"TOM MOORE"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 303, 11 September 1918, Page 8

"TOM MOORE"

THE ALLEN DOONE COMPANY "Tom Moore," a comedv in four act«. Cast :— Sir l'ercival Lovelace ... Onslow Edgeworth Lord Moira ; Kenneth Oarlylo Bessie Dyke •„ Edua Keeley Tom Moore Allen Doone Kobm Dyke Tom Buckley Terence Farrell :......,. Geo. Hewlett Winnie Farrell Aline Dunn Buster ; Connie Kyto Mrs. Malone Ethel Grist M'Dermott .' Maurice Lyuch Beau Bruiiimcll Jack Deaney Kiohard Briusley Sheridan Frank Cullenane Lady Fitzhcrbert Ethel Bashford Prince of Wales Harrington Eeynolds It was a happy idea to make Ireland's much-loved poet, melodist, nnd wit the central figure in a play, and very deftly has skill in writing been welded to sentiment in the graceful and witty comedy performed by the Allen Doone company at the Grand Opera House last evening. Thero was a large and altogether delighted audience, There is in. the lines that pretty play of- fancy and cultivated .speech, in which > humour plays hide-and-seek with epigram, also an air of lavender and old lace which lends a particular charm to tbo play. Added interest attaches to the parade beforo the footlights of such notables of a fascinating period of history as Sheridan, Beau Brummel, Prince Ecgent, Sir l'ercival Lovelace, and the gay Lady Kitzherbeit. These people have also been adroitly woven in tho fabric of a story which is as full of heart as Moore's own poems, Tom Moore is doscribed as tho lover of Bessie Dyke, the, village school mißtress, and a merry is enacted with a full class of juvenile odmahauns, who play upon Jfoore's generosity and obvious devotion to their mistress. Tho beauty and youth of Bessie have caught tho fancy of that exquisite of the period, Sir Percivnl Lovelace, a daring libertine at a. time of easy liconce. Resolving to possess her he induces old Dyke (who has literary' ambition) to go to London, taking hia daughter with him, but before doing so he haH by intrigue brought about an estrangement between Tom and Bessie. In London Bessie makes a success upon tho stage, and Tom becomes famous as a poet, hut they are kept apart by LoveInce. who, in his anxiety to win the idol of Drury Lane, getß old Dyke into his dutches by loaning him money which tho old man squandei'B in speculation. Finding Moore's increasing favour with the Prince imperilling hio schemes, Lovelace attempts to buy Bessie through her father, and at tho same time a scurrilous lampoon upon the Prince, written by Dyke, i 6 attributed to Moore, who. to save Bessie's father, takes tho blame. Tom also pays Dyke's debt to Lovelace by mortgaging his talent to M'Dermott, tho publisher. The Prince, outraged by the attack made upon him by one he hod favoured, ostracises Moore, but Lord Moira, a faithful friend of the poet;s, succeeds in bringing the truth to light, and restoring Tom to the Prince's favour. Bessie, convinced at last that Tom is a good-heartcd ind loyal Irish gentleman, at length sues prettily for his heart and hand in a very charming scene. A feature of the play iB tho reception at Covelace's rooms, in honour of the Prince, in which the handsome and ricturesquo dresses, tho .powdered hair, and the studied pose of the gentle folk mado an extremely delightful picture. Mr. Doone. with his soft, insinuating ways, and pleasant personality, made Tom Moore a very likeable fellow, and his fragile tenor voice was heard in. songs that found great favour with the audience. The, part must bo considered one of Jit. Doone's besJ. Miss Fdna Kctley mado Bessie Dyko a prepossessing young lady with a very Teady tongue, which, in tone, had rather more than a dash of vinegar in it than probably the author intended, but in tho love scenes she made a very suitable partner for Mr. Doone. The beet, played character part was certainly the M'Dermott of Mr. Maurice Lynch who gave a .-cry complete and finished portrait nf the sharpwilted, terEe old Scotch publisher. His accent was impeccable. Lord Moira. was narticularly well Dlaycd by Mr. Koj-neth Carlyle, jnd Mr. H. Reynolds rut a bandsome figure as the Prince of Wales. Mr. Onslow Edgeworth's limited range of vocal expression was rather levelling, but he strutted, posed, nnd raged with all the affectation' of the period. Mr. SVa-iik Cullinane made. Sheridan a giggling old man. and Mr. Jack Deany was ouito good as Beau Brummel], and Mr. George Hewlett was entirely satisfactory as Terence Farrell. Mr. Patrick Buckley made Dyko somewhat too elderly and ponderous. Miss Ethel Bashford was Lady Fitzherbert, aud Miss Connie Kyte was sprightly and fresh as Buster. Moore's servant. Tlie children of the school sceno were all delightful. The play is well found in every respect, and the Irish lilts that came from Mr. Percy Kehoe's band were \n harmony with the national flavour of tlie play. -