THE THEATRE
°Jenny Jones." At the London Hippodrome.--.. Happy and Glorious." At the Palladium. .
WE all know the fate which befalls authors whose novels or stories are" adapted " as musical plays or films. But we need not feel sorry for them as we may presume they are well paid for the right to turn their work into something different, and, at least, the original work always remains. I cannot believe that Mr. Rhys Davies, from some of whose stories the musical play of Jenny Jones has been adapted, can have put into these stories nothing better than the inconsequent maundering Mr. George Black here presents. True, the story is only a peg on which to hang the decor, the dresses and the music, but I found none of these attractive enough to draw my attention from the silliness of the plot. In fact, if Jenny Jones draws the public for long I shall be compelled to believe that it is Mr. Black's unexpected surprises and not his achievements that fascinate the public. About his enterprise there can be no doubt. His previous Hippo- drome production, Lisbon Story, was also a venture outside the con- ventional pattern, and if he goes on experimenting he may one day give us something outstandingly good and new. But to do this he will have to exercise more discrimination. Welsh local colour is merely daubed on. The Morgan Family is about as Welsh as Purcell's "Nymphs and Shepherds," while Mr. Harold Purcell failed completely in the insipid and tiresome Episode in Havannah. Much less interesting, nevertheless, though much more successful in effect, is the new George Black musical funfare, Happy and Glorious, at the Palladium. Some of the dresses are appallingly tasteless, so is Mr. Trinder—but both are much to the liking of the Palladium audience, which goes there to forget such inconveniences as good taste, and to laugh loud and long, and not to exercise any critical faculty it may possess. Yet I was interested to find that the items "Highland Brigade " and " The Guards Brigade," both of which were conspicuous in this show for their beautiful dresses and good music, were enthusiastically applauded by the audience. The Cairoli Brothers have at last introduced some new business, but it is not
very good. I suggest to the more inventive of them to study the comic genius now being displayed over the wireless on alternate
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