WILLOUGHBY DRAMATIC CO.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2158, 26 May 1914, Page 6

WILLOUGHBY DRAMATIC CO.

"FOR, THE TERM OF HIS NATURAL LIFE." "For the Term of His Natural Life," a melodrama founded on Marcus Clarke's novel of that name. Cast:— Richard Devine Mr. Cyril Mackay. Captain Prorc Mr. Herbert Leigh. Sir Richard Devino Mr. Bruce' Ncwham. Lord Bcllasis Mr.- Frank Nell. Rev. Mr. Meekin Mr. Darcy Kclway. Gabbett Mr. J. P. O'Neill. Crowe- • Miss Noll Holroyd. Moucher Mr. J. Thompson. Troko Mr. R. Newton. Rev. John North Mr. Vivian Edwards. John Rex Mr. Ronald Riley. Lady Devine Mias Pearl Helmrich. Sylvia Miss Rose Terry. Mrs. Vicjkars Miss Pearl Smith. Sarah Purfoy Miss Nellie Fomusson. "For the Term of His Natural Life," tho novel written by Marcus Clarke, was a classic of its kind. It pictured the disgraceful scones of the oldconvict days iu a, manner which brought homo to reasoning people the fact that tho system Was a blot on tho fair namo of England, long after it had been recognised as such by the Home authorities of the early Victorian days. Ono cannot conscientiously . compliment the i adapter of the book for tho stage. Tho adaptation is crude, and only such passages as those calculated to harrow tho feelings have been selected by the playbuilder. Even those are loose-jointed, and often most unconvincing. For example, only tho most shadowy explanation is given of the cause that brings about tho marooning of Captain Frere, Sylvia, and Dawes, and tlio charming scenes enacted there, which constitute the central romantic feature of tho book, are quickly disposed of, in order that tho cannibalistic Gabbett, and tho cruelties of Frere may havo full play. So little is left to the imagination that one of the convicts is lashed to the triangles to be flogged in" full view of tho audience. The "makeup" even went tho, length of red stripes, intended ' to suggest the effect of previous Hoggings. Tho adaptation is indeed so poor that it really leaves little scope for tho art of tho actor, and the performance suffered considerably thereby. Further, tlio intervals were inordinately long, and the .acts correspondingly short. Mr. Herbert Leigh blustered and swaggered as Captain Frere, the martinet in charge of the soldiery at Port Arthur, but made little attempt to depict the gradual degeneration of the character drawn iu the novel—the man who becomes completely brutalised by his environment: and, similarly, Mr. V. Edwards, as the Rev. John North, who becomes a slave to drink, gives no. outward sign of his vice,' and is just as spruce and clean-out in the last act as in tho prologue. Mr. Cyril Mackay was excellently east as Richard Devino (DawosV and exerted his magnetic power to lift tho scenes that ho was concerned in. Another rolo that.was admirably characterised was that of Sarah Purfoy by Miss Nellie Fcrgusson, and her scene with John Rex, on her return to England, was capitally acted throughout. Miss Rose Terry scarcely suggested tho youthful Sylvia of the earlier scenes, but was nearer the character in the final scenes. Mr. J. P. O'Neill was unpleasantly realistic.as tho terrible Gabbett, while Miss Nell Holroyd was as bright as a new pin as the cbnvict Crowe. Comedy of a burlesque order was supplied by Mr. Darcy Kelway, as the Rev. Mr. Meekin, and Mr. Ronald Riley was satisfactory as John Res., Miss Pearl Helmrich appeared as Lady Devine, and Miss Pearl Smith as Mrs.' Viekarg. The play generally was fairly well mounted, but the convict ship on which the mutiny happens was structurally the queerest old craft that ever attempted a theatrical voyage. One beautifully-painted cloth depicting a placid lake and luistpii wrapped mountains beyond calls for special praise. "For the Term of His Natural Life" will be played again to-night and tomorrow night, and on_ Thursday "The Bad Girl of the Family" will be revived.