Jean Aylwin (1885-1964)

"WHO'S THE LADY?"
By Jose G. Levy.
Produced at The Garrick Theatre - 22nd November, 1913.
Review from The Daily Mail (London) - 24th November, 1913.

VERY FRENCH FARCE AT THE GARRICK - TOO MUCH UNDRESSING

"Who's the Lady?" adapted from "La Presidente," by MM. Henniquin and Voter, has the merit of being short, but it cannot also be said to be sweet. The unpleasantness of the typical Palais-Royal farce may indeed well account for the fact that it did not meet with unqualified approval when produced at the Garrick Theatre on Saturday evening. A few years ago the writers of vaudeville were obsessed with the idea of a bedroom scene. Nowadays they think it funnier to make someone partially undress in a sitting-room, as in the royal and ancient game, of "spoof." But the authors of "The President's Wife" better the instruction by making two people, both women, do this, and afterwards exchange dresses. Nor can they plead the exigencies of the situation, since that would have been every bit as funny if an exchange of hats only bad been made.

In order to work up to this excruciating piece of humour M. Tricointe, who is not the President of the Republic but of a small provincial court, is forced to pass off Mlle. Gobette, a comic opera star, on M. Gaudet, the Minister of Justice, as Mme. Tricointe. The actress, who has "a mission for making love" which is almost psychopathic, soon fascinates the inflammable minister and they have a flirtation duet with lighted, candles, both of which eventually go out, leaving them and the audience in the dark.

UNEQUIVOCAL

Calling at the Ministry of Justice, Gobette sheds her dress and then plays an embarrassing game of puss in the corner with Gaudet, his private secretary, and Tricointe. It seems hard, however, that the highly respectable Mme. Tricointe should have to take off her dress, so as to secure the judicial advancement of her husband. But, curiously enough, the one really comic incident in this worse than equivocal scene is quite harmless. It is when Gobette, by means of the official waste-paper basket, converts herself into a woman with the wicker mask.

Ultimately, of course, Gaudet discovers the truth, whereupon he exclaims in a tone of disillusionment, "And I thought I had realised the dream of every Cabinet Minister - to be loved by a real lady." To this remark a section of the audience illogically gave a local application, and indignantly indicated that politics are barred except at Christmas.

Mr. J. G. Levy, who bravely took a call, has adapted the piece in a rough and ready fashion, trying hard to get rid of its most flagrant improprieties, but leaving a residuum of unwholesome suggestion and double entente. Moreover, the scene being in Paris, it is destructive of the illusion to talk about the Attorney-General's and a judge's wig.

MISS JEAN AYLWIN'S SUCCESS

If good acting could save a worthless piece the brilliant individual and collective work of the Garrick Theatre cast should keep "Who's the Lady?" in the bill for some time. Miss Jean Aylwin, who was altogether charming as Gobette, had no difficulty in showing what an accomplished actress this most outrageous of flirts was. Her delicate art, indeed, all but trasmuted base metal into pure gold, and thus made it by so much the more attractive.

The Mme. Tricointe of Miss Millie Hylton was every inch the magistrate's wife, though not ashamed of having been his cook. As her daughter, who has forgotten French, Miss Faye Compton spoke German with a true Hanoverian accent and looked so pretty that one easily understood how the Minister's secretary - neatly played by Mr. Charles Troode - fell in love with her at first sight. They have an original declaration scene in which Mr. Fred Eastman acted comically as a police interpreter. Miss Violet Gould as Tricointe's oafish maidservant had an infectious laugh, and Miss Minnie Terry was picturesque as Gaudet's discarded sweetheart. Mr. Farren, Soutar made the Minister of Justice an amusing but withal dignified figure. As Tricointe Mr. E. Dagnall once more proved himself an admirable comedian, Mr. Arthur Hatherton made the usher who delights in annoying his chief a humorous eccentric of the first water, and Mr. Frank Collins gave a not only clever but also natural study of a long-suffering official who is finally driven to revolt by the Minister's perpetual changes of mind.

G. M.

"A SCRAPE O' THE PEN"
By Graham Moffat
Produced at the Comedy Theatre, September 4th, 1912.
Review from Playgoer and Society Illustrated - Volume VII, No. 37.

For seven years Jean Lowther had been married to Hugh Menzies. They were happy together, and both friends of Mattha and Leezie Inglis. Mattha and Leezie were a couple who had reached old age after the strict life of the country Scottish villager, soured a little, perhaps, but quite lovable for their simplicity and faith. They had had some trouble during their life - trouble that hurt all the more by reason of its being mentioned so seldom. Mr. and Mrs. Inglis had a son, but he had turned out a thoroughly bad lot. In desperation the irate father had turned him from his door, and nothing had been heard of him since. Now Jean Lowther had loved that son, and had secretly married him just before he left his home. Discovering how he had been false to a woman, however, Jean decided to forget him. She had been married according to Scotch custom, the only record being an attestation by two witnesses. Husband and wife had a signed copy of the document.

When Jean decided to marry Hugh she destroyed her paper, thinking that was the end of it. One day a visitor arrived at Honeyneuk Farm. She wanted to discover the relations of a certain Alec Inglis. A pocket-book belonging to him had come into her possession. Inside the pocketbook was Alec's marriage document! When Mattha and Leezie Inglis heard the terrible news they were much upset. Mattha, with his strict Scotch conscience, was all for telling Hugh, but Leezie 's heart got the better of her, and she was in favour of letting things stay as they were. Why should the happiness of two people be destroyed because of that slip of paper? Men always thought too much of "a scrape o' the pen"! The matter was decided finally by Alec Inglis, who turned up quite unexpectedly. At first he threatened to claim his right. Jean was his lawful wife. But his mother used her sweetest and most persuasive powers, and the aged parents, relying upon their son's good nature, handed him the document that had been found in his pocket-book. Alec thought it over for a few moments, and then, quietly walking to the fireplace, he tore the paper up and threw the fragments into the flames.

"A Scrape o' the Pen" was not, perhaps, another "Bunty." Mr. Graham Moffat set himself a standard, and if he does not write up to it he has only himself to blame. There is no reason why "A Scrape o' the Pen" should not be a considerable success, for the acting is faultless. Mr. Moffat's performance alone was worth a visit, while Mrs. Moffat as Leezie Inglis was just delightful. Miss Jean Aylwin has joined the company, and she was far more at home in the part of Jean Lowther than in a musical comedy role. The cast also included Mr. Alfred Brydone, Miss Margaret Noble, Miss Agnes Miller, Mr. Joseph Barker, Mr. Will Jaxone, and Mr. Norman MacOwan.