"Tilly of Bloomsbury"
The reception accorded to "Tilly of Bloomsbury" at the Olympic Theatre last Friday suggested that might prosper for a much longer period than three nights.
The old is ever new provided it is old enough. The methods used in this play to draw laughter are as old as modern farce. Yet there is more than enough humour to tickle the average risibility, some very charming sentimental interludes and brilliant dialogue.
in this representation of Tan Hay's now famous farcical comedy—for it is not quite pure farce and much more interesting—the acting is exceedingly good. Honours were almost equally divided, but a word must be said for Mr. Andrew Higginson's magnificent portrait of Stillbottle. He causes much amusement as the bibulous broken down Sheriff's Officer, who so lamentably fails to reflect glory on the Welwyns when induced to pose as the old family retainer. Miss Minnie Rayner is to be congratulated on an excellent study of Tilly's mother, while in the name-part Miss Jane Comfort gave an admirable performance, making the heroine much more a girlist. creature of real flesh and blood than. one expects io such productions.
"Daddy Longlegs"
The New English Farcical Comedy Company gave an entirely admire able performance of, "D. cly Longlegs" at the Olympic Theatre on Thursday. As Jean Webster's book runs when interpreted for the stage, two characters overshadow all others, those of Jervis Pendleton and Judy Abbott, and the success or otherwise of a production depends greatly on their presentation. On Thursday they were all that could be desired. Miss Jan Comfort achieved fresh laurels by her vivacious acting, qualified always by sympathy and a realization of the ever possible tragedy of the part, and Mr. Winnington Barnes was big and big-hearted as Pendleton.
The fact that these two played their reles so well ensured in large measure the success of the production, but the way the others took the surrounding parts was 1mportant in only @ slightly lesser degree. Without the atmosphere they created, it would have been impossible for the two principals to have scored the success they did. Thus we must add compliments for the scene in which the trustees review the girls in gingham, the cheerful room in the college precincts and the equally well thougfit out episodes in the farm and study, The whole was very well done.
A gratifying feature of the evening was the tribute of flowers which enthusiastic theatre-goers in Shanghai paid to those who did their parts so very well.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.