"MERCENARY MARY”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 935, 31 March 1930, Page 16

"MERCENARY MARY”

BRIGHT MUSICAL COMEDY FREDDIE FORBES AGAIN "Mercenary Mary,” a musical comedy in two acts and three scenes. Music by W. B. Friedlander, book by Isobei Leighton and AV. B. Friedlander. p*sented at His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday by Sir Benjamin and ai, John Fuller. CAST Patrick O’Brien Fred Webber Norah _ A’era St. J..,hu Jerry Warner Charles Perrin Peter Webster Garnett Carroll Joan Somers . . .. Aster Fair* Christopher Skinner . .. Freddie Forbe> Sir* Henry Somers, K.C. . Cliff O’Keefe Alary Catherine Stewar; Grandpa Skinner Jack Phillip. Phyllis Webster Betty Laraber Bellamy Shepherd .. .. Frank AVignall If there was any particular feature of the English Musical Comedy Company’s production of ’’Alercenary Man • that could, in itself, be responsible for the success of the well-known comedy it would be the ease with which Mr Forbes slipped into the difficult role of Chris Skinner. It is one of the best parts in musical comedy, though one of the most exacting, and Air. Forbes was excellent. His "I’m a Little Bit Fonder of You,” with Catherine Stewart, was one of the successes of the show. "Alercenary Mary” calls for a greet deal from the cast. The plot leads the principals into all sorts of unusual and intriguing entanglements, and the opportunities for reallj* good com. edy work were not missed by the company on Saturday. The music from "Alercenary Mary’* is as familiar as that of any musical comedy, and all the old favourites, par-

ticularly "Honey I’m in Love With You,” and “Tie a String Around Your Finger,” were enthusiastically received by the large audience. The quartet, which was so successful as an extra attraction in “Sunny,” increased its popularity with three numbers, the last being an old favourite —“Bridget O’Flynn.” The quartet was Messrs. Perrin, O'Keefe, Wignail and Webber. As Mary, Aliss Stewart was an undoubted success. Her singing, particularly with Air. Forbes, was all that could be desired, and her comedy work was fresh and vivacious. Her drinking scene with Charles Perrin was an hilarious episode. Air. Perrin was a sprightly young man about town, and his best work was his singing with Aliss Aster Faire. To Aliss Faire fell the majority of the favourite numbers, particularly "Honey, I’m in Love With You,” and “Thinking of You.” As an aged but sprightly grandpa, Mr. Phillips found it difficult to disguise his youthful voice. His "They All Look Good to Ale” was a bright effort. The dancing was of a high standard and Aliss Alain was received with enthusiasm for her specialty work. A well-trained ballet ably supported her Freddie Forbes seems to be favoured with a good-humoured company. On Saturday the audience was given tlr happy impression that those on the stage were enjoying the show as wek as anybody else in the theatre. There was none of that ghastly mechanical fixity in the smiles of the ballet. But then, of course, the members of the company were left in no doubt as to whether they had pleased their audience, and that must have helped a greadeal.