The St. Maur Company.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 450, 6 May 1890, Page 3

The St. Maur Company.

On Saturday evening • Mr Barnes of New York ’ was performed at the Theatre Royal by the St. Maur Company. The house was crammed, there being a large accession of visitors from the country. The play is a romantic drama, in which the intensity of the pathetic acting is set off by lighter scenes in which mirth prevails. Miss Florence Seymour as Marina Paoli threw into the part an intensity of feeling which was at once fascinating and repellant—sisterly affection, Corsican hatred, and a woman’s anguish were impressed upon the mind, and the transitory expressions of countenance conveyed an idea of the passions working within, no words being required to give expression to them, Mr St. Maur sustained the character of Count Musso Danella in a manner which few actors could aurpaas. But there was one thing evident, that a great number of the audience was fonder of the comic scenes than they were appreciative of the nerve straining pathetic parts, and it was provoking to those who were mainly impressed with the parts which brought out the wonderful powers of Mr St. Maur and Miss Seymour, to have their attention distracted by some of those who preferred the comic. A couple of illustrations of this want of taste may be given. When Paoli's breast was heaving with emotion, her eyes depicting tha pain and bitter anguish she was enduring, and in her distress she kissed her lover's sister Enid and asked Enid to pray for het—one of the most beautiful and thrilling pieces of acting in the whole play—some wretched wag in the back breaks off the tension of feeling and the vivid stretch of imagination by smacking his lips in imitation of the kisses 1 Such a vulgar interruption must have been very annoying to the actresses, but it was not the only inexcusable display of bad taste, for even the trying death scenes, which were painfully realistic, were by some viewed in a comic light, while applause was sometimes bestowed

at stages when it could only be considered a interruption. The part of Mr Barnes of Bpiew York was taken by Mr Frank Gerald, r who made an admirable American. There was no attempt to imitate those vulgarities •nd that coarse twang which an American is sometimes made to perpetrate. Barnes was a sterling gentlemen, and of course a gallant, one who despised the conventionalities of bis time but did not despise common sense, and the slight twang in his voice was a pleasing indication of his nationality, and not an onrefined attempt at effect. Mr Gerald certainly makes his mark in the character. Miss Kennedy was very pleasing as Enid Anstruthsr. Mr Clifford was popular in his respective characters of a lieutenant in the English navy, but the parts were overdone, Mr Neville was a dignified French captain • Mr Greville mads a mark as Antonio Paoli, while Messrs Hill and Moore took the respective parts of Tomasso and Mateo. The principal duty of the other performers was to create amusement, and in thia they were completely successful. Mr Kennedy was “ immense ”as the convivial Jem Buggies who amused himself by keeping up a. flirtation with the powdered aad affectations Lady Chartris (Miss Smithson), whose spoilt daughter Mauds (Miss Msyo) kept up the fun by playing all kinds of precocious antics to the annoyance of her elders. Miss Georgia Smithson’s Lady Chartrie was sustained with much power, and she was the life of the comical portion of tbs entertainment. Mr Berkely made a jolly midshipman. The performers were several times called before the curtain. Before the Igst act Captain Tucker, from the platform, announced the sacred entertainment to be held on Sunday evening in aid of the Hospital, and he paid a high tribute of praise to Mr St. Maur and company for their spontaneous and generous offer. The remarks were loudly applauded and some one made the sapient interpolation that he wished a few more companies like the St. Manr would pome along, sYhen hfr St. M*ur came forward he received quite an ovation. He modestly assured them that there wee nothing special in their offer, and that in all parts of the world the members of his profession were always ready and willing to assist benevolent objects. (Cheers.) Hethen went on to say a few words for his friend Mr Christie Murray, and very strongly recommended Gisborne people to go and hear that gentleman, by doing which they would not only ensure for themselves a very pleasing entertainment, but it a large support were given to a gentleman like Mr Murray it would be a high compliment to the intellectual calibre of Gisborne people. There was a large attendance at the concert on Sunday evening, in aid of the Hospital, though the rain had been coming down in torrents, His Worship the Mayor (Mr Townley) occupied the chair, and made a few remarks by way of Introduction. The following programme was then gone through, Miss Seymour’s.songs being especially en joyed:—Mr Lee, Lost Chord ; Miss Kennedy, Ruby; Mr Berkeley, Little Hero; Miss Smithson, King’s Own; Mr St. Maur, Fajr Dove ; Miss Seymour, Vital Spark ; Miss Kennedy, Daddy; Mr Greville, Hear the Wild Winds; Mr Duff (recitation), Ostler Joe; Mr St. Maur, In the Gloaming ; Miss Seymour, Home Sweet Home; Mr Lee, Midshipmite ; Miss Smithson, Punchinello; Mr Greville, The Scout.