"SWEET COUNTY KERRY."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1714, 3 April 1913, Page 6

"SWEET COUNTY KERRY."

THE ALLEN DOONE COMPANY. "Sweat County Kerry," a comedy-drama in four acts, with, which Mr. Allen Doone opened a Wellington season a little over a year ago, wan again successfully staged at the Opera Hotiso last evening. In 'many respects last evening's presentation marked a decided advance upon lliat of last year. Mr. Allen Doone himself gave a more convincing representation of tlio gay and gallant young Irisli smith, Dan O'ilara, who is tins central figure in the play, and the otter parts as a whole wero better borne, and the play was brighter and crispsr than in the performances of a year ago. "Sweet County Kerry" imposes no strain upon tho intellect, but it is not en that account undeserving of tho approval, developing at times into enthusiasm, with which it was received by tin audiemx'' last evening." It is a combination of simple elements, pretty scenes, and pretty'fancies, simple joys and sorrows, and a simple plot that is cheerfully set aside when occasion demands. Tlit story i$ one that has been told a thousand times with little alteration in its essential features. An honest old Irisli farmer, Patrick Drew, has mortgaged his farm in order to educate his son Raymond. The mortgage is held by one Valentino Hay, the villain of tlio drama, who seeks, by taking advantage of Patrick Drew's financial embarratismcn'js to gain' tho hand of Drew's pretty daughter Norali. Hay's addresses aro scornfully rejected,' and tlio young blacksmith, Dan O'Hara, succeeds where ho has failed. Political disturaiicß is in' the air, and Hay takes advantage of 'the fact by sseking to fasten a criminal charge upon O'Hara. Ho gets one of his creatures to hide some pike-he.-uls in O'Hara's )forge. There they are discovered by a military search party, and O'Hara is haled off to prison. Ho soon contrives to escape, however, and a little later the man who hid tho pikes makes confession of his guilt. The trouble of tlio mortgage upon tho Drew homestead remains, but a remedy is found by young Raymond Drew, who raises tho urgently-needed funds by winning a horse race, in sptfc of Hay's attempt to win tho race himself bv sending for "the best horse in Ireland." and en-' tering it for tho event. The final scene witnesses the complete discomfiture of tlio villaiii and tho jubilation of all the honest people. Around this simnlo therco a lot of pretty stage play "is woven. Tho love scene between Dan O'Hara and Norali Drew (Edna Keeloy) is as urettv es sunshine, and Dan's attempt to ask Farmer Drew for liis daughter's hand is a deligliltlul skit upoii all bashful voung. wooers Iha various scenes aro effectively arranged, and a number are beautiful. Birds and animals figure prominently' and give a touch of realism to the farmyard and smithy scenes. The "star" amongst the animal actors is "Killarney" tho racehorse, and a good second placo is Uik.cn by Isorah s pony. In 0110 prcttiv sceno pigeons aro employed as messengers Irish Jigs and other danccs aro another brightening feature of tlio play which should bo mentioned. : Miss Edna ICcoley captivated her auditors as Norali Drew. She has a dninfilv pietty Stap presence, and a raro gift ot sympathetic expression whether tlio matter in hand be grave or gay. Tha unpopular part of the villain was capably borne by Mr. Onslow. Edgeworth. As Major Gruff (Norali s uncle), jitr. Tom Buckley was both forceful and entertaining, and the same may be said of Mr. J'rank Gmlenauc, who took tho part of Patrick Drow. Mr. Clivo Parnhnm as Raymond Drew and Jl'r. J. Vincent White as Captam Sydney gavo Adequate expression to the parts entrusted to them. Mr. Maurico Lynch imparted an element of broad humour.to the character of Mr. O'Drive, a disreputablo process-server' Miss Connie Ivyto as "Jack tlio Jockoy" .was responsible for some lively work and Miss Ethel Grist was effective in tho part of Alice Doyle, nn assertive but good-hearted Irishwoman. During the evening Mr. Donne sang "A Toast lo Erin," which was repeatedly encored, "Endearing Young Charms," anil "Love's Language." "Sweet County Kerry" will be repealed this evening.