VANBRUGH AND BOUCICAULT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 564, 17 January 1929, Page 15

VANBRUGH AND BOUCICAULT

“ON APPROVAL” TO-NIGHT “Belinda,” that bright entertaining comedy by A. A. Milne, attracted another crowded house at His Majesty r s Theatre last evening, when the comedy was presented for the last time. As the vivacious and flirtatious Belinda, Miss Irene Vanbrugh was responsible for another excellent performance, her work in association with that incomparable artist, Mr. Dion Boucicault, keeping the audience in an almost continuous chuckle. A high standard of acting was also maintained by a strong supporting cast. TO-NIGHT'S PIECE Tonight, and to-morrow and Saturday evenings, and on Saturday afternoon, the J. C. .Williamson Ltd. management will present Miss Irene Vanbrugh and Mr. Dion Boucicault, with their new English company, in Frederick Lonsdale’s clever and original comedy, “On Approval,” which has proved one of the most successful plays staged during recent years. ‘"There are two decent people in the play,” wrote a Sydney critic, “Helen Hayle (Rowena Ronald) and Richard Halton (J. B. Rowe), and two selfish egotists, Mrs. Wislack, a widow (Irene Vanbrugh) and the Duke of Bristol, a social parasite (Dion Boucicault), whose trustees have condemned him to marry for money as his only hope of salvation. The dialogue is sparkling, brilliant, and original, but this is only to be expected, as Lonsdale’s work in “Aren’t Wo All?” and “Spring Cleaning” are both from this author’s clever pen. Dion Boucicault supplies most of the humour as the cynical, supercilious Duke of Bristol, always joking about his failing fortunes, and the record of his family’s marital infidelities. “tie played,” wrote a Sydney critic, “with zest, and made of his ducal folly the folly that glitters,” Miss Irene Vanbrugh delineates with accomplished art the character of Mrs. Wislack, the rich widow, so cautious about her second venture in matrimony. It- is said that she brilliantly reconciles Mrs. Wislack’s light-hearted temperament and sense of humour with her shrewish irritation about trifles like tobacco ash on the floor, and the failure of Halton to send an unimportant telegram irritation which stings Halton to resentment, and excites the duke to his furious declaration, “That is the most unreasonable women that the world has ever known.” Miss Rowena Ronald and Mr. J. B. Rowe scored outstanding successes in “On Approval” in Australia. On Mondav next, and two following nights, “Nell o’ New Orleans” will be revived, and on Thursday next and two following evenings “Mr. Pim Passes By” will be staged.