HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19996, 13 January 1927, Page 15

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

“THE SPORT OF KINGS.”

Brightness is the outstanding quality of “The Sport of Kings,” which is being presented at His Majesty’s Theatre by the Joseph Cunningham New Comedy L°mpany The play was written by lan Hay, and' in the matter of humour ho has given of his best. The story mainly concerns Amos Purdie. J.P., head of Newstead Grange, the occupants of which have very strongly ingrained in them the gambling spirit. Purdie, however, is an exception. During the w r ar he has built up a large fortune, but his greed for money has been in no way abated, and. any scheme which is likely to improve his financial position he welcomes as ho would a long-lost brother. Purdie finds that two of his visitors, Algernon Spriggs and Sir Reginald Toothhill, are “punters,” and he is about to eject them when Spriggs tells him that money can be made out of horscracing, Purdie quietly invests a £lO note on a horse which has been given to Spriggs as a “sure thing.” The return on the investment is such that the owner of the Grange enters heart and soul into the new method of money-making, but before long his calculations show that ho has lost £4OOO. Then he sots about attempting to regain his lost investments, and the manner in which he does it provides some of the best comedy seen at the theatre for a considerable time. As Amos Purdie, Mr Frank Bradley is excellent, and his work all through is worthy of the highest praise. Mr Joseph Cunningham, as Spriggs, is responsible for most of the' comedy work, and he carries his work through in a manner which shows him to be an actor of considerable ability. Miss Zillah Bateman, as Purdic’s secretary lends a great deal of charm to the production. “The Snort of Kings” will be repeated to-night^