THEATRE ROYAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 10 March 1927, Page 12

THEATRE ROYAL.

“ELIZA. COMES!”—TO-NIGHT. To-11 iglit, under the direction i.f Dick \i lute and Erie Eug.ey, tin; Joseph Cunningham cmim-oy Company, with Zumih Baie,n..n as luadnig lady, will pay a return visit to Hie '.liioatro jauvu! lor one night only, when they will produce the well-known London comedy tsucce.-vi ".Eliza Come.s to Stay. ’ No doubt there are many theatregoers who remember this popular company lor the excellent impression they created some weeks ago in “The lint air Sex.” ill. their new production, “Eliza Conies to Stay,” the public will again have -he opportunity of meeting the original company. In E. V. Esmond’s dehghtl'ul comedy, Eliza is a. female young person of uncertain age, who is will.ul to the care of the Hon. Sandy Veirall v the dying lather, who • once saved Sandy’s life. Sandy expects a toyloving, golden-haired girl to arrive at his bachelor llat, but, instead comes a bn If oon-1 ike hoyden, spectacled, straw lint, unspeakable ankles, offset with a simpering giggle. This vision, Eliza, represents the extreme of uncomeliness, and Vera Lawrence, an actress, or wonld-bo actress, engaged to Sandy, for mercenary motives, provides the counterfooil of elegant artificiality. As the inevitable light between Eliza and Vera, concerning Sandy, develops, it is evident that- the waif is fast gathering beauty, toilet, and accomplishments —but before her metamorphosis has properly set in, Sandy has /led to the Continent, to escape the embarrassing situation. Meanwhile, Eliza—whose name, as she polishes up, is polished into Dorothy—makes such progress in all the graces and sunn of tin; arte, that Sandy’s friend. Monty Jordan, her musical instructor, falls in love with her, and as he is a faded bachelor, while Sandy is a very fresh one, trouble develops on tills account on Sandy’s return. Tt follows, of course, that the poor, nervous honest “Monty” gets the go-bv. The whole plav pivots on Eliza, whose transllation froin gawk to girleen, and then to a cultured beauty is very .startling. In he part of Eliza, Miss Bateman finds a very unusual opportunity for comedy and -she rises to the occasion in a very admirable maimer. She introduces “Annie La uric” in the second act. Ar, Sandy, Campbell Copebn lends charm to the part, while Frank Bradley handles the difficult part of Montague Jordan in a, style which proves him *u> be an actor of high ability. Another excellent characterisation is that of Miss Henrietta Cavendish, in the role of Lady Penriybroke. who is to the :: te the sharp, aristocratic and bniscitie old dowager. Mis« Sylvia Clifton, in h e part of Vera Lawrence, the actress, adds a realistic touch, and deserving of special mention is the acting of Miss Barraelough, as the nurse, f-nd Claude Carter, as Alexander Stoop Vernll, Sandy’s uncle. The plans are at the Bristol.