"THE MAN FROM MEXICO."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 637, 14 October 1909, Page 8

"THE MAN FROM MEXICO."

THE HUGH WARD COMPANY. , A farcical comedy'in three acts, by H. A. Du Souchoi, Cast:— Benjamin Fitzhugh ...............Mr. Hugh Ward./ llodorick , Majors Mr, HeginaldWykeham. «°y r - Wernham'B. llyott. Von Bulow Bismarck Schmidt • „. ,• Mr. Chas. Phillips. Edward Farrar ;.'.......Mr. William B. Bcattic. ni/ c it P al , ton •••• Mr. Arthur Eldred. limothy Cook ......Mr. liobert Greig. Officer 0 Muliins' ....Mr, Ernest - Bhaw. ........Mr. li. Richards. • H. .H. Wallace. • Madame Bertini ......... Miss Celia GhiJoni. ' mvTmsl ir a I CG ..Miss Roso Mußgrove. ™i tl^ Ma - orß Misb Ruby Baxter; ; - Miss Florcnco Rcdforn. Clementina ...Miss Graco Palotta. There is only ono test to apply to farcical comedy to prove its titlo to the claim—docs it cause laughter?. If hearty splendid laughter ot tho spontaneous ordei bursts round ono like Jizz-bombs on America'* Fourth o* July, then II 15 ,£°' ar cical comcdy; if, on the contrary, the laughter splutters feebly at indefinite intervals or not at all, the opposite conclusion may with safety be jumped at.- In-the case of .1 he Man from Mexico" no question of the kind arises. Du Souchet's broadly farcical play is a known quantity., It was tested here three or J oui ;^ ar ?. a S°> aD< * was pronounced pure £°. d \ \\ ls funny enough to cure a cold, intrinsically "smart" in the best Franco-Amerii J? nso i wo . f d» and fits the company like the glove on the hand of a'gentleman. To one fond of laughter it is sound advice to go S? .| ll ' riot with "The Man from Mexico. In this comedy that inimitable comedian, -Mr. Hugh Ward,«is at his ;very pest, and that is. conceding much. Those who witnessed tho comedy when it was last played here by the AVilloughby-Ward Company ao not need to bo reminded of that fact. ' Memorios inean chuckles. Those whom fortune has overIwked in this regard' may. bo interested to l o 3™ that-the man from Mcxico had never seen the place.. Benjamin Fitzhugh had been having'a night out in New York . with his iriend Majors. Things happen at night, resulting in,-Benjamin being haled before-a magi strain (whom he assaults while not himself), and getting thirty "days "without the .He is allowed to return home to fix things, in charge of one Cook, a detective. Majors tries to. help him out of his dilemma, but only pushes him deeper into , the mire.. Eventually they concoct a story to _the effect that t he has left for Mexico, whereas he is in gaol. Curiously enough Mrs. Fitzhugh,' spurred by jealousy, has invented an excuse that she has gone to s®® her mother-in the country, which is only a blind, in order that she may watch her husband. -While at the "Cleopatra," a notorious restaurant, tho place ,is raided by the police, but she, gets away, unseen save by a waiter. Her escapade brings on "nerves," and innocently sho has acquiesced in her husband's trip to Mexico,- little dreaming what it means. The,.middle act is tho gaol funny. Majors is still pottering round trying to fix things. Fitzhugh, a crushed, despondent being, stilly retains, his sense of humour.' Mrs. Fitzhugh visits the gaol with flowers for the prisoners, is dodged by Fitzhugh, and fires the admiration ,of the gaoler, who fancies she is tin-own away on a crazy German l 'who happens to have been arrested at her house (when seeking revenge on Majors, _ who had punched his nose in a row the-evening before). It is complication run mad: . Eventually- the thirty days arc up, and Fitzhugh returns home in a full Mexican kit, and is given'a rousing welExplanations are solicited by half , a dozen interested parties until Benjamin breaks down, confessing that, gaol has been his. p'or•tion. Mrs. .Fitzhugh also makes confession. It becomes catching—the habit' ends the play with a, laugh even as it' began, and between times it has been all laughter, ; As stated above, Mr. Hugh Ward's performance as Fitzhugh is high art. His quiet, natural.; methods' .extract every . particle of •humour.': there is .in the:- part, and his own bright . individuality ; compels laughter, and admiration throughout' the pieoe.. Miss Grace ;Palotta ; lends'her manifold charms and •graces to the role of Mrs. Fitzhugh. - She is more Parisian than, up-to-date. New York/ but that is a detail''when tlie' 'artist is so •thoroughly captivating in all she does. Miss : Palotta was particularly fascinating in - her Mexican, dress,' and the Spanish dance she does with Mr. Ward forms a lively interlude in connection'with Benjamin's welcome home. The versatility , of Miss Rose Musgrove' was further exemplified in her assumption of the kittenish Salhe-' Graice, very much in love" with 'Richard Dalton'(niceily played by 'Mr. Arthur Eldred). C MisS JSlus^6vtf'*sang^t,lfa,ry,,;deliehtfully;' Afi£s v Ghiloni se&W&d' ifr b*^ 1 only introduced ' r (as. Madame 'Bertini) to sing- A a ' song.' •which- she-does quite'- archly.-'- Reginald iWykehanv pUtsi'up; a' sound/comedy.' performance as -Majors, and Robert • (Seig is excellent as, the: detective,: Cook. •-Mr. W. 'S.' Ryott makes a handsome,' debonnair Loveall,and Mr. W.i-B. Beattle does* well as Edward 'Farrar. - Mr. v Chas. - Phillips's faulty, and halting dialect* is' nowhere near the German of anyone boosting such a name as.Von Bulow Schmidt. Mr. H. H. deserves a word for his Louis (a waiter). The Nellie Majors of Miss Ruby-'Baxter is an appropriately matter-of-fact'young person, and Miss F. Redfern's Miranda is quite a likeable kind pf, The' comedy.■ is .adequately mounted, and- the-music ' ofMr. J. W. Rehauser's orchestra is., helpful. Among the audience last- evening were his Excellency and Lady Plunket and suite. ■ • • "The Man from Mexico" will be repeated S«® wning. On Friday it:will give way to -