A NASTY PLAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 110, 30 July 1927, Page 22

A NASTY PLAY

“THE GARDEN OF EDEN” LONDON’S LATEST SHOCKER The latest shocker in London is “The Garden of Eden, 1 * described by the critics as a nasty play. The following criticism will give readers an idea of its theme. Once again Tallulah Bankhead has been cast for the part of a cabaret girl, fiery, slangy, “forward,” but with a heart of gold and a soul as white as driven snow. “The Garden of Eden,” the new play in which she appeared at the Lyric Theatre, has been a big success in Berlin, and probably those who find an appeal in the sordid and the suggestive and scantily clothed girls, with an occasional “swear word” thrown in. may make the play a big success in London. Certainly Miss Bankhead acts very cleverly as the cabaret girl Toni. She is all fire and energy, and she can get over a dull moment because of her

sense of humour. But her art must suffer if she is forced to act the same kind of part in play after play. A HECTIC PART The first act Is “the dressing-room of an obscure cabaret in Paris,’* and a very hectic act it is. Almost at the beginning Toni practically undresses. This is followed by a scene in which the bad man of the play has her locked in a room at the cabaret and makes evil love to her. His reward is a smack on the face. How Toni is taken to Monte Carlo by a kind-hearted woman who is really a baroness but has sunk to be a dresser at the cabaret; how the pair masquerade as mother and daughter; how a rich young man promises to marry her; and how Toni’s nobility of character enters to destroy any idea cf fraud, make the story of the play. NASTY Most of it is rather ugly. There is scarcely a character which is anything but mercenary. There are some nasty passages. But “The Garden of Eden” will probably have its big public. Eva Moore as the pretended mother contrasted in her gentleness with the wild spirit of Miss Bankhead and with

theatre in Madrid. .ap the vulgar shamelessness c '* . keeper of the cabaret, as play«* Barbara Gott; and Eric Maturin _ , Hugh Williams were others who a well in important parts. aient* The reception given by an chiefly composed of women P* , cheaper parts of the almost hysterical, and Averv H<>P who has adapted the play. and - Bankhead made harmless, unnec speeches.