, whoso handsome stage appearanco gains for her tho admiration of every audience, acted as Mm John Smith with a charm that arrests and rivets attention the whole time she is on tho stage. As General Billotdoux Mr Edwin did good work, aud uovor failed to make the most of every point, whilst Mr Tom Cannam scored a groat succisj as the Count von Guggenhoim, in which role ample scope was afforded him to display, his abilities iu that direction. Mr Goorge Leopold made the most of his small part

JJBOpOKI LLI »llu LliD IUU9U Ui uio DLUUII piuy as Major Dancombs. Miss HardingoMaltby gave a vory clover impersonation of Julia, Mrs Smith’s Haiti. Her acting throughout was admirably executed, and stamped her as being a firstclass artist. Miss Watts Phillips handled the character of Mrs Billetdoux with much self-contained dignity, and by her asturo and commanding demeanor put tho desired tremendous fenr in the much-married General Billet Doux. As Lavinia Daly, tho lady cook, Mr T. E.

Leopold had a heavy role to interpret, and gavo a side-splitting interpretation thereof, keeping tho house in continuous roars of laughter by bis quoting the rules of the Servants’ Union, and mado a great hit'-in his proclamation of the latest rule in the legal phrasoology. Tho remaining parts wore equally successfully sustained by Miss Rosie Phillips as Rose Walton, Mr John Power as Robert Walton, and Mr Charles Knight as the page. The whole company displayed a high level of excellence, and nothing was missing to rendor tho comedy as interesting and amusing us possible. Tho dialogue is clever, crisp, and witty, and out of all the inevitable confusion and laughable complications to which tho plot of the comedy gives rise tho audience derived tho greatest mirth possible.