"UNDER TWO FLAGS"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2365, 22 January 1915, Page 7

"UNDER TWO FLAGS"

OLD-TIME ROMANCE REVIVED. "Under Two Flags," a romantic me'odrama, adapted from "Ouida's" novel oi tbe same name. Cast: liertie Cccii lioyeiiieu Mr. lieorgo Oroes IxiL'iUie Leoii lvoyciueu ill', ilaunce iK>ru uoytuueu jilt, u. a. Drayton uui'd iiwKiiitfiiam jiir. itonaui iuiey iiaKo jBX. rtttOK i\eut ooionol (jiiaUxLurcy Alx. Can. iTaiicis uipuun uauue uo Uiaui-eilon Alt. u. Buderiok Marshal of i'rance ill'. O. tverani hziu iiaroni Artnur uiynii •fi'iiioew uorona. jiubs On«i liouson OouiiMKß Ojgu. illus lilauys morgan Uuly • iiuuKuigiiam alik> we. hMjy Btauico uwuevuro Mise Connie Martyn Lavinia insa r»cu Hoiroyd Cigarette jiLhtf .Veiu juiiuee The pungent musk of old times chugs to "Uiuua b" romance, "Unaor 'i\io i'lags," biiaged by uie iViiiougnby i/raniatio Company at the Wand opera .house last, ovewug. A quarter oi . a century ago tnis play may have been accounted j. very jjiesentaole one, but even as uie penchant lor tne novels oi "Uuida" naa long-since passed away, So Das tne Lablu *or luniaiice losi> much oi ite waning interest ior theatre-goers of to-aay,. and the iong-finitua speeches anu explanatory askieu ot the characters, tne laulilesa perieotion of tno aristocratic hero who joins tne foreign .Legion in Algiers to oave tho nauio iu his worthless isomer, are au remiuißoeni, oi a styie oi piaywntiug lung since relegated to the uusty yast. "Under J. wo I'lags," m a wura, is, old-faswoned, and thougn there were bnguc patches m the acting, the drama diu nou have a very convincing ring. The story of the play deals wim tne lorgery by oaerlilie jttoyeilieu of Liord kooKingliam's name, and he allows ins brother to taKe tne blame of ins crime. Instead: of allowing tne guilty to sun'er, Bertie leaves hingland after a "scrap" with the police, and buries himseit in the sands of Algeria as a private in the French Foreign Legion. There we are introduced to tne one real character in the play, Cigarette, the dashing little vivandiere of the regiment, with a heart a3 big as a Life Guardsman's, which she promptly loses to the handsome Louis Victor, the Hon. Bertie's pseudonym. Events bring Rockingham, his sister the _ Princess Corona, and Berklie to Algeria, where Bertie is found smoking innumerable cigarettes, between what time he is not carving up the Arabs, with whom he is no end of a terror. His gallantry and good looks have earned him the hatred of the Colonel ("The Black Hawk"), who loses no opportunity to insult and degrade him. During her visit to Algiers, the Princess Corona discovers Louis Victor's identity, and invites bim to visit her at night. There is a love scene between the two, interrupted by the Colonel, who goads Bertie to strike him by insulting the Princess. For this offence he is condemned l to be shot, but Cigarette rides to headquarters, and after telling her story to the Marshal. obtains a free pardon for her lover, arriving at the place of execution just in time to fling herself in front of the blazing rifles. Her sacrifice means Bertie's release atfcT pardon, and one is left to anticipate that he will return to England and his own friends.

The Cigarette of Miss Vera Romee was an excellent performance. • She conveyed with firm touohes all the bonhoramie and aplomb of the brave little pet of the regiment; made love in a' rough, tomboyish spirit that was not altogether devoid of pathos. Mr. George Cross, as Bertie, exuded good nature and good living in sympathetic proportions, smoked many cigarettes gracefully, and-on-rare, occasions took charge of the situations. in ' good melodramatic style. Mr. Ronald Riley was convincing in all be had to do as Lord Rockingham, and Rake (Bertie's valet) was played with a rich Cockney flavour by Mr. Frank Neill. Mr. Carl Francis, as Colonel Chateaurcy, was stiff as a toy. chasseur. 1

"Under Two Flags" will be repeated to-night and Saturday.' To-day, being a _ holiday, the box plan and day saleß will both be at the Grand Opera House office, in the dress circle entrance.