Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Saturday 16 April 1932, page 17


PLAYERS' CLUB.

"ART AND MRS. BOTTLE."

Benn Levy, In his play "Art and Mrs. Bottle,"

produced at St. James's Hall last night by the Players' Club, writes with the cleverness of a Lonsdale or a Noel Coward, and with almost as much artificiality. Under what conditions could one imagine in real life that a woman who had bolted from her husband and children with one man, and had thrown him aside for another, would, after the lapse of years, return to her home and calmly lecture the members of her family about their duty, as Mrs. Bottle does in this play? It is all very entertaining, but very unconvincing. However, when allow-ance is made for its artificiality, "Art and Mrs. Bottle" derives great interest from the drama-tist's treatment of the character of Mrs. Bottle, who, upon returning home, enters with domin-ating confidence upon the formidable tasks awaiting her. Finding her daughter about to elope with the artist with whom she herself ran away, she promptly stops this adventure, and then, with equal authority, rescues her son from a contemplated marriage with an

artist's model.

Mrs. Doris Williams played decisively and firmly the role of Mrs. Bottle, and made much of tlie climax of the second act, wherein she told the members of the household some home truths. Mr. Edward Cavill gave a clever study as the husband, George Bottle, whose pleasant humour is a feature of the play. Others prominent in the cast were Miss Trixie Gore, Mr. Dudley Swindon, Miss Joyce McTavish, Mr. Jack Appleton, and Mr. Thomas Henery. The settings of the piece were designed by Mr. Raoul Cardamatis, the producer, and were notable for artistic lighting in silhouette effects of the first act and a combination of soft blue tones relieved by a ray of bright sunlight for the background of the last act.

"Art and Mrs. Bottle" is to be repeated on Tuesday and Friday, April 26 and 29.