"THE GIRL OF OSTEND."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 994, 8 December 1910, Page 7

"THE GIRL OF OSTEND."

"The Girl .of Ostend'," a farcical comedy, by F. Burnand.. Cast:— Charlie Sparrow Hγ. Fired. Graham Baron Do Longchamps . ■ ' Mr. Gerald K. Soupcr Robert Frye...; J[r. Jack Do Laccy Bull Clynoh ...Mr. Alfred Harford Parkes ; .Mr. J. H. Brennan Wilfred Butler Sir. Alfred Scarlett Mrs. Frye lire. George Lauri Dora Payne Miss Florence Gretton Mrs. Olynch Mies Leila, Forties Mary „... in ss Gladys Hartwell Lilla Sparrow .Miss Nellie Dent Wellington was reintroduced ,to an old friend in the way .of farcical comedies last evening, when the Fred. Graham Company produced "The Girf of Ostend," which is identical with "The Lady of Ostend," produced hero by W. F. Hawtrcy's Company some years ago. It is a rattling good farce, as most regular playgoers will remember, and; in tho hands of Mr.' Graham's capable little company, swung along amidst a clatter, of laughter, as hearty.and spontaneous as has' beeii heard in the Opera House for quite a long 'time. The wonder is that.Mr. Graham did not select Burnand's clever and. well-constructed farce as an opening bill instead of the- somewhat puerile "Briston Burglary." In "The ■■ Girl of Ostend" the old hardworking base for so lhany, farccs'is niado to do ; duty once more. Charlie Sparrow, a young, married man, has been indiscreet enough tfo flirt with an attractive girl oil the beach- at Ostend, blissfully unconscious that he is being biographed. The picture is shown in London, and his wife and . mother-in-law see ' . it, and recognise Charlie, who had pretended to be ill when at the famous seaside resort. His clerks see it; his friends seo it, and while threatened with a\'divorce -he; is the "laughing-stock of London. His sole defence is that the picture was takon'before he was married, a wriggle that is at onc« straightened out b'y his ''wife l reniembering "that 'the bio'graph . was' not. invented when they were married.. In desperation, he bribes tho p.icturo I ...iuanag£r_ to.take .the beach scene :out of the programme, and supplement'another view of Ostend by thebea. This one happens"~to show his* intimate friend, the BaroK'de Longchamps (who is wooing -Dora. Payne, Charlie|s wife s cousin) in a .similarly compromising position with the sanle Girl.- Terror' is...then strupk into the' heairts of. all concerned by. the news that this gii-1 is married, and her,-husband;;Bull,.C.iynch > .the famous wrestler, having, second, picture, is! searching fof the .destroyer, of his happiness, bent on' twisting his neck. The most comical situations follow . one another rapidly,.until finally BullClynch —at whoso name, everyone scatters—appears smilingly with the, girl, who, ex-plains-that she'had been'engaged by a picture'company to flirt .with-the silliestlooking 'ihin she could "find within range of the, bioprraph. machine;' and so peace, with :laughter ; is .'restdroa. '< ._■ Mr.-Fred Gr»hanv, who is suited tp.a hair as Charlie Sparrow, caught the house from the rise of the curtain with his ad-mirable-fooling, : ahdkcpT it: in roars of laughter throughout, flie-'evenine.-■ His comedy 'was especially, goon in \thf> first, act, where his simulation of inebriation recalled-the Fred. Graham •of many a clever sketch. His sons;s, ."Trust Him Not,"- and "Oh, Q\\, Oh!"- were- smart and amusing in the extreme. The Baron of Mr. Kay Sounei'-was another comedy in the very best style. Mr. Souper's accent, gestures,-.and"make-up were RU'pnrt of a very,:clever...characterisation.. Mr. Jack deLacey ■ was rather heavy and'studied in his ■.method , as Robert Fryo (Charlie's father-ih-law),nnrt ho by no means ..exhausts tho-comeay in the part. His son',- "Mr. Miu-nhy, is likely to become a popular, lilt. m. town. Mrs. Georgh Lauri .was capital as Mrs. Frye,, and Miss Florence Gretton acted with ability and/refinement as Dora Paj-ne. Mr, Alfred '■Harford mado a capital! bully as Clyiich, and Mr. J. H. Brennan was adequate.. as the clerK 'ParkeS. Miss Nellie Dent was somewhat expressionless in -speech and action as Charlie's* much-abused- wife. . On the other liand; HissrLolla'.-Forbes, was. Quito in tho. picture as the biogranh girl. "The Girl of Ostend" will' bo played to-night ami r to-morrow night. It. is recommende'fl to. short of a good laugh. '•■. -■" '- '. ■ ■•' : ■■■ ■