AUTUMN MANOEUVRES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1969, 28 January 1914, Page 10

AUTUMN MANOEUVRES.

■ ■ ?':AT OPERA HOUSE. , . "Autumn Jlanoom-res," a musical military play by Karl Von liakony and R.'Badanski. The music is by Emerieh Kalmiin, and tho lyrics by Percy Grcciu hank. The ISnglish stago adaptittion is by Henry Hamilton. '* Cast:— '

Captain Frank Falconer ... .Frank Greene Major-General Pomeror .

■Kobort -Whyte, jmir. Colonel Annesley Htlward Wynne Captain' JX'venish'"....' Cecil Ouitrini Lieut. Oswald pi-do,-... liesinald Roberts Lieut. Thorpe Vcrekcr ... Clmrles ilettain Lieut. Charles Treinayno .. DickShortlnnd Corporal Kcllett Harry Katclifio Borjrt.-Majcr Sykes Victor I'rioce Private' .fonkius :. 3\ili\is Roseius Walerman Ernest Lnshbrooko .Tephson :...: Charles Albert Captain Cuthbert Withers ... Phil Smith Lady Icily Larkins Connie Milne Juno Fomoroy Dorothr Brfintou Lady EUcswater Celia Ghiloni Mary iTedh'urst A. Carmichael Mrs. Leylaixl Holt Eileen RliettSe Claire tnsjlby Stella Esdailo Sybil Houghton Bone Connolly Jeans Ogilvie Qneeaie Bm-Tcwes Naomi Vlastna Novotaa AIU Luttrell Florence Touag "Autumn Manoeuvres" is for all.tho world lilto a Prury Lane drama shorn ■of tlie villainy that is ever vanquished, aud without particular ostentatiousne'ss. in tho virtue department. It reeks ot' , tho military, revels in fin© old Kuglish names, depicts the broad acres of .lingland in their best aspect, and the comedy hangs-on tbe word of a grocer. To bring homo the similarity, it has only to be stated that- tho play has. its exciting moments, its shots by night, and rattling dramatic climaxes at tho act-e.nds. - How it missed being written by Mr. Cecil Raleigh is d'fiicnlt to eonceive. The wonder of tho programme ie to find-it was "made in Germany" by Germans, and lost every bit of it's Teutonic origin in the transplanting process. "Autumn Manoeuvres" is "doubly welcome, firstly because it is intrinsically a good and well-acted p.raj'j and, secondly, • because' it gives relief from tho exotic character of tho Lehar type of light opera, Tho play, opens iu tho stately grounds of Amberinere House, richly garbed in autunWs fluttering flounces. Here a iwiment of hussars and a squad of-terri-torials, who are taking, part in tho manoeuvres, have made their camping "round. Ambermere House is tho pro* perty of Miss Alix Luttrell,. whose wealthy father purchased the- estate imder'tbo Hamnirr, and so β-ndecl' tbo tenure of the Falconers. Old Luttrell has a daughter, and old Falconer a son, and they had met and loved under tho old beeches, but, when Amborro-ere is sold, Captain Frank Falconer conceives nothing but bitterness tor.the Luttrolis, and his return to the park with Ins regiment is rather a painful experience. Miss .-LuttreU welcomes the officers to tho hall, but Frank refuses her. hospitality, and sends a pwky little Yorkshire grocer—Captain \VitneM-, of the territorials—to take- his plate. This leads to no end, both of fun and trouble. Captain Falconer has declared that ho will .not cross Miss Lnttroll's threshold, and that, if ho docs, he. will consent to bo field tho.ro as a prisoner at her command. During tho same evening a dance-, is given to the hussar officers by Miss Luttrell, .. and, whilst this is in progress, she and.lief friend , , (in league with Captain Withers) plot to get Captain Falconer into the house by convoying to him news of a night attack, which will forco him to give tho alarm to his fellow officers. These, however, have boon put up to tho joko. As ft matter of fact there is an attack, and Falconer scuds a man to alarm his fellow officers, who -only laugh at him. He than rushes into tho house himself, to meet with a like reception. The blast of bugles and tho firing of volleys which follow, however, make it clear to the offic-OTs that ' they havo been hoaxed and disgraced, and thero is a dramatic denouement as General Pomeroy, of tho defeated force, "roasts" "his men m scathing language. It looks bad for Captain Falconer, but clevor, .winsome, little. Juno- Pomeroy ■(tho General's daughter) wheedl<?3 the old man, and Captain Withers (of the grocery store) makes a full confession, and the end sees Alix Luttrell in ttae arms of .-Falconer, and sweet June similarly occupied with her"Ossy," whilst Captain Withers finds a partner in tho sportive Lady Le-ity Larkins. Tho musie'of "Autumn Manoeuvres" is not distinctive. There are a few good numbers, as for example "Tho Regular Army Man," "You'll Never Know," "To Have-, to • Hold,"- and . "Daddy, Dear," but the general average of tlie Bcoro is mediocre. The play is capitally acted.

There was, a ntnefs about tho cast which completely satisfied. Miss Florence Young, whoso-, powerful soprano voice has the quality of undying youth, was admirably placed as .Ahx Luttrell. Sho sang;with her usual brightness and acted sincerely.- throughout.-. The Juno Poniorey of-Miss Dorothy.Brunton was the. sweetest of -performances. She looked well in-a succession of pretty gowns, -and acted with a girlish -.charm that- was -irresistible. Miss Brunton ]\ns no rival.-in such roles .iu Australasia. Her vocal success was in "Daddy DesTi" in which.slio wheedles the Kenpral into-a .rational frame of. mind by tho prettiness of-her ways. Miss Conliio Milne makes a smart Lady Lctty, and Miss Celia Ghilloni is Larly Elleswater, i\!r. Phil Smith endorsed his reputation as a comedian by his comical nssump* tion-of the role of-Captain Withers, the grocer, wlio;has only joined tJw Terrk torials to please his.grandmother "v;ho has a will of her own which, he, mca'ns ; to bs in." 'Die perky assnroiiee of tho little man, his ignorance of soldiering., and the ways of society, gave Mr. Smith ample scope to air his talent.

Ho ivas extremely comical in "Grandma's Fault," and was.de-It find clevor in "Hobbies" with Miss Milne, but

''My Friead, Joft Bell" was more Vulgar than-witty.- Mr. ■ Frank- GroeiwHave an excellent performance as tho manly Captain ' Falconer', acting with conviction, arid sin'giuf;. pleasingly, and Mr. Hbliert Whytc," jun., submitted a clover sketch as General I'orheroy. Mr. Victor Prince made an amusing Sergeant Syltes, and Mr. Charles Albert was as light-footed as ever in tho Romany tlanco with Miss Vtasta .Novota. Mr. Julius Itoseius deserves commendation for tho manner in which he trolled "Tho Regular Army Man." "Autumn Manoeuvres" is beautifully mounted, and splendidly dressed, and Mr. Slapoffski's band is a> pleasure to listen to.