"THE BOLD SOJER BOY"

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2825, 17 July 1916, Page 3

"THE BOLD SOJER BOY"

ALLEN DOONE COMPANY. "The Bold Sojer Boy," a comedydrama in three acts. Last:— Mrs. O'Hooligan Ethel Grist Swing Hi Maurice Lynch' Montmorency Basset Jean. M^Coll Gustavus van Nalun ... J. Vincent Whito Captain Tliorndyko ... Onslow Edgcworth Helen. Fitzgerald Edna Kceley Lieut. Adair Allen Doono Captain Clare Fitzgerald ... Tom Buckley Millicent Basset Connie Ivyto Barton Quimby Clive Farnham Mrs. Basset Ethel Bashford Colonel Basset Frank Cullenane "Tho Bold Sojer Boy," the new comedydrama performed by the Allen Doone Company . on Saturday evening, only differs geographically from other plays that wo Have come to associate with tlio name of tho actor-author now in Wellington. In this cheorful play the autuor—whoso name is omitted from the programme—pitches his scenes in America, and though each.and every ono of the male characters speaks with an Irish | brogue, they are mostly officers in the American Army, and as such give tho | several scenes more colour than they otherwise would have done. As a rule American comedy-drama is crowded with aggressive character types, leaving no doubt as to the locality of the play, but Mr. Doone is so faithful to tho Irish that no llavour of his native country is allowed to discount the sentimental appeal that he makes to the most sentimental of all peoples. Even Dutch Pete, one of the, arch-villains, was found sporting a healthy "brogue in unconsidered moments, though his business is to be as German as the dialogue permits. The trouble. occurs at Fort Wadsworth, where an American'regiment is stationed. There is Colonel Basset and his pretty wife, Captain Fitzgerald and his charming,daughter, Lieut. Gerald Adair und liis blarney, and Captain Thorndyke and Dutch Pete with villainy. Lieut. Adair lias arrived from Wyoming, whore he admits to having killed a man who cheated at cards, and, without troubling West Point, secures a commission in the U.S. Army, and is making great headway with Captain Fitzgerald's winsome daughter, Helen, when Dutch Pete arrives on tho scene, and recognises Adair (really, Gerald Clare) as the man who

"finished" his gambling partner in AVyoming. Working with Captain Thornydyke, who is also in love with Helen, theso two worthies contrivc to fasten a charge of playing with marked cards on. Captain Fitzgerald (a stupid old man who ought to be on the retired list), in order to get a hold on the dough ter, and at the same time "Dutch i'eto'calls on Adair to resign his commission, otherwise he will denounoe him as a murderer. This he is doing to aid Captain Thornydyke's love affair, in return for which the /renegade officer is to secure him the plans of a new gun invented by Colonel Basset. The dramatic climax arrives when Thornydyke, taking advantage of the,. Colonel's absence, attempts to steal the plans, and is caught in the act by Adair aud Mrs. Basset. To defend himself he accuses Adair of stealing the Colonel's honour. As the situation does look queer for Adair and Mrs. Basset, the honours are abo'uf even, until Adair's lawyer friend turns up with a newspaper, announcing tho arrest of the man Ad sir is supposed to hava killed ■in the West. The news is used to intimidate "Dutch. Pete," who at once peaches on Thornydyke, and restores happiness to all the innocent people whu have been made to look otherwise. The playwright has.not worried much about the verities or probabilities, and does not expect his audiences to. Ho sees that there is a full measure of pleasant, homely comedy, a serio-comic love interest, and enough drama t» give tho courso of true love the requisite -ough passage of custom. ~ Mr. Doone does not trouble to te anybody else than Mr. Doone, and that is all the public wish him to be, whether he be Lieutenant Adair or anyone rise.

His pleasant personality, Mil quiet, insinuative manner, makes him generally popular. Onco more ho introduced the 'Kerry Guard" with its train of merry kiddies, and, at sentimental points, bursts into such songs as "Rose of Old Kerry," and "The Colleen that I Marry." Never once did ho honour tho uniform ho was wearing with "The Star-Spangled Bajiner," or even ft stave or two of ragtime. jfiss Edna-Kecley acted with considerable charm as Helen Fitzgerald, and succeeds in never looking foolish when teing sung to by Mr. Doone. Jliss l'.lliel llashford was satisfactory in a poorlywritten part; little Connie Kyfe, who is always as bright as n spring morning, was pleasing as Millicent Basset, and tiny Jean M'Coll was pert and precocious as her infant brother. Mr. 0. Edgeworth was quite an amiable sort of villain as Captain Thorndyke, and Mr. J. V. White made "Dutch Pete" a polyglot character—a. citizen of all tho world. Mr. Frank Cullinane made a roupli, well-ted Colonel Basset, and Mr. P. Buckley, as Captain Fitzgerald, • was hardly suited to the demands of the character. Mr. Lynch burlesqued Swing Hi humorously, and Mr. C. Farnliani was clean-cut in appearance and speech as tho lawyer Quimby.''' The play will be performed again to-night and to-morrow night. On Wednesday evening the farcical comedy "Too Much Johnson" will be produced.