ALLAN WILKIE COMPANY

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 2 September 1920, Page 3

ALLAN WILKIE COMPANY

AT THE LYRIC-MONDAY NEXT

Gisborne is known throughout the profession in Australasia as a good "show" town, and this fact was never better exemplified t!ian last evening when the Opera House was filled to overflowing with theatre goers, the attraction being H. K. Maltby's great comedy "The Rotters," staged by the Allan Wilkic Comedy Company (states the Gisborne Times.)

In "The Rotters'' Mr Wilkie made a wise selection, for the play is an up-to-date comedy of the best type, and with its smart sayings and ludicrous situations arising from the most commonplace scenes causes continual roars of laughter throughout the three acts. The story deals witli the domestic life of John Clugston, J.P., a self-made self-opinionated, smug and pompous little man, whose motto is "respectability." The introduction of a good-looking chauffeur into the household leads to a compromising situation with the elder daughter; the younger one, a flapper, is expelled from school because of her flirting propensities ; and the son is lodged all night in a cell on a drunk and disorderly charge. These blows fall singly upon the respectable. Clugston, and he lectures each culprit and deals with each in a manner satisfactory to himself if not to the others Later his wife confesses that she had "an affair" in her early days, but still the pompous head of the house struts about and tells them to mark his respectability. Then the denouement comes, and a few minutes later sees the "respectable" Clugston at the mercy of all his victims. How that arrives would not be fair to the dramatist to disclose, but it is sufficient to cause joy in the household.

As Clugston, Henri Dorc, well-known as one of the "stars" of the Allan Wilkie Co. here a few months ago, gave an excellent portrayal of the Yorkshireman who has risen from th« ranks by means of his money. Clugston holds the stage for the greater part of the play and in mannerisms, dressing, acting, and dialect Mr Dorc filled the bill capably and well. Fred Browne as the chauffeur had much work to do, but at times a certain "stiffness" obtruded itself into his acting, notably in his love scenes, Bernard Beeby gave a good impersonation of the son, and Walter Plinge made a satisfactory constable. As the flapper daughter Mildred Brown was seen in a character that appeared made for her, vivacious action, light-hearted gaiety and irresponsibility being alike admirably interpreted. H[eb.a Barlow caused roars of laughter by her acting and lines as the wife, and Miriam Osborne m,ade an attractive elder daughter, whose appealing ways end in the surrender of' the chauffeur. Fanny Kutner as the housemaid, a.nd Jessie Scot as the strange lady, were also very satisfactory.

"The Rotters" will be staged at the Lyric on Monday evening next. See full particulars in advt. on second page.