"THE FLIRTING WIDOW" AT THE GAIETY DE LUXE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 263, 9 December 1930, Page 2

"THE FLIRTING WIDOW" AT THE GAIETY DE LUXE.

■ A eomedy of English life, full of piqunnt humour and complications, and faitbfully portrayed by an alrnqst entirelv Britisb cast, is presented in "The Flivting "Widow." Adapted from "Green Stockings," the stage plav by A. E. W. Mason, "The Flirtiug Widow" is the tale of an umuarried oldest sister, who niust wear green stockipgs as a sign of ber upattacbment. Family traditions do not permit ber younger sister to get mayried until tbe eldest oue is engaged, and so to clear the way for lier young sister's wedding, the elclest announces her marriage to an imaginary anny officer in Arabia, but immediately sbe bas "kiUod" him "Colonel Sipitb" turns up in person. Dorathy Alackaill seems. tq becQine a better i'arcense with evovy succecding film, and in "The Flirtiug Widow," tbe First National pictijre which will be sc.reened for the last time to-uiglit at the Gaiety De Luxe, tbe delectable Dorothy displays all lior variec] talents as a comedienne. "The Flirting Widow" is a briglit little comedy about - tlie difliculties Celia Faraday, a yofing English woman, encount-ers wben, without liaving gone through the forniality of acquiring a. husband, she suddenly announces that she has become a widow. Tbe events tliat transpire wben ait English anny offieer with tbe same name as Celia' s suppasedly b-.te husband appears on the scene are delightfully original and always amdsing. When the pair realise that tliey are really m love, matters become even mpre coniplicatcd ancl correspondingly funny. "Tlie Flirtiug Widow" moves along at a bi'i&k pace and keeps Ihe audience in a jovial luunour. Tbe situations are cleverly constructed and tlie comedy is always spontaneous, never forced. Basil Hatlibone, as Colonel Sniith, tbe officer lehds admirahle aid to Miss Mackaill's liilarious antics .picl satisfact.orily lianclles liis part of tbe romantie interest. William Anstiu, Leila H'yams, C'laude Gillingwatcr, Kinily Fitzroy, Flora Rramley, Antbony Busliell and Wilfred Noy, ihe supporting players, have captured tlie spirit of tbe piece and prove theiiir selves adept at farce. "The Flirtiug Widow" is oue of tbe cleverost comedy-roinances that has come this way in many a moon. Saven splendid ancl specially picked "Sborts," incluJing singing, comedy sketch, instrumental, revue and tlie two latest sound topicals complcte a series wliich has been responsible for attracting capacity business througbout the season. Beats may be reserved at tlie Gaiety or by riuging 'pbon© 3809. "THIS AIAD WORLD," AT GAIETY DE LUXE, WEDNESDAY. A c-onflic-t of duty and love in a war-time setting is portrayed in "This Mad World," wliicli opens for a season of tbvee niglits and tliree matinees at tbo Gaiety De Luxo Theatre to-morrow, Wednesday, at tlie grancl liiatinee at 2.30. It is a war pic-ture, witliont scenes of battle, but with grim tragedy stalking heliind romantie love and just. a little. laugliter. Tbe fine acting of Basil Ratlihone as Paul Parisot, a French spy, wbo bel'ore tlie war lived in Alsace, and Miss Kay Jolinson, as Madame Yictoria, wife of a German officer, produce manv.tense inoments. Briefly, the story is tliat of a spy who is droppcd from an aeroplane hebind tbe German lines in Alsace-Lorraine and tbe German officer's wife wbom be fmds installed in his motlier's bome. Tliey met as enemies, tbey became lovers, tliey died patriots. Tbe unfolding of tbe pbiy gives manv opportunities for the prineipal cbaraeters to illustrate tbe poignant results of porsonal love and patriotic love. Paul Parisot is first sliown as tlie rutbless prpduct o-f tbe "Mad World," in which slaughter is the order of tlie day. Oue life was taken to make possihl© his mission ancl lie helievod he was prepared to take anotlier, tliat of tb© heautiful German girl whose presence menaced liis safety. How love intervened, how patriati«m aghin flamecl up in the German girl's breast so that sbe was prepared to betrav ber new-found lover, ancl how the balance was at last nicely adjusted in this amazing conflict of emotions formed a theme of entliralling interest. An excellent selection of supporting filins is included in tlie programme. Tbe box plan is now open at tbe theatre or 'plione 3809.