STATE THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 February 1941, Page 2

STATE THEATRE

"CHARLEY'S AUNT.” • Arthur Askey, the English comedian, has become so well known to New Zealanders through his radio sketches that it must prove interesting to see him more or less in the tlesh in "Charley's Aunt.” which will be shown tonight. "Charley's Aunt” is a modernised version of the stage favourite of the same name, which created such a success almost a generation ago and which is still quoted. The original story has been slightly tampered with, to meet present-day outlooks and conventions, but loses nothing by this process. "Charley’s Aunt” still creates some amusing and preposterous situations. Arthur Linden Jones is a cheerful Oxford graduate who shares his rooms and his fortunes with two other young men. one who goes by the good old English name of Brown, and the other a good-looking and romantic young man who is in love with the daughter of the dean. The trio gets into serious trouble with the powers that rule their destiny and are in serious danger of being sent down. Arthur leaps to the rescue with a story of a pathetic old aunt, who suffers from heart attacks and who will almost surely suffer another if she finds her nephew is in disgrace. When the dean hears that this mythical aunt is an arrant egyptologist with plenty of money, he thinks it might be a good idea to cultivate her acquaintance, so lets the culprits oil' with a caution and promptly writes to the aunt and seeks to make her acquaintance. When the lads hear of this development, frantic efforts are made to stop the letter, and it is decided that Arthur, who has been extremely successful as a female impersonator in the amateur dramatic club, should now impersonate the aunt. Complications add to their trials when the real aunt turns up. but in the Jong run everything ends as it should, in a happy frame of mind. A good supporting programme includes a number of topical items.