AMUSEMENTS

Grey River Argus, 28 February 1927, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS

“THE UNFAIR SEX.’’ AN AMUSING FARCE. The question, “Which is the unfair sex ” is slightly reminiscent of the once popular topic' of debate, Arc women meaner than men ? Nobody really expects an authentic answer to sirquestions, but there is some diversion in answering them all the same. Thev

afford one opportunity by expressing antipathy to or fondness for the opposite sex as the case may be. And so the title “The Unfair Sex’’ given to the farce comedy presented at the Opera House on Saturday evening is somewhat happily chosen to catch the popular fancy. It is appropriate also, in that, it indicates the theme of the play, which deals with the attitude of a husband and wife when each finds

that the other has been engaging in a little harmless flirting with an old

friend. “The Unfair Sex’’ was presented to a large and highly entertained audience on Saturday evening by Mr Joseph Cunningham's new English Comedy Company which has chosen this as its first piece to be presented here. The company is headed by Miss Zillah Bateman, a well-known London actress

and ably supported by Misses Henrietta Cavendish, Sylvia Clifton, Beryl Barratdough, Vera St. John, Frank Bradley, Chas. McCallum, and N. Carter.

The whole of the action takes place n the living room of Geoffrey Trevor’s

seaside cottage, and all is compressed into one day. The play opens with Joan Delisse discussing with Pinker, the maid, the ways of men: and Pinker, from her personal experience strongly recommends the arousing of jealousy as the surest way of securing a man’s

affections. “Men don’t seem to want you till they think someone else does,’’ is the essence of her philosophy. Geoffrey Trevor, who is as a matter of fact happily mated, here enters, and then' follo-ws a little flirtation between him and Joan, for they had been playfellows together in childhood. An

egregious ass named Harvey Fane and Diana Trevor next occupy the stage. They, too, are old friends. Diana in the kindliest possible way is trying to wean Harvey from his incessant whisky drinking. Tie promises to give it up, and to strengthen him in his re-

solve Diana permits him to print a chaste salute on her cheek. Naturally at this most inopportune moment who should stalk in and catch them but Uncle Henry, K.C., who has specialised in divorce court law for 30 years, and who holds very strong and stern view’s about divorce and the birth rate and so forth. Uncle Henry makes up his mind to give the young people a good fright, but when he comes to report Diana’s behaviour to Geoffrey the conversation becomes so mixed that Geoffrey jumps to the conclusion that the reference is to his behaviour with Joan. He gives away his own indiscretion accordingly, and the old lawyer promptly adapting his tactics to meet the new situation, plans to frighten them both. He causes Diana to believe that Geoffrey knows of the kiss, and is so frightfully angry that he intends to press for divorce; and at the same time he intimates to Geoffrey that Diana knows the worst about him and refuses to lie reconciled. By keeping the two apart, hi' manages to urolong the deception, and many most ludicrous situations arise. One of the most effective) of these occurs when the old man persuades Diana and Harvey to write ridiculous love letters to each other, and to be photographed in a compromising position so as to assist Geoffrey to get his divorce. There is a prolonged and most involved comedy of misunderstandings, even when all the parties come together again, before the light slowly dawns and they realise the trick uncle Henry has played on them. They plan a revenge, and thplay seems to offer opportunities for a good one, but when the revenge does, come it falls flat and is rather in the nature of an anti climax. However, the final curtain falls’on all the loving couples happily reunited or united, as the case may be, including old Uncle Henry, who is accepted by Helen Delisse, the very eligible mother of pretty Joan.

The strength of the piece is jn its dialogue, which is often witty an.l 'dtver and almost always amusing. The idea of humanising the old lawyer by teaching him golf, for instance, gives

opportunity for a number of smart sayings about that popular national game. In the part of Diana, Miss Zjllah Bateman certainly showed much skill as an emotional actress, and portrayed with marked success the many rapid emo tions that surge through Diana as the ■ lay wears on. She lias a most pleasing stage presence and personality, and it is no small part of her charm that every word she utters can be heard without the slightest difficulty. Clear utterance is jndeed a characteristic of the whole company. Mr Campbell Copelin in the part of Geoffrey did well what was required of him as the flirting husband, the tortured and distracted man who believes his indiscretion has cost him his wife’s love, and the outraged husband bent on vengeance on the man who has been too familiar wjth his wife. Mr Norman Carter made the best ot the very unreal part of Harvey, and, with his silly voice and unutterably silly remarks, was perhaps responsible for more hearty laughter than anyone else in the play. Occasionally, like most fools, Harvey hits the> nail on the head with one of liTsheniarks, as when he drawls to Uncle Henry, engaged in inventing compromising love letters, “What a sloppy mind you’ve got’.’’’ Miss Vera St. John was very attractive and amusing as Joan Delisse {vith her varying moods and bewitching wavs; and Miss Henrietta (’aVemlish o-ace a quiet ami convincing study of Helen Delisse, the middle-aged widow to whom years have wrought worldly wisdom and sound judgment while thev have not robbed her of the humour and tire of vouth. Probably the most consistently drawn character in the play i. that of old Sir Henry, and Mr FrariL Bradlev portrayed the vam, seltconfi .lent old fellow with his legal habit of Xh Lid mind and his domineering Javs „>ost successfully. vms done bv Miss Silvia Pinker, W hom Huck Henry presses wto

bis service to assist, in the deception, only other part was the very minor one of Smith, the “cabby,” taken by Mr Jack Phillips. It will be seen that the theme abounds with opportunity for fun and nonense, and these wore tised to the full by the company to the great enjoyment of the audience. “Eliza Comes to Stay,” another brilliant comedy will be Monday njght’s production, when another bumper house is assured. TOWN HALL, TO-NIGHT. PAULINE ‘FREDERICK TN “STING OF THE LASH.” At the Town TTall to-night, an all new programme will be presented the star attraction to be shown will be the William Fox production “Sting oi the Lash” starring Paulino Frederick It is a thrilling adaption of the great Western story bv Harvey W. Gates.

OPOKA HOUSE—WEDNESDAY. “THE NEW COMMANDMENT.”

Robert T. Kane has a. rare cinema treat for patrons of the Opera House on Wednesday, matinee and night, when his initial production for First Nation-

al. “The New Commandment,” will be featured. Kane made sure to select a vehicle abounding in thrills and novelties and then to make success certain he signed up the most marvellous film talent that money could tempt. The east includes Ben Lyon, in the greatest role of his career; Blanche Sweet. Holbrook Blinn, Pedro De Cordova, Diana Kane, Dorothy Cummings, George Cooper, Effie Shannon, and many others. “The New Commandment” is a screen adaptation by Sada Cowan and Howard lliggin of Colonel Frederick Palmer •celebrated novel, 11 Invisible Wounds.” Howard Higgin is also responsible for the direction.