THE FRED GRAHAM COMEDY CO.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 991, 5 December 1910, Page 8

THE FRED GRAHAM COMEDY CO.

v "THE BRIXTON BURGLARY." "The Brixton Burglary," a musical farce by F. W. Sidney. Cast: Reginald Pontifex Mr. Fred. Graham Bichard Digglo Mr. Gerald K. Sou per Frascr Grcon Mr. Alfred Harford James Martin Mr. Jack Do Lacey Henry Sharpies Mr. Alfred Scarlett Joseph Wilson Mr. J. H. Brennan ' Milliccnt Pontifex ... Miss Florence Gretton Petunia Perkins Mrs. George Lauri Jessie Green Miss Gladys, iiartwell Alicia Green Miss Nellie Dent Mr. Fred Graham, the active, smiling comedian, so well known in vaudeville and musical comedy in New Zealand, reappeared at the Opera House ? on Saturday evening at tho head of his own comedy compauy. Ths bill was "Tho Brixton Burglary," programmed I ■as "a side-splitting musical farce," but I there ,is still doubt as to whether that < extended appellation covers tho somewhat puzzling irresponsibilities of "The / 'Brixton Burglary." Without any claim I to even, farcical comedy consistency, it pursues a course liko the path in a' maze, leading to nowhere in particular, ( yet making the way there a bright and j merry one, with a halt hero and tjiero for musical refreshment. Nor are tho actors in tho least bound down by Hamlet's advice to tho players respecting tho speaking of no more than is set down for them.' for tho farce is replete with' gags and "business," ancient and modern,- - but withal laughable, and as the company is a capable ono (worthy, v bo.it said, of better material), the! farce moves along briskly. As the title - discloses, there has been a burglary, but precisely who has been "burgled" and \ who aro tho burglars is never made \ clear, nor does it matter very much. It all comes of Jack Pontifex and his) friend Digglo-taking tho-liberty of hav- ( ing a night out, in tho absence in tho I country of the former's wife and tho J. latter's fiancee. These two bound with I the "Bounding Sisters of the-Air" at Brixton, and aro still. in evening dress when the womenfolk unexpectedly return from the country early the next morning. Explanations more or less truthful and delightfully vague are given, and gay deception becomes tho habit in the Ponbifox household, even to tho maidservant, and the manservant, who have been up to high old jinks the night before, in tho absence of all authority. Unable to explain exactly where they wero without giving one another away, they becomo terrorised by one Sharpies, a bibulous dotective, who seeks to inveigle them all in a burglary at Brixton.. As tho farce progresses, the detective's "Leave this to me!", thickens with tho plot. Several pcoplo aro arrested and released, but no ono is tried (except those in the audience who aro looking for' a solution of tho plot), and v tho mystery surrounding tho burglary at Brixton is just as cloudy at the fall of -tho ■ curtain ■ as- it was at its rise. A light vein of vaudeville frivolity trickles through the farce. Mr. Fred. Graham, who plays Jack Pontifex, on smart riian-about-i-own lines, floating with smiling serenity on tho top. of his difficulties, is particularly happy in-the sketches ho introduces. "The Burlesque Opera' Rehearsal" was a -really clever bit of humorous mumming, racy of the stage, and the foibles of a cer- ' tain class of stage manager. His monody on "Abbreviations," was distinctly good, and artistically treated, • and his old-time toilette sketch was received with favour. Mr. Gerald K. Souper gavo a character sketch of distinction as Richard Diggle, and gained all tho points there wero in an ungrateful part by artistic methods. As tho Pontifex housemaid, Petunia Perkins, Mrs. Georgo Lauri was delightful. She radiates a spirit _of bright, broad comedy, is 'animated in her acting, and dances neatly. Her song of home was ono of tho hits of the evening. Mr. Jack do Lacey was James the manservant, - Mr. Alf. Scarlett was Sharpies, tho dotective, Mr. Alfred Harford was Frascr Green,' and Mr. J. H. Brennan was particularly good as tho policeman. Miss Florence Gretton, who appears as Milliccnt Pontifex, is an actress of refinement, and what little she. had to do was well done. Miss Nellie Dent played Alicia Green, Jack's dressy ma-in-law, and Miss Gladys Hart-well' was rather colourless as Jessio Green —a colourless part. Tho orchestra was controlled by Mr. Geo.