Denise Orme (1884-1960)

"The Hon'ble Phil"
By G.P. Huntley and Herbert Clayton.
Produced at The Hicks Theatre.
Reviewed in The Daily Mail (London) - 5th October, 1908.

"The Hon'ble Phil" (produced on Saturday at the Hicks Theatre) is, of course, a philanderer-and more; he is the authtor of the piece, the "star" and stay of the company. Mr. G. P. Huntley, the eye-glass hero of the heavy swell, stage asinine category. A small band of lyricists and musicians have assisted; and the formula is the stock skeleton, with and without flies on it, out of the cupboard of popular musical comedy.

However, "Phil" is not the only philanderer. The real "toff" is Captain Jules de Valery, and his business is to sing the love songs and "get the girl" in approved fashion. These are the candidates for the two rivals Maria (Miss Denise Orme) and Susanne (Miss Julia Sanderson); the scene is an imaginary island, costumes are fantastic - South American Spanish; a valet - the gentleman's gentleman - is the comic relief, while sundry stage types fill in the intervals and lend variety and atmosphere to this strange entertainment.

"Phil," being Mr. G. P. Huntley, requires no introduction or commentary. He ploughs about the stage in his old, delightful way; he is "awfully" clever with his monocle, with his voice, with his points, with himself - and with some of his jokes, too. He is absolutely, superlatively English. There is real fun about him. His whole personality is entirely droll and entertaining. It takes two acts, but somehow he gets Miss Julia Sanderson, plainly an American, whose virtues are a genuine New York freshness and vocal inflexion. I suppose it was her bathing dress which "fetched" Mr. Huntley - such a "cute" confection in which she disported herself very daintily and "conducively."

The other "feller" gets Miss Denise Orme, after the necessary three hours delay caused by the lady's changes of dress, enforced absences from the stage, and pretty exhibits of violin playing; and also because the captain is disguised as a boatman and has to execute the poor man's love act - which he accomplishes very nicely, too, in a nice blue suit and Byronic open collar.

I think that is about all that need be said about the morphology of the plot. Otherwise it is much the same as other similar pieces, though the music may be rather thinner than usual, the story even less complicated, the "roars of laughter" less uproarious and continuous. Among the vocalists Miss Elsie Spain acquired most merit; among the dancers. Miss Dorothy Dunbar. Miss Eva kelly, as Didine, did pleasingly. Quite a number of pretty girls - especially the posse in bathing dress "pantalettes" - I think that is the correct word - provided gentle, coryphee-ic relief; while Mr. Horace Mills as a valet and Mr. Charles Brown as a bon-bon manufacturer were distinctly droll and effective.

Mr. Huntley's humour is "bookish" - you know, of the Turfy kind. Sometimes some very good things are said, but on the whole the piece is rather bare, rambling, incoherent, destitute of "winners" and sensations. It is lavishly staged. As it was a very hot night perhaps all the crackers did not go off. I am sure Mr. Huntley has plenty of reserve in his "book." It is pretty as an effect, though the dresses are not very harmoniously interwoven. Miss Denise Orme favoured pink all the evening, and looked like a pink English rose. Miss Sanderson favoured blue, but there is nothing of the blue stocking about her. The ladies picture hats are big enough even for a matinee. "Phil" himself is the life and soul of it all. Perhaps his vitality is equal to the task before him. And, by the way, the stage seems to be bringing in moustaches again. Both "Phil" and the philanderer won their girls on Hohenzollern "uprights."

A. H.