'BARRY OF BALLYMORE'

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2524, 27 July 1915, Page 7

'BARRY OF BALLYMORE'

—4 THE RETURN OF ALLEN DOONE "Barry-of Ball.vmore," a comcily by Itida, Johnson Young. Cast— Corney Tom Buckley Biddy Annie Gild Mary Aim Rose Darcy Tim Frank Cotter Phadrig Bannon Connie Kyte Michael M'Shane Maurice Lynch Lady Mary Bannon Edna ICeeley. Betty O'Mara Ethel Grist Gerald O'Mara Clive Faraham Sir Edward Emery Onslow Edgoworth Thomas Barry ;AUen Doone Mrs. Barry ...! Aline Dunn Nanette *. Ethel Basliford Lord Bannon Frank CuHenane Doctor Munly J. Vincent White There is unquestionably a big public for such plays as Mr. Allen Doone presents, and apart altogether from their quality, the actor has a certain personal charm of planner, an easy reposeful methud, and an ingratiating appearance which account for his popularity. No actor could, have received a. more genial recoption than wae accorded Mr. , Doone last evening, were he the finest Hamlet of tho day, and tho large audience present showed no lack of appreciation of the good fund and exceedingly pretty stage settings that grace the comedy, "Barry of Ballymore," ' which was new to Wellington playgoers. The play , tabes in'pretty well tho whole garaiit of the emotions in its easy stride. It is mostly quiet comedy that dopM<J 3 f° r . a gurgling laugh on a well-turned line with a curly tail, a, smart thrust of reparteo or «m amusing situation; the second-act Is mere farce, and the third has a touch of emotional drama, with the sentiment adjusted to the capacities of the dullest iutollect, and the whole winds up witli a comic duel fought in ono of the best woodland stage settings seen since Musgroves English Shakespearean Company revelled in the Forest of Arden. The plot of "Barry of Ballymore ,J boars a distant resomblance to Goldsmith's fine old play, . "She Stoops to Conquer, in that the wilful highly-strung Lady Mary Baiuion deigns to pass herself off as the-barber's daughter £b deceive the man who is laying siege to her heart as to her estate. In this case young Marlow is Tom Barry, a young and brilliant'artist, who having niado fame and fortune returns to his native place and there leases for a time the ancestral castle of the Bannon6. His motive in doing so is owing to his friendship for Nanette, a girl lie has itiet in the students' quarter ill Paris, and whom his art master on his dying bed ha 3 sworn to be tho legitimate daughter of Lord Bannon and a model who died (shortly after giving .birth to the child. Determined that Nanette should get her rights, Tom commences by falling desperately in love with Lady Mary pannon, without knowing who she is. , It ail comes out iu a heated scene between Tom and Lord Bannon, to which Lady Mary is an auditor, which sccne incidentally leads to a duel between Tom and Sir Edwwl Emery, an insolent puppy and noted duellist. Tom goes to his fate with a sinking heart and a joking tongue. His opponent fires first and wounds Tom in tho wrist, and : then, farcically, offers his breast for Tom's ball at a yard's rang®. Tom, of. course, gives Sir Edward his life, and is told by everyone and Sir Edward what a good fellow he is. Lady Bannon thinks lie is a'darling, a'ud shows it, and there'-appears to bo no possible doubt whatever that Nanetto will in due course come into her own when the curtain falls oo the leafy carpet of Bannon Wood. ' Mr. • Doono makes an ideal Tom Barry. His quiet methods, and restraint- on ail > occasions • denote the 'actor of experience. There is something ■ subdued and velvety about his gaiety in. his blithest moments, yet he never fails-to make every line effective. As usual bo punctuates the part with songs, which were, as is the rule,, uncommonly popular with the audience. These were "Mary," "Eyos of Irish Bine" (gaily supplemented by a dance executed by 'ten : clever children, and which was doubly. encored), "My Heart's Bouquet," and "Mother Astharo.". Miss Edna Keeley was inclined to make Lady Mary a screeching virago in tho giddy course of tempera she is called upon to affect, but one cannot but admire'the benign maimer that Miss Keeley.assumes so well when being sung at by Mr. Doone, and her changing expression in such interludes were redeeming qualities. Miss Ethel Bashfovd "made a charming Nanette, and Miss Connie Kyte was a bright little pprite as Phadrig Bannon. The Corney of Mr. Tom Buckley was a sketch that might have been torn out of one of Lever's' novels, so faithful was it m brogue and feeling. Mr. Clive Farnh'am made a likeable Gerald O'Mara, and . Mr, Onslow Edgoworth as Sir Edward Emery was- as (ibjectionably "uppish" as the character demanded. Mr. Frank Cullenane had the requisite weight for Lord Bannon, and Mr. Maurice Lynch, as the humbugging leech, Miohael M'Shane, was an entertaining old party. "Barry of Ballymore" will be played this and to-morrow evenings. On Thursday it will give place to "Molly Bawn." A capable orchestra under Mr.' Percy Kehoe is a valuable factor in the production.