WILLIAMSON DRAMATIC CO.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 416, 27 January 1909, Page 9

WILLIAMSON DRAMATIC CO.

"SUNDAY." ; ■' : " Sunday,'', a play .in five acts by Thomas Raccward." Cast: — Colonel Brinthorpo Mr. Thomas Kingsbn '• ArtliUr Brinthorpo ...... Mr; Leonard Willey . , Jacky Mr. T. W. Lbvd. . Davy Mr. Fred Cainbouvne ; Towzer Mr.'lHnk Ilarcourt:. ' lively Mr..;. Gregan'-M'Mahon'. c .T0m : 0x10y'..;....;i......i.. Mr. Roland Stavclcy Abbott Mr. -Maurice Noclih/ .-' : Mr6. Naresby- MrsVKobort Brouglr A Nun ......'i..i;............. -Miss Nellie CnW.n •.Sunday.'. .V....Miss Tittelt-Bruno "'.' Sunday .'' .received : tho ' welcome of .an old.friiiid at the Opera House last ,evening, and Miss. Brvine's iiiterrifetatidn of the sweet western girl,'/was as full of : freshness and charm as when first she made the character particularly, her bw)i ill-this country, '.' Sunday'' is. one of the few plays, which deal with .life in tKo ; wilder parts '■ of l Western America, that will bear analysis. The story it;, tells is a good one. the dialogue is. licit altogether; choked with'language of ' the ''CajaiHity. Jane cchpolj and there is a finish about ,its construction .which shows the close .knowledge lof .stagecraft possessed by its actor-authors, who choose to- figure under tho joint' sobriquet 6f. Thoniaß Kaceward." .This .latter attribute is emphasised -in the ingenious /--'manner 'in which the . scenes , are placed./ - There" is', tho strong appeal 'made to tliosftiwho loto' a touch' of elemental man' in thi'-individuality given -to "/tho boys'" iii the, first 1 ' 'and' last acts/, and sandwiched neatly'- inbetween are .glimpses of tli.it phftfeo?' of, cultured:- .English -life v.so dear to Hhe averago playgoer. The" story, is ,quito'possible, dnd after the shooting of Sunday's would-be despoiler early in .the play the wildiiess of the NVjild West, tones down to qiiaint domesticity without'any loss of that grip .'which - holds - an- audience from .the rise t6 thfe"fall bf the curtain. .Such, a play leaves 'a pleasant . taste in the' mouth byreason of this sweet unwliolesomennss, and makes glad, the regular/ patron of tho drama: by the admirable craftsmanship.which governs its, smdbyi . action. The theme of .'the play; calls .for none 01" tho finer literary subleties indulged in so freely by some American writers for the. stai?o, who' take the risk of straining a, scene-for the sake of.an effept; that.as often as, not misses.the marie. "Sunday'' is just the happy mean, .and its third revival hero proves it. ■ ;Miss Brune has/in her time played many parts, -mostly well, bufc_.it. doubtful whether eho has fever'.'been happily fitted, as in "Sunday." Her forto is undoubtedly those emotional parts,, such as the -.delightful girl' of Silver Creek, in which' there' is just a savour of abandon, a touch of comedy, and a full Jneasure' of pretty pathos. "The boys", were, nideed'forfunate, to have such a. tender' little Voman to care for them, and her scene's with them were nlayed. Miss Brune iti tilesefcontl, act, where she reads to her. .English friends in the fchadow of one - of .England's stately homes, the- letter from.."tho- bdys." There . were laughter , and tears in her voice, and hot a few appreciated tho advantage of darkened theatre ..as a. veil for . ,a .certain dampness in the corner of the, eye. Her.irritation against the confining.Maws of' England, and" the . spirited ' speech in glorification of the West and its ways,, was equa-V to the very, best in Miss Brune, and-her Tiest will always find a warhi. appreciation from Wellington plavgoers. Mr, Thos. Kingston tnade Colonel Brinthorpo a very ardent and •a somewhat .demonstrative lover' for a man of his years,-but lie was whole-heartedlv sincere. and natiirrj iii his; methods, lilr. Kingston's charm: of • maimer accounted for the rest in'a most acceptable performance. .Mrs. ft.rouprh .was. her own likeable self as Mrs. Naresby,;-<ind.'as _suoh she never .fails to please. Miss Nellie Galvin; as a '.nii'i. was charming in; her one little scene. OF "tho 'hoys." no part was better drawn than the Lively of Mr. Gregan ' M'Mahon, whose piping. (iuerulonsness. did . not obscure this tender heart of tho, ancient battler. Mr. T. WM'loyd nfaved Jacky w'tli a. good deal of spirit, and Towzof, and T)avy were. fairly, well treated ;bv Messrs. Harcourt and, Camboume. Mr. Roland Staveley nsTnm CHev, and Mr. Leonard Wil'e.v as Arthur Brinthorp'e contributed to the success of tl\p performanco. - The second act . grounds.. of Brinthorpo- Abbey—is • a very beautiful set in Mr. Coleman's best stvle, Onoifcil entr'nete music was 'supplied by Mr. .LeoimW's orchestra. "Sunday" will be given two more performances. »nd on TVidnV and. Saturday "the company'will appear 111 "Romeo and Juliet."