HIS MAJESTY'S THEATR

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1427, 11 April 1905, Page 3

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATR

MqMAHON’S DRAMATIC COMPAI no I 1 "THE SUNNY SOUTH.” I Last night—before a crowded house I the above capable combination ma I its first appearance in Gisbori j the pieoe produced being “ T j Sunny South.” The thrilling Incidents j thi9 drama, which is written by Mr Darn j himself, offered splendid scope to oai le I m . era her of the Company to display hi 11 I 4r ' on ’° °nd elocutionary ability, i,- I Speaking of tho performance of tl j drama tho New Zealand Herald states I “ With tho clever author of tho piece i “ j the principal role, tho interest in its prf I sentation was naturally inoreased, M I Darrell being an actor of such a wide ex I perienoe that it was only to be expectei j the performance would be of a high stand j ard. Under his direction tho company I worked well together, and obtained artistii 5 J success of a not too common order. Theii . I aoting was always natural and within ! j bounds, even the more melodramatic , I phases of the drama being presented withI out undue exaggeration. As a consequence I an evenly balanced performance was witj nessed, completely justifying the applause I that a very large house bestowed upon the I company at frequent opportunities. Exj oellent mounting also had not a little to do I with the very favorable impression that j was undoubtedly made. “ The Sunny I South” is one of those somewhat too scarce I dramatic plays, constructed upon a disI tinctly wholesome motive. Healthy eenI timent, and maDy a human 'touch of pathos, pervades its interesting story. Its I characters are studies from life, they !do natural things, and speak natural I thoughts; its sensations are not unreal I nor wholly impossible; Its humour is clean and breezy, whilst the general atmos-, j pbere is bright, • vigorous and attractive. I Mr Darrell ■ has written in this drama J many an effective situation, his oonstruo- I tive skill being shown in every act. Some I of his soenes are instinct with subtle I humanity, of touching quality, without I descending to claptrap methods, and mak- I iag an inevitable appeal, because of their I virility and depth. Such a play is always I welcome, because it presents human nature I without caricaturing it, and because it tells J a tale that will never have any but a I sealtby influence upon that large percent- I tge of people who take their theatrics! fare I ieriou3ly. Another feature in connection j vith the " Sunny South ” is its Australian | g lackground, a feature that is made use of I 1 a such a way as to give it a peculiar fas- I ? ination for colonial audiences. For the I t est, it contains incidents sensational and I J ramatic, pathetic and laughable, exciting I £ nd exhilarating, and all are well con- Ij, rasted. In short, it is a piece npon which Ij] ee anther is to be congratulated, not lerely for his own share in it, but also I a pon the capable support the present com- I y any give him.” I at The curtain bad to bo raised two or three I j e mes after each of the five acts, the I h imaxes of tho third act (she attempted j S£ ink robbery) and fourth act (the fight in S £ ie bush) creating particularly marked pl ithusiasm. Mr Darrell played with rare I ct as Mat -Morley. His work in the j y( •ogress of the play was of that cool, unffled, and natural order that carried j B j mble the conviction that any gtviDg.way |. mere “ heroics ” would have done. He I is very fine in several dramatic situa- I ins,.never over-acting, but always having I mething in reserve. A telling speech I is Mat’s relation.of an incident in the I m aoriwar. This the actor-author delivered I jyj th fire and earnestness, and a quite I „ 0 mirabla vein of pathos. Again, in a Jj, autifully-written scene in the fourth act, I a ]j which Mat, deeply in love with his ward, 0 ' 0: tbs Berkley, sacrifices her under a mis- i prehension that sho loves another, Mr I re trrell was magnificent. The full beauty I this moving scene was most eloquently I pressed by both artistes. Its sentimeDt I el ,s, moreover, greatly enhanced by the I foI mpathetic orchestral rendering that i jompanied it of Schubert’s “ Adieu.” ]ov as Ada Lawrence’s Babs would win I v j e it adthiration if for her work in this I me alone, but apart from her striking I jj c s true note here, the actress gave g ] ler evidences of ability. She was a jeptionally good, for instance, in the j * imatie situation of. the second scene the fourth act. In other respects her personation of the Australian girl was jj-, keeping with the character and easily jy- £ evincing. Miss Hilda Meade was ox- ■ J mely good in the role of Clarice, reveal- I , ' ; real emotional powers, as well as a gift j. light comedy. Mr Frank Hawthorne s a delightful masher (Ivo), thoroughly homo in a role that suited his talents I tnirably. He played with all his old I leziness and sense of humor. Mr'Henry I idson made a dignified Mr Chester. I ing with artistic capability and reserve. I : Oily Deering’s Eli Grup was an em- I atically clever character-study of a cksDiffian villain. This experienced I er made no mistakes, and was -g----iroughly and consistently good. Mr j[_ fred Boothman was an impressive t^ e lgH scoundrel as Dick Duggan, a part h 0 ich he playeft with the requisite melo- Pr< imatie emphasis. Mr IS. Vane'vas DA usually comical in tho minor role of a iliff. Tho Molly of Mrs Barry Lane s an excellent study in Irish comedy, d Miss May Renno was an uncommonly iart and intelligent maid-servant. The tial production should be sufficient remmendation of the all-round ability tho company, who should have a suessful season in store for them.

Mr George Darrell,as Mot Morley,waa of course the central figure of the drama, and played throughout with the greatest success. Ho acquitted himsolf in a thoroughly finished and artistic manner, and in every act fulfilled the renowned reputation which preceded ,bim. In the somewhat unenvions role of the villain Eli Grup, Mr Oily Deering scored a distinet success, his impersonation of the part' throughout being thoroughly consistent. Although" somewhat a stranger to Gisborne, there were many itf the audieDoo who bad had previous acquaintance with Mr DeeriDg, and they accorded him a right royal welcome. Mr Henry Hodscn gave an excellent interpretation of Worthy Chester, whilst Mr Frank Hawthorne was thoroughly at homo as js£v.o Caren. Mr Alfred Bootbman played with greaj; success as I}ick Pqgg&n, and the other jnale members of the company were well up to their work. Miss Hilda Meade renewed her acquaintance with a Gisborne audienoe, and won the hearts of all presont by her clear and artistic impersonation of the trying part of Clarice, revealing real emotional powers as well as a gift for light comedy. Miss Ada Lawrence as Babs quickly established herself a favorite with the audience, and was frequently applauded for her clever acting. Miss Lawrence was particularly good in the scene with Mr Darrell in the fourth act,which was most artistically pourtrayed. Mi? Barry Eane as Mqlly bad g, moss pon ; gonial paif; and gave an excellent study in Irish oomedy, whilst" Miss May Bonno proved a great success as Matilda Wander. The performance given last oveuiog was a sterling testimony to the ability of the company, who.should bo accorded crowded houses during their Gisborne scaton.