A MERITORIOUS PERFORMANCE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1433, 11 October 1917, Page 32

A MERITORIOUS PERFORMANCE.

“ELIZA COMES TO STAY.”

The most successful amateur production given in Auckland for some years was the performance of “Eliza Comes to Stay,” held in the Town Hall Concert Chamber last Thursday and Friday under the auspices of the Red Cross branch of the Victoria League in aid of “Our Day” appeal. Unusual interest had been aroused in the event, and at both performances there were crowded and representative audiences, who showed their appreciation in outbursts of applause. The plot of the comedy is light and amusing, and the situations are deftly handled with bright dialogue. Eliza is an orphan who invades the sanctum of a wealthy bachelor to whom she is entrusted by her late father. The bachelor, who is under the impression that she is a mere child, is somewhat staggered at the gauche young woman who is foisted on h.m, and beats a retreat to the Continent. He returns later to find his ward transformed from the ugly duckling to the beautiful swan, and he then becomes contrary because she has become engaged to his best friend. However, it all turns out happily in the end. Lady Walker made a brilrant success of the part o v Eliza, skilfully concealing her own personal charm under the gu se of the plain, unprepossessing orphan, and poi fraying the various phases of the character with a ready sense of value, her

, transition from “safe” to “dangerous” !bo.ng tellingly expressed. Miss Jessie Geddes was particularly good as the managing Lady Elizabeth Pennybroke, and Mrs. Alexander Kinder as Vera Lawrence, an actress on the look out for a husband, made the most of the situations and explo ted some lovely frocks. Mrs. Mackay was quietly effective as the nurse. Mr. A. L. Denniston as the Hon. Sandy Verrail proved himself fully equal to the demands put on him as Eliza’s guardian and got every ounce of comedy out of them. Mr. F. E. de Guerrier gave a strikingly good study of the elderly lover, Montague Jordan. Mr. Wallace Atkinson, as Sandy’s father, Mr. J. H. G. Mackay as the butler, and Mr. Robert Geddes, a porter, adequately sustained their parts. Mr. W. J. Crowther proved an able stage manager, and the piece went without a hitch, thanks to the professional knowledge of the producer, Sergeant-Major Herbert J. Bentley. Enjoyable musical selections were given by the 3rd Auckland Mounted Rilles Band, under the baton of Lieutenant H. Seymour. A number of young lady Red Cross workers,

under Mrs. Skipwith. sold sweets and programmes, and acted as ushers. At the conclusion of the performance many beautiful bouquets were handed to those taking part, and in response to repeated calls Mr. Bentley made a short speech of thanks and expressed his appreciation of the loyalty and co-operation of the performers dur ng rehearsals. Instead of it being a hard task, they had all made it extremely easy for him, and it had been a delight to coach them in their respective parts. Mrs. Edmunds capably shouldered the secretarial work and business management of the affair.

Mr. Rud Petersen, who has been appointed manager of King’s Theatre, was presented by the staff of the Lyric Theatre with a gold watch chain and fob as a token of esteem. Mr. Frank Plummer, who has been transferred in a similar capacity to the Lyric, was also the recipient of farewell gifts from his former colleagues at King’s Theatre.