"SWEET LAVENDER"

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2267, 29 September 1914, Page 8

"SWEET LAVENDER"

'A WELCOME REVIVAL. '.'Sweef Lavender;" a comedy in three acts, by A. W. Hnero...Cast:— Mr. Bulger : WiJson. Forbes Bnth Hoit ,;- Lilian Lloyd Dr. Delancy Charles Lawrence Clement- Hale Kenneth Brapipton D«ik Fflenyl ....■„.......;... Arthur Cornell Lavender .'.....:.. Eileen Eobuisott Horace Bream ...:...: „:... Hugh Buckler Mrs. Gilflllian .......; Tempe Pigeot Minnie .'... .'.....;.. Violet Paget Mr. Maw : '. ;.:..; Kingston, HewittJtr. Geoffrey Wedderbura , . ; .Gerald Kay Souper Dear memories of Edmond Terry and Frank Thornton' were revived at t'ns Grand Opera House, when the BucklerPaget Company' very successfully revived Pinero's ■ charming comedy, "Sweet Lavender," 'with which play tho names of the two actors mentioned were associated 'in England ; and Australia. When first produced in London iri 1888 the comedy, ran for 670" nights, put of which- season Mr. Terry is said to have made £50,000, and the author one-fourth that ■ amount in royalties. Since then "Sweet Lavender"-has been revived many times, and invariably with success. Mr. Frank Tkorntou achieved a great siiccess with it..in- Australia and New Zealand,, and later. Mr. Terry himself was seen as Dick Phenyl "in Australia.. LosS. evening's performance was quite an admirable one in "many respects, and "gave the large \ audience present further proof of the company's resources.. An "outstandin«ly fine piece of work was the Dick Phenyl of Mr. Arthur Cornell, whoso likeness ■ to Mr. Terry in the nart was almost startling. From an artis'tic point of view Mr. Cornell has no need to fear comparisons. He fairly cr'ept ; into the skin'of tho dear old whisky-loving barrister-at-law, and illuminated the -sketch with many clever touches .that were never at variance with. Phenyl's quaint but loveable disposition! Lavender was nicely .played •by Miss i EileenA Robinson;. who is- a pretty and promising young ingenue. Miss-Violet- Paget was '■'absolutely, delightful as Minnie Gilflllian, _and her scenes.with that:breezy and, intensely nasal. American ; Horace Bream (Mr. Hugh.Buckler) ; we'ro among the. lest spots in the: play. ■Mr .-Kennethv ■Brampton was' well suited as Hale, -Mr. Souper was ..excellent as. Geoffrey Wedderburn,' and Mr. Charles ■Lawrence was r an eminently satisfactory Dr.'Delaney. . The important role ok Ruth ' Holt was delicately handled by Miss -,Vivian~Lloyd, and that-• cle.yer-' character- actress.tMiss .Tempe'. Pijjott was never at. 1 fault; 'as-' Mrs, Gilnllian. The'cotri'edy 'went with a , swing .from start-to finish, : arid, at. the final cur- ' tain flowers and applauee testified to tho pleasure everyone had derived from thp performance.: : .■•■ • : ■ "Sweet'.Lavender" will be played again this evening..; To-morrow evening ■"Fanny's. First, Play" will. be revived for one night only, and.the.season , ' will conclude on Thursday evening with that jewel .of modern comedy "The Great Ad-, venture."- ,' ."i .