"THE GIRL IN THE TRAIN"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2969, 5 January 1917, Page 7

"THE GIRL IN THE TRAIN"

4 A WELCOME REVIVAL "The Girl in tho Train," a. musical ■ play in two aol-s. Cast:— j Kai'cl Van Bureu Fred Maguiro Lucas Van Trump Field Cornelius Scrop Alfred intli ; Willem Kronwevliet ... Ronald Al'Leou Councillor Van Do Liejc...Claudo linn tuck Councillor Van Dander-William Ureeno n Herr Van Eyck Harry Woottou President Van Eyck Ciuis. Workman o .tana Van Huron i'aiio Eaton t art jo Kronwovliet Coauie Ediss t Adolino J Elliott ■_ ' I Gouda Van Der Loo ...' Dorothy Brunton c Thero need bo no apology for a. re-, c vival of "Tho Girl in tho Train." This < play delighted Wellington people when « first it was presented here, and last night's performance by tho Williamson j Company proved that it lost none ot its charm on renewed acquaintance. Tho piece has rather moro substanco j than goes to the makings of the avcr-i 5 ago musical comedy. Court scones, of course, havo attracted the playwrights ) evor sinco Portia first trod tho boards, and it cannot be said that there is j originality even in a stage representa- i tion of a divorce suit in these modern days. 1 But if tho theme of "Tho Girl ■ in tho Train" ,is not entirely, new, its i development presentation are ; pretty, witty, and piquant. Theso adjectives may be applied particularly, . in tho present ins-tauca, to the performance of Miss Dorothy Bninton, on whose shoulders rested lightly the chief burden of tho evening. Miss Brunton was the girl, whose accidental intrusion into the sleeping compartment rosorved for Mr. Karol Van Buren produced a whito heat of jealous anger in the heart of Jana Van Buren, and thus provided work for President Van Eyck, of the Divorce Court. She was an altogether delightful girl, and her performance will strengthen the firm hold she had, already established upon tho affections of Wellington theatregoers. A largo share of tho musical numbers fell to the lot of Miss Brunton, and sho made a, pronounced success of , every item. Specially effective was she in tho. dainty duet "Charming Little Gonda," and the' merry quintette, "Counting Out." Mr. diaries Workman made a splendid Van Eyck. He developed tho humour of the part admirably, and though his lines carried him over the border that divides comedy from i'arco, :he skilfully retained the elements of wit that belonged to tlio portly judge with his keen eye for a pretty iaco and delicate situation. ■ \ViTfi Mr. Field l'lshcr, who inado a good study of Lucas van Tromp, Mr. Workman sang "The Girls Wo Used to Know," an artistically-ah-anged number, in which the two men wero assisted liy some very pleasant "memories," in the persons of Misses C. Bradley and G. Withers. Among tho other principals, should be made of Miss Connie Ifidiss, who was an amusing maid, and Miss Mario Eaton, who was graceful aittl tuneful as the needlessly-jealous wife. Miss Ediss's solo, "ALittlo Bitot 'What i'ou Fancy," was one of tho "hits" of the evening. A gay pas • seno by Miss Madge Elliott was a' welcome attached item. Tho staging and dressing were again spleni did, in accordance with the practice of the Williamson proprietary, and the largo chorus formed a .pretty and vivacious background for .the members of the cast. "The Girl in the Train" will be played again this, evening. To-morrow niiilit and on Monday evening the company, will make their faroweli appearance, when there will bo staged two special revivals of "High Jinks," which delighted playgoers of New Zealand oighteen months ago. The story of "High Jinks" is funny, tho music is good, and the dressing staging, and electrical effects liken it to a big pantomime. It was in "High - Jinks" that Miss Dorothy Brunton made her first big triumph in Sydney, and it 'is questionable whother sho is quite as good in anything else as she is in tho delightful play. Mr. Chas. Workman, too, is in his element in "High. Jinks," and so aro Messrs. Claude Bantock, Ronald M'Lcqcl, Fijld Fisher, Alfred, Frith and William Greene. Miss Maudo Fane will play tho important part of Mile. Chi Chi, I and Miss Connie Ediss will appear' as Adelaido Fountaino, and Miss Marie Eaton as Sirs. Thorpe.