THE SECOND MRS. TANQUERAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1799, 11 July 1913, Page 3

THE SECOND MRS. TANQUERAY.

HAMILTON-PLIMMER CO. "The Second Mrs. Tanquoray," a play in! four acts, by Sir A. Yv . l'inero. Cast of characters;— Aubrey Tanquorny Harry Plimmer Frank Misquith, K.O Arthur Styan Dr. Jayne J. Stewart Clyde Ciytey Drummlo Winter llall Sir Ceo. Orrcyd 11. E. lioberts Morso Cyril Bell Mrs. Cartclyon Beatrice Day Ladv Orreyd Muriel Dale Ullean Ena Collins Paula Tanqueray Mrs. Kobcrt Broutrh It is twenty years since Sir (then Mr.) A. -W.'. l'inero startled the playgoiug world with "The Second MrsJ-Tanqueray.'' It might have been yesterday Tor all the different it lias made in the public's outlook '-on the painful problem dealt with. O.thor dramatists bad tcyed with the o'Jko of such questions—the possibility of a bad woman to thoroughly retrieve he!- past—but it remained for l'inero,'then in the height of his powers, to tear tlie thins: from its hiding place and bring it out into a clear white lisht. To-day his treatment is as bitingly convincing as ever. Each scene is as burningly iinprQssivp, tlio dialogue as sanely brilliant, and 1 the troubles of tho Tanquoray's as . arresting as they were. The piay is s!ill a masterpiece of serious intent by the greatest English playwright of tho generation. Its performance last evening at the Opera House by tlis llamil-ton-Pliminer Company was an intellectual treat—a performniice, indeed, which must go far towards convincing til'? public that this new managomont is happy in its ideals, and bent on giving only what is the best in their power. It recalled tho palmy days of the Brougli and Boucicault Company. It was curious to note the effect of the play on a latter-day audience, lfor sonic years" now tho problem play, with its psychic questionings, has been out of vogue on tho English stage. In France, Germany, and perhaps other Continental countries it still retains its grip, unaffected by ephemeral musical comedy, I American "slap-stick" farces and animated pictures. As far as'one can judge, it is still approached w.itli ns great an intellectual interest by. tli'e people of those nations as ever. Last evening there were occasions when the audience was inclined to titter injudiciously, to' sometimes _ applaud in places where silence would have marked a clearer understanding, but throughout the four acts thtxre is no question about the thrill which the performance induced. Whilst every character was most faithfully—oven forcibly—limned, the honours in chief must of necessity go to Mrs. Robert Brough, in the arduous role ot I'aula Tanquoray, and in considering her l part in last evening's success, the. public \ must absorb the fact that this part is I on-} so Rnrdonssquo in its demands as to be written down as one of tho | most difficult in the whole range :of modern drama. Sho has to represent a hypersensitive woman endeiiv- ! ouring to live down a hideous past, aiid | torn this way and that by wild imagiu- ] ings and warped thoughts—by the unresfci ing Paula's "ghosts of the mind." Diß- | traught mentality and jangled nerves i cause her to misconstrue th© merest word, the slightest action, and even the trifling endearments of her harried spouse and his daughter, until she finds the grimmest way out, and takes it. Mrs. Brough demonstrated acutely her fine emotional powers, the elasticity of her temperament by plunging from the gayest to tho most tragic moods in a breath, and in those trying scenes with her husband and El'lean, aptly illustrated her resourcefulness as a great emotional actress. Slio was ably supported. Mr. Harry Plinimer came forward with a compelling reading of Aubrey Tanqueray. _ Splendid in the dramatic scenes where his strength and vigour were called into play, but somowhat impetuous in speech in the purely conversational interludes, he gave o performance which will bo remembered. That cha.rming character, Cayley Drummle, was delightfully played by Mr. Winter Hall—a clean-cut delineation marked by a genial dignity and reservo. Miss Beatrice Day was charming as Mrs. Cortelyon, and one of the very best scenes in the play was that iu which Paula cuts the heart with her poisonous sarcasm. "Saint" Ellean was prettily pictured by Miss Ena Collins. . Mr. 11. R. Roberts was responsible for a clever and amusing character sketch as the bibulous Sir George Orreyd and Miss Muriel Dale as Lady Orreyd was as deliriously common , and vulvar as the author intended. Such a performance should induce a largo audience this evening, when the play will be witnessed by his Excellency the Governor, Lady Liverpool, and a party from Government House. To-morrow evening the Hamilton-Plim-mer Company will mnlce its adieus in a performance of "Robt. Gnnthony's fascinating fantasy,- "A Mes.-ago from Mars."