THE MALLABY COMEDY COMPANY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1417, 26 November 1886, Page 2

THE MALLABY COMEDY COMPANY

THE GREAT PINK PEARL. This very compact and well-balanced company opened at the Oddfellows’ Hall last night, to an excellent house, in the new and popular comedy “ The Great Pink Pearl,” which went remarkably well. As we gave the plot on Wednesday, it is not necessary to repeat it here, but we may say that it was well-dressed, and the most was made of its many comical situations. Mr Harry Power’s Gorraani was a first-rate representation, and Mr Henry Alleyne as Prince Pennikoff, and Miss Florence Wade as the Princess obtained and deserved the plaudits of the audience for the very capital rendering they gave of somewhet difficult rides, Mr Mallaby’s Anthony Sheen was, perhaps, a trifle on the broad side, but was generally a very good piece of acting. All the minor parts were well filled, and at the close of the second act and again at the falVof the curtain the performers were greeted with hearty demonstrations of applauseCASTE. To night the company will appear in Robertson’s " Caste,” being, we think, the first representation of this popular play in Ashburton, at any ra'e for some years, which, to judge from the notices given by Southern papers, is well worth going to see. The South Canterbury Times writing of the piece, as presented at Timaru by (he Mallaby Company on Tuesday last, says '” The Company deserves considerable commendation. The Polly Ecoles of Miss Florence Wade was full of fun and spirit, and she entered thoroughly into the abandon of the part. Miss Jennie Gwynne, as Esther Eccles, displayed decided ability and proved fully equal to what was demanded from her. Her aoting when she discovered that her drunken reprobate of a father had stolen her chi ! d’a coral to procure liquor was especially striking, and throughout she had the sympathies of the audience entirely with her. Miss Medway, as the supercilious, hardhearted Marquise scored a decided success. The gooles of Mr Alleyne was an admirable impersonation of a very unpleasant character, although hia make-up seemed to ua to be somewhat exaggerated. Little fault, however, could be found with his acting, the various phases of the nature of the working man’s agitator being cleverly depicted. Captain Hawtree was carefully and intelligently played by Mr Rodney, whose affected drawl and stiff action showed the conventional stage swell.’ to the life. Mr Harry Power deserves warm praise for an admirable impersonation of Sam Gerridge, a part that 0s him like a glpve. Me was thoroughly natural and kept the audience in a state oi constant rnerri* Want.”