Henry Dramatic Season.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XXXV, Issue 6605, 17 April 1899, Page 2

Henry Dramatic Season.

«. SHAMBOOK AND THISTLE. Saturday night is generally recognised as an unfavourable time for theatre going, and this will probably explain why there was not a larger audience to welcome the Henry Dramatic Company when they appeared for the first time in Ptiimerston in the charming melo-drama, " Shamrock and Thistle." The play as interpreted by Mr Henry has all th,e characteristics of the orthodox drama without any of its objectionable features, the predoniinence of the humorous ovtr the blood-curdling scenes being a pleasM£ change from what we so frequently have placed before us, while there was also sprightly vigour running through the acting of the leading charaoters that gave to it the exact tone one expects to find accompanying an Irish play. In his representation of Lord Fitzgerald, a scion of the aristocracy who ought to, have married Dora Dillon, a peasant girl, Mr W. J. Coulter bronght to bear a line stage appearance, and a well feigned fiery temper, without wbioh no Irish Lord of the old school was considered worthy of his title. His acting was good because it was natural, and h : s soliloquy on the events of the past eighteen years since he had cast Dora Dillon off was a particularly fine piece of elooution. As Justin Dillon, Lord Fitzgerald's son, Mr J. B. Goodall had a popular part, which he made even more popular by his manly bearing, his impersonation of the hero being quiet artd dignified, but quick to resent an insult when it i 3 offered. Lord Fitzgerald's nephew found an able, representative in Mr A. S. Hodge, who, with Mr Fred Brikett, made a pair of characteristic villain?. In their schemes to get Justin Dillon and his mother out of the way they were well seconded by Mr B. Humpies, who, as "Mr Qumlan," an |^^^k| attorney, was a perfect old-fashioned lawyer 'to tho works of Lover and, -Lever. Mr • HuinphrieK' " get-up" was splendid anojl his brogue excellent, One of dharaeters of ■ the evening, ihoweveiJ wTis-Mrs VFtsrioJ| Walßh/ , MM had once be |in /IM.V and. who hi" bee;'' celebra'e what : j ' to be a mock a i a(?e and DoraDillor.Mr Doup^ 4 * l of the best r, Bsontati^ Da . !W oharacter it ha 3een o/ Qr MeasurdH jvitness and in! brogue; lie was iU~*foM hteDt ber of the conW. M ia rr^rr^'T , , Baleigh filled Dilbn with 'at credit. Of the remaining xUar?rs too niuoh canoot be said.' Howarde ( M M L f/ifW to do aa Elsie, of n but that and vivacity that at once made a good impression on the audience. By far the heaviest share of thb. work was, hovyeyer, taken by Mr Henrys who fjlled the role of "Old Lindsay "/ih9 trusted Scotoh servant of Lord Fitzgerald. The great length of seryioe 'in His Lordship's service had given him the right to kqqwj all the family secrets, and to h.a a very candid adviser th';reon, He knew the secret of Justin Dillon's parentage, and the wa_y in which he endeavoured to induoe Lord Fitzgerald to acknowledge, it, and ultimately succeeded in that, end,' did credit, to the author a,ndto Mr Henry, who gave a trije refleetion of the type of men so obarmingly described by Dean Barusey in his " Beminiscencea of Scottish Life." Pu-haps the most eftective foenes during the evening were the graveyard by moonlight, and tbe burning a the old mill, but on the wb,ola tha play was pne en iu a very creditable manner, jand we expert to see a full house tofight >vhen tho company nppear in the seteationaj detective play "From Scotland Yard." 'p,n Tuejday night'.«. yqc(er, Tyro Flagt." will be pßtoced., s j For ChijKen's Woods' Great Peppermint (^^

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