“DADDY LONGLEGS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 122, 13 August 1927, Page 15

“DADDY LONGLEGS”

SENTIMENTAL CHARM RENEE KELLY’S FAREWELL “Daddy Longlegs,” a play in four acts, adapted from Jean Webster’s! novel of that name, was presented at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening by J. C. Williamson. CAST Jervis Pendleton .. . . .. Hylton Allen. James Mcßride Ronald Ward. Cyrus Wvkoff .. .. Reginald Wykeham. John Codman .. Jack Dunne. Miss Pritchard . . .. Margaret Damer. Mrs. Pendleton Ruby Reynolds. Julia Pendleton .. .. Dorothy Marler. Sally Mcßride Phyllis Best. Mrs. Semple Emma Temple. Mrs. Lippett Gwen Burroughs. .Judy Renee Kelly. Children in the John Grier Home: Esme Cannon, Kathleen Boyle, Loraa Kaye, Wilma Lockwood, George Boyle, Joyce Cain. With “Daddy Longlegs,” Miss Kelly has achieved a record. She has played Judy Abbott in every Englishspeaking country in the world. Tlie play has sentimental value, and moments of light humour, but there is little depth in it. What there is is placed there by Miss Kelly and Mr. Allen. “Daddy Longlegs” will probably be revived in after years at Christmastime. It is that kind of play. Thanks to the fourth dimension of the theatre, the audience, with a full knowledge of the facts, can watch the tender little love affair growing and growing until Judy finally surrenders to her “Daddy Longlegs.” And that little love affair could not have grown in more skilful hands. It was done

with that necessary emotion, that necessary touch of restraint, those signs which set all the tender-hearted members of the audience sighing and laughing. Jean Webster’s story of the man who fell in love with his ward, whom he had removed from an orphanage to a girls’ college, is known by everyone in the English-speaking world. Although Jervis Pendleton had confessed his love, Judy did not know until the last act that he was the “Daddy Longlegs” who sent her presents and made life happy. Thanks to Miss Kelly’s capable acting. "Daddy Longlegs” does not descend to the purely sentimental. Judy is the part which helped to make her famous, and she can still filay it with grace and charm. Mr. Allen gave us another sound performance, though the part w«£s comparatively easy for him. Miss Temple gave a delightful character study, as she always does. Mr. Ward has a youthfulness which is infectious. Miss Marler and Miss Best donned their girlish frocks with a girlish air. and were quite at home. The rest of the cast gave all the necessary support to invest this pretty play with the sentiment which first made it a good box office proposition. The last performance of the season will be given this evening.