“WHAT HAPPENED TO JONES.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 3 February 1917, Page 4

“WHAT HAPPENED TO JONES.

A good house greeted Cue WilloughFarce Company last night* Hall, when that extravagantly funny farce “What Happened to Jones” was staged, with Mr. W illoughby in the title role. From the rising of the curtain to the finale Cue fun was fast and uproarious, thcfaice fairly sparkling with comical situations and humorous sayings. There was not a dull moment during the evening. hue plot centres round Jones, who travels as a salesman of hymn-books, and who carries playing cards as a side line. Richard Hetherly persuades Professor Goodly to atj tend a prize fight, during which Lie ! police break in and the spectators rap- : idly disperse. The police get on tie | track of the Professor and Dick, no * find themselves in the company of | Jones. The three fugitives arrive at I the Goodly household in a dilapidated I state, and just as they are congratulating themselves on their escape, the police put in an appearance. Jonas, the resourceful, daringly assumes the j clerical garb of the Bishop of Ball aval, I brother of Professor Goodly, who is i expected cn a visit. Thus disguised he deceives the female portion of •he ; Goodly houshold, and baffles the guar- . dians of the law, but his unecclesiastical proceedings give a glimpse of his : real personality. The humorous posi- ; tiens are accentuated by the arrival of I the real prolate, and the advent of an ; escaped lunatic. The comical situaj tiens crowd so fast one after the other, and affairs get so mixed up that Jones i might well ask, “Where am I?” Mr. I George Willoughby excelled himself . in the character of .Tones, and quickly I put himself cn good terms with the i audience, his acting and facial play beI ing inimitable. Arthur Albert, as Eb- | enezer Goodly, was quite successful, I while his singing and dancing was i much appreciated by the audience. As i Dr. Anthony Goodly (Bishop of Bali iarat) Harry Halley, though a somel what minor character in the farce, did justice to his part. Frank Brookes, as Richard Ketherley, the sweetheart of Marjorie Goodly, made a splendid low . er, and his chagrin at the attentions of Jones to his fiancee very amusing. ; Miss Dale, as Mrs. Goodly (wife of the Professor proved an adept in the art of managing her husband, who, by the way, did not desire to be The part of Cissy (ward of toe Professor was acted with spirit by Miss June Addell. This charming and vivacious little Philistine quite captivated the audience with her singing, dancing and acting, and scon established herself as a prime favourite. Miss Edna Seaton, as Marjorie (the romantic daughter of Professor Gcodiy, with a : passion for poetry), acted her part in a manner that left nothing to be desired, i The part of Alvina Starlight, the senti- : mental spinster of uncertain age, was allotted to Miss Florence Failing, and the way she played up to Jones (who was posing as the Bishop of Ballarat —• her old lover) was screamingly funny, and the audience were convulsed with laughter. The minor parts were taken

very creditably. During the evening songs and dances were dovetailed between the different incidents. “You’ll Meet Her in the Summer Time” was sung by Miss Edna Seaton very charm ingiy, while Mr. Willoughby brought down the house with “Good Resolutions.” The duet, “In the Morning,” was rendered in a tasteful manner, while the duet “My Anthony,” by Mr. Willoughby and Miss Fairing, was too funny for words, the antics of the pair being most mirth-provoking. The whistling solo, “That Haunting Melody,” by Miss Addell, was undoubtedly the gem of the evening, the vocalist singing and acting with a charnV and vivacity that captivated her listeners, and it was with reluctance they let her go. A trio, “Wedding Bells for Two,” by Miss Seaton and Messrs Willoughby and Brookes, was not the least enjoyable item of the evening. The playing of the National Anthem brought to a conclusion one of the most mirth-provoking entertainments that Taihape theatre-goers have had the good fortune to listen to. At the interval it was announced that the company would pay a return visit to Taihape at the latter end of March, when that funniest of farces, “Why Smith Left Heme,” will be staged. —— !