"THE GRAFTERS"

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2127, 20 April 1914, Page 6

"THE GRAFTERS"

AMERICAN MUSICAL-BURLESQUE

"Tlio Grafters," a musical farco iii two acts. Cast: — Sacramento Ike Bert I:i\ Blanc Locli Mike „ Paul StSnhqjio Bakcrshield I'eto Dave Keiviin Will Ohcatem Corlton Ohaso Rulio Skajrcs :..., Hwry Burcess Hip Charles LarEcn Louis ..., ;.. Herbert Lancaster Eiisoy Harris M'Oirtr* i Jlre. Grafter ...■ Elajfie IteTcnstoers Qraco I Teddy Martiu Jfftudie j'ri'tzic fo Gny Mazio Anna Ciark Why the management of tho American Musical Burlesque Company came to tho decision to stage "A Day at the Kaces" at tho opening of tho Grand • Opera Houso when they had swk a 1 capital song-farce in their repertoire as "The Grafters" is 01113. of liiose incomprehensible moves _ that so of ten proyee how difficult it h for even cv theatrical manager to judge of tho merits of a piece and the tasto of the ■ public. "Tlio Grafters" was tho bill m whi-sh tho present company made. good in Australia, and. it lias remained lor it to restore the piiHic'e fnita in the capacity of the- company to entertain. "A Day at tbo ilacos" was devoid of wit, the songs were ill-choseii, and no one was given ft fair chance to impress themselves favourably on the audience. It is cheering to state that in "The Grafters" the whole tone and character of the comedy is different. The songs arc- bright aud tuneful, the dances get their cnaaco, ike oharaetot drawing is excellent, arid the faAo itself is more cohesive structurally, and is based on a genuinely comical theme. Isaac Watts, a pioneer'landowner,'having cut up a block of kiid itibuiWJDg allotments, disappears just prior to a boom, which niakes tho town of Watte a live centre. For fifteen j-ears no ous has paid any rent—and Watts is still missing. Will Cheatoa, a "snido bunco man." hearing of this carious position, resolves to turn it into profit, • As Skaggs, tbo village constable, tells tho tale- of the missing Watts to Oheatem, it is overheard by Pote a tramp, who confides the story to Sacramento Ike and Lodi Mike, an East-Side Jew, and a comical -Dutchman, who also deewte to appear as the only living relatives of tho missing Watts, 'finally , there prances into view the beauteous Mrs. Grafter, an old co-mate i« tho bunco game with Cheatem, who arrives in deep black, and bchily proclaims herself the widow ot the late Isaac Watts. All threo parties flianeeuv.re round Itubo Skaggs, the local "Poo* Bah," to get his co-operation in ostaolisffing their claims, and tho interviews with tho official form tho bast comedy scenes in tho farce. Mrs. Grafter, wbo is as subtle as she is handsome, has Skaggs ."skinned to death", in ahaut th'reo minutea. Then fine seta to work oii tho tramp syndicate. who succumb to her charms,, and Cheatem considers flat he is m the came with her-until the rud* owaken&K comes. Just as tho pretty widow is going to be acclaimed, the landlady of Watts, a half-witted; girl with the appropriate namo of Masie, produces the genuino will of old Watts in which sh» is named the heiress. -.■.!•■ The new farco is Capitally Cast. 3,ir. Bert lo Blanc and Paul .Stanhope ss Iko and Mike are tho same characters wo saw in "A Day at the Races, but here they have a definite place in the plot and arc genukely droll nii their eiforts to sustain Wo roles ot Watts, jun., and his oboso sonny boy. Itteir iirst entrance is distinctly goon. The mazy "Mazio" has cirt the ropo that circumscribes the activities of a wild bull on tho adjacent golf links. . Immediately there is a scatter villagewards, golfers of both sexes rush and tumble past, villagers run iot their lives, and-; finally the ragged Ike fi»<2. Mike turn* bio over a wall and roll iivto riow. A; novelty pervades tho farce tlrroughout. Mr. Dave Nowltn gets soma distinctive character work' and a< great. laugh into Pete the tramp; Mr. Harry Burgess is quite admirable in the faith-fully-limned sketch ho gives a : s Rube Skaggs. His dry humour and ecoeitttio dancing and leg-actions were gentiinely amusing. Miss Elaine Bavwsbwg bettered the good opinion formed of her capabilities in "A Day at the Races." She dresses stylishly, is prepossessing in appearance, and hey manner ana speech gild even the "vontan bunco man" (as Ike calls her) with refine-. ment. Miss Bnvensburg's vocaj items wore cut out. We saw too little of 'Miss Teddy Martin, and too much of Misa Anna fJlark, who, as Mazio, had the audience laughing at her, not with her, A good dawn effect is introduced-on the rise pf the curtain, illustrating the capacity of the splendid lighting ment with which ihfe new theatre is provided. Among -th<ji -sijecessfu.] vocal items were: "The G-a-me' of Golf/' "Wouldn't That be a Dream," "Sijn. Francisco, 1915" (with tableaux). "Constable," and "Big Chief Smoke." A dancing interlude supposed to' illustrate i the'evolution of the tango was wellj stage-managed. Mr, Oli-ase-sang a verso about dancing jn the good old and the scene rises on a group of Mis* sissippi niggers dancing in tlio moonlight; then comes the eake-Waift, and after that the Tesas-Torrrmy. Then May Topping and Edna- Hayes do a Spanish tariojo, which is followed by a modern ball-room tango daneed with verve and spirit by Vera. Lmdstrotn and Mr. J. Cosby, who give the test exposition of the daiiee yet seen in Wellington. "The Grafters" will bo plaj-ed for three nights longer.