HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19997, 14 January 1927, Page 13

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

“The Sport of Kings” was presented at His Majesty’s Theatre by the Joseph Cunningham New Comedy Company last evening for the last_ time before a large audience. The play is full of humour from start to finish. As Amos Purdie, J.P., head of Newstead Grange, Mr Frank Bradley was excellent, and his work all through stamped him as an accomplished actor. Mr Joseph Cunningham, as Spriggs, was responsible for most of the comedy work, and Miss Zillah Bateman, as Purdie’s secretary, carried her work through in a manner which left nothing to be desired. “ELIZA COMES TO STAY.” It is the opinion of many theatregoers that “Eliza Comes to Stay,” which will be staged to-night and to-morrow night, is the best of the three comedies which are being produced during their season here. In all the towns which this popular company has played this particular comedy everyone has said the same, and Dunedin patrons will probably endorse the opinion of the North 'lsland. In this piece Miss Zillah Bateman, who has made so many friends during her short stay here, has a particularly heavy role to play, but she acquits herself admirably. The play was written E. V. Esmond, and at its first production in London it was acclaimed by all critics to be the funniest farce since Charley’s Aunt. There seems to be a popular appeal in the story of the waif who becomes a perfect lady and marries the man of her choice. That briefly is the story of “Eliza,” and it should leave the Dunedin audience thoroughly satisfied with the manner in which Miss Bateman portrays the many moods of “Eliza” before she becomes the perfect lady. The play will be for two nights only, and the season finishes tomorrow night. The box plan is at the Bristol.