Cynical Lonsdale

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 846, 14 December 1929, Page 31

Cynical Lonsdale

“THE SHERIDAN OF THE MODERN STAGE” LATEST LONDON SUCCESS Frederick Londsdale—“the Sheridan of the modern stage” his leading actor called him in a speech of thanks after the London premiere of “Canaries Sometimes Sing,” at the Globe Theatre recently—has achieved another bx-illiant little masterpiece of cynical - persiflage. In it he takes an old situation of two unhappily married couples and twists it into unrecognisably new shapes. First one husband thinks he has grounds for divorce. Instead of being upset, he does everything he can do to help it along, but for the sake of tradition, makes the conventional scene after the discovery. Then the other one believes he has been deceived and turns, from a prospective co-respondent, into a wrathful husband. It is the airiest trifle, but such is the author’s ingenuity that he keeps you guessing with each impudent twist and turn.

Moreover, it is alive with sparkling epigram and quick-fire repartee, in which Mr. Lonsdale makes fun of public-school shibboleths, playwrights, typical English gentlemen, the suburbs, feminine hypocrisy, and anything that strikes his fancy. The acting was as polished as the play. Ronald Squire, as the egotistical playwright, Yvonne Arnaud, the ex-chorus girl from Streatham with a French accent, Athole Stewart, a dull Lothario, and Mabel Sealby, the affected poseuse, w-ere an entertaining quadrilateral—with the canary who was occasionally apostrophised to sing, giving them full throated support.

“The old melodrama, “Ten Nights in a Bar-room, or Ruined by Drink,” is to be revived at Christmas at the Gate Theatre, London. Songs of the period, “Why Did They Dig Ma’s Grave So Deep?” and “Come, Birdie, Come,” will be introduced. One of the most animated musical comedies ever presented in Australia and New Zealand is “Whoopee,” which will open at His Majesty’s Theatre on Boxing Night. Some of the prominent parts in this merry musical and dancing extravaganza, are those of Henry Williams, who provides most of the fun; Sally Morgan, who utters witty sayings and sings charming songs: Mary Custer, who also sings and dances freqeuntly throughout this attractive production. Wanenis is a most interesting role associated with a series of novel and picturesque stage settings. Black Eagle is another dramatic character in a very big cast. The ballet makes its many appearances in a variety of highly attractive numbers and the whole play, which was a Ziegfeld production in New York, has been built up most ingeniously for picturesque and animated effects.