"A TRAGEDY."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1149, 9 June 1911, Page 6

"A TRAGEDY."

THE MOUNTEBANKS DRAMATIC CLUB. "A- Tragedy," a comedy in three acts, by. Charles Fawcett. Cast:— Jlountcashel Stokes Mr. Frank H. Woodward Isaac Parcher Mr. Frank Elandford ilr. Gregory Graysin Jlr. C. Bentloy Kussell Mrs. Mumford Merry ..'.Miss Mollio Marshall Mr. Mumford Mcrry...Mr. F. Winfird Millar Mts. Gregory Graysin .;.... Miss' fiva Sharp Mrs. Hawlto :. Miss Irene Mason Christopher Cute ... Mr; E'egi-nald Bishop John Philip Macready Burbage Mr. Charles F. Pazo Mary Jliss Olive Hoys Tho Mountebanks, an amateur dramatic club,'staged Charles Fawcett's comedy "A Tragedy" at tho Opera Houso last evening. Tho audience seemed to enjoy the performance, though there were some awkward little halts where tho pace should have been a hand-gallop, and ; there was occasionally a,lack of that sympathy and cohesion' between tho players that are absolutely essential to success in this class of work. The farce hinges upon a lawyer, who secretly writes and produces a tragedy, unknown to his wife 'and mother-in-law, which ends in a complete fiasco and riot. The secrecy with which the author veils his dread deed is his undoing. His clerk overhears him discussing tho details with tho players, and fancying it a deeply-laid plot to murder, informs a detective. The mother-in-law suspects the. lawyer of infidelity, and as the result of her prying gets n<ked up in a coal-cellar, and is finally arrested. Tho author's wife becomes distracted at her husband's non-arrival home on tho night of the- tragedy (owing -to the importunities of an outraged audience). Another young fellow, whoso wife has consented to take part in the play, rages round looking for her, while she fancies her "husband has been done away with, thanks to the fool-detective, who labours under the delusion that the foul deed, which is the crux of the tragedy, has taken placo in reality.' The comedy is also pervaded ' by an oily-haired barnstormer "of the old' school," well stocked with familiar quotations from the drama. Theso complications continue to fizz and sizzle until the final three minutes, when tho usual all-round explanations are made.

Of those engaged in tho performance, Miss Mollis Marshall made a pretty and particularly well-frocked Mrs. Mumford Merry. It was a distinct improvement on this young lady's acting in the past, and if sho were to play with brighter assurance by ' speaking, out louder she would* improve still more. Her stage poise is correct—she only needs to broaden her methods to reach the audience. Miss Eva Sharp showed some timidity and uncertainty of approach, '.which lessened the effectiveness of her acting. Miss Irene Mason has the theatrical sense, and was quite good as far as her part would permit, and Miss Olive Moys made Mary the housemaid a pleasing person with a sunny smile. Mr. C. Bentley Russell, as Gregory Graysin, the writer of the tragedy, was, generally speaking, well at home in an exacting role, but was handicapped cpnsiderably by the flowery prosine*s of the lines. Mr. Charles F. Page bestrode the hoards as the old-time actor, and his lugubrious burlesque and quaint attire caused a considerable amount of fun hut there was hardly enough attention to the facial expression and bv-play to which the part lends itself. Mr. Frank Blandford's Isaac Parcher was the neat old man character study, and Mr. 11. \\. MiHnr was amusing as Mumford Merry. Mr Clark's orchestra supplied the incidental music, including Wagners O Star of Eve" (played as a trombone solo), and other selections. . " Tragedy" will be played again this evening. ■