"PASSERS-BY."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1452, 29 May 1912, Page 6

"PASSERS-BY."

A PLAY OF CHARACTER. "Passers-By," a comedy in four acts, by Haddon Chambers. Oast:— Mr. Peter Waverton William Desmond William Pine J. Patrick Nielitv Geoige jliller Samuel Burns Robert Whytc, jun. Lady Hurley E "™ a J, em ® ' Miss Beatrice Dainton ...... fclsie Claiens Little Peter Summer3...Little Miss Gourley Margaret Summers Hilda Sponp

Wo get a good deal of Mr. Haddon Chambers's old skill in "I'assers-By, produced by the Williamson Company at the Opera House last evening. There is much that is now and quaint in tho essence or spirit of the play, and who shall deny its capacity to induce even a furtive tear at the ringing triumph ot mother lovo over all else Jn a world of conventionalism? As a piece of dramatic workmanship it is a bit of _ good cabinet-making with defective hinges. That is to say that Peter Waverton s idea of exploiting those who pass his door, has no other excuse than that ho is -bored at a society crush. _ Still there it is. He come3.i'n lato at night, to find liis man-servant regaling old Nighty, a cabby, on his whisky, and, instead of catting up rough, 110 makes Nighty free, of the house, and also invites his man Pine to bring in a seedy derelict, who _is observed from tho window to be paying respectful attention to odds and ends in the nearest gutter. This turns out to bo Samuel Burns—a nondescript with 110 pride of breeding—who expresses curious surprise at being regarded by Waverton as human. , He is of tho submerged, and native to tho Thames Embankment, and in tho gallery of portraits presented the best drawn. Having fed and clothed Samuel, Pino with wonderful sagacity- reports a • coughing woman on -the doorstep. Waverton invites her -»■ up, and the plot thickens. She is Margaret Summers, the philanthropic Peter's governess and first love. Peter having advertised for her vainly, (reluctantly fails' into the current of society, and becomes engaged to Beatrice .Daiiiton. ■ Margaret's reappearance makes Waverton a waverer, and when tho girl confesses that there is a little Peter, the bachelor is overcome with a sort of glorified amazement, nnd'begins to think of readjusting his affairs. In the meantime his regard for Nighty and Burns does /not slacken. Tho cabby contracts a habit of dropping in, and tho derelict is mado ■a sort of alleged handy man (after being bathed and bartered), much to the disgust of Pine, in whom is represented tho last of a line of perfect servants. , A climax is reached-by Pine snubbing Burns. In revenge the latter -induces . '"six-year-old Peter Summers to wander away from the house to catch rabbits. The loss of the boy upsets everyone, and at once apprises Peter's sister-in-law, Lady Hurley, and his fiancee of the new clement in Peter's atTairs. Beatrice acts splendidly, and stays with Margdret while the search for the boy is conducted, but Lady Hurley goes off in lofty dudgeon. The finding of the boys brings the strings all together. Beatrice has found that Margaret still, loves Peter, and that her engagement to "Henry llobinson" is a sham; that Peter loves Margaret; and that love cannot always be "arranged." Burns goes off to the Embankment, Nighty to the cabstand; Beatrice back to her bridge and golf; whilst Peter and his reclaimed love hare a fair prospect of happiness under the ruby lights of homo. Th« philosophy of the play is that all is right and nothing wrong with tho world, and that given a.chance everyone will do tho correct thing up to a point. It is a cheerful, satisfying, belief, and one that sevls people home. charmed and softened with the world of charity that beams redundant in the comedy. Miss Hilda Spong made a very sweet and .motherly Margaret Summers, who is all charity and thankfulness as tho wronged woman. Her ecstasies in glorification of motherhood were delivered with convincing fervour, and quite succeeded in their appeal. Mr..Wm. Desmond is still too American to realise the ultra-Britishness of Peter AVaverton. Even Mr. Desmond's charm of manner and ingratiating personality cannot quite compensate for the many little discrepancies in tho representation. Were the play Americanised, Mr. Desmond's work must be classified as "ood. The best work in tho comedy is the Samuel Burns of Air. Robert Whyte. Not only in makeup, manner, and expression is ho one of tho streets, but ho conveys, by his immutable vacuity and sudden petty outbursts, the very" soul of a tramp—isolated, inunderstnndable, and irreclaimable. Mr. George Miller displays the geniality and' loquacity of a London cabman as Nighty; Miss Elsie Clarcns plays Beatrico Dainton in a bright, joyous spirit, wholly charming, and Miss Temple is as effective a.s ever as Lady Hurley. Mr. A. J. Patrick succeeds entirely in making Pino a tedious bore, and little Mis 9 Gourlay was captivating as the child. "PassersBy" will bo given two more performances. Mention of the excellent work done by tho orchestra under Mr. Fred. Quintrell is bare justice.