"PEG O' MY HEART."
AND A CAHIVATING ACTRESS "Peg o' Mv Heart," a comedy in three acts, by J. Hartley Manners. Cast:— "Jerry" Sir. Gerald Honson Alaric Chichester ...... Air. Cecil Brooking Montgomery Hawkes... Mr. Ernest Ruston Christopher Brent Mr. A. L. Pearce Jarvis , Mr. Thomas Sidney Mrs. Chichester Miss Doris Gilham Ethel Chichester Miss B. Yaldwyn Bennett Miss Betty Macimllan Peg ( Miss Sara Allgood It' "Peg o' My Heart," as the advent of Messrs. J. and N. Tait in legitimate theatrical enterprise can be accepted as an augury of what is to come, New Zealand playgoers will have every reason to congratulate themsolvcs, for the comedy is one that fairly pulsates with laughter and tears, with the former predominant. Much as we like the little play-and it is only a "little" play—wo are more than grateful to the new management for introducing such a completely captivating actress as Miss Sara Allgood, who, as that glib-tongued bundle of charms, Peg, nuzzled close to the heart of everyone, and is likely to remain a pleasing memory for many a long year. "Peg o' My Heart" has had a really remarkable career. It first saw the calcium light at Los Angelos under Morosco's, management a few years ago, when Miss Lauretta Taylor (wife of the author) made a hit in the title role. In New York and on tour its success was never in doubt, and finally London crowded to seet it for nearly two years-iand that whilst the war was on and Zeppelins hovered over London. In Australia it caught the affections of playgoers, and thero is no doubt whatever that New Zealand's approval will follow. Last evening s large audience quickly caught the simple charm of the comedy, and fell the easiest of victims to Peg's unconscious witticisms and morry liumours. "Peg" is a little Irish girl, with "good blood" on her mother's side. Whatever wont with that blood she had lost because-pf her mother's love for her father. .A wealthy uncle on passing had remembered refusing help to Peg's starving mother, and as an act of reparation provides for her upbringing.j as one of "the blood," and nominates anothor of his sisters, Mrs. Chichester, to carry out his wishes. That lady consents to do so for the money that is in.it, ahd so Peg, awkward, shabby, ginger-ouxled, bright-eyed' Peg, and her dog Michael, sidle into the luxurious home of the Chichestcra, and the placid conservatism of their insular existenco is jerked and strained most awfully by the intrusion of the waif from the outer world. It is the Irish in Peg that saves her from breaking down. Tinder the steady pressure of their insolence and contempt. Peg's heritage from her father includes an acute sense of humour, and whenever things are getting intolerable there is always something to make laugh-bubbles, and what she sees to laugh at the audienco sees ] and laughs at, wherein lies the ingenuity ! of the author. But Peg is a sentimental- j ist as well as a humourist, and sho has the power to induce tears ;f sho would but postpone the joko that is rising to her tongue, while her eyes aro still wet with tears.' Once sho prevents Ethel Chichester making a fool of herself with a married man, repaying all that lady's insolence by shielding nor at a crisis; she always succeeds in making AJarit Chichester look as big a fool as ho is, and Mrs. Chichester a gorgon. of silly pride and falee pretensions. "Jorry" is the one thoroughly sincero person in the play, and he falls in love with Peg in no time, and it is all as it should be when he tolls her that ho is her guardian as well as her loTer. Tho comedy is smartly written, there is not a dull moment in it, and it gives fair scope for fairly varied characterisation. ( Miss Sara Allgood is one of the most: pleasing character actresses we havo seen for a long time. She is soft-voiced and subtle, and, coupled with that elusivo feminine charm that is so raro and which reaches out to every heart, there is the soggestion that tho talent Miss Allgood possesses does, not reach tho limit of. its resources in. Peg. Sho can bo deliciously roguish and gay one moment, and tho next'will' be'hioiatehihg the eye with her emotional blarney, itor emotional appeal could bo folt oven as she crooned fragmonts of old Irish\airs, and her witchery in comedy is undeniable. Peg is everything in "Peg o' My Heart." Tho others are tho framework of a vory loveabla portrait. As. the lovor "Jerry," Mr. Gerald Heuson. was clean-cut in style, and had an ingratiating air of sincerity. The chief malo rolo is that idiotic swanker, Alaric Chichester, who was made admirably true to typo (allowing for a certain comedy license) by Mr. Cecil Brooking, Mr. Hawkes, the lawyer, was well played by Mr. llrncst Ruston, but Mr. A. L. Pcarco as Christopher Brent (a part he was called on to play in an emergency), was below pitch vocally the wholo tiuio and in othor respects was out. of tho picture. Miss Beatrico Yaldwyn was satisfactory as Ethel Chiohestor, and Miss Doris Gilham played Mrs. Chichester with proper dignity and hauteur. Tho ono set of scenery in which tho play is, enacted is beautifully furnished, and tho storm effects were quite good. will bo 'here for another week.
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Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2900, 12 October 1916, Page 3
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903"PEG O' MY HEART." Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2900, 12 October 1916, Page 3
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