BRILLIANT COMEDY

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12604, 15 November 1926, Page 8

BRILLIANT COMEDY

ENGLISH COMPANY OPENS TOMORROW NIGHT. Without doubt the big successes of the English stage visit these shores at intervals that are all too rare, and thus the advent of the new English Comedy Company, which opens its season at the Grand Opera House tomorrow night, has keyed local theatregoers to a pitch of great expectatiox*. Mr Joseph Cunningham, who has been responsible for the organising of the company, was fortunately able to gather together a number of the most famous players of the present generation, and in addition has been able to secure the rights to some of the greatest works of recent years. The initial production, Frank Hudson’s “The Unfair Sex,” is a brilliant example of the type of new comedy that is creating greater interest than any other class of modern play. It is a happy combination of farce and satire, and its New Zealand premiere comes at the same time as it is being acclaimed by the critics of America. Commenting on the opening performance by the company in Australia, a Sydney paper 6tates“Every possible laugh was obtained from the snappy dialogue of the farce. Honours go on this occasion to Frank Bradley Randall, the ‘postShavin,' as ho describes himself, with an engaging drawl. His exclamation of ‘ticketty-tock’ as he liberally helped himself to a decanter became positively hilarious as the comedy proceeded. Miss Bateman was at all times oonvincing as the woman who was nearly landed in the divorce court as the result of one innocent kiss. Tht talented English actress gave a thoroughly artistic performance. Equalh at home was Campbell Copelin as her husband, a hot-tempered young man. who eagerly fell for the schemes of his uncle, and who’ excelled in the part. It was a joy to hear Miss Henrietta Cavendish speak English. Not one word of the witty Miss Delisse was missed.” The box plans for the production are now open at the Bristol.