"THE MAN ON THE BOX"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 141, 10 March 1919, Page 8

"THE MAN ON THE BOX"

FTGMAN COMEDY COMPANY. AA "Tho Man 011 tho Box." a comedy in H threo acts by Grace L. Fuvniss, founded - 1 011 Harold MacUrath's novel of tho same S name. Cast:—. ti Lieut. Hobert AVorlnirtoa M. B. I"email D Mr. Charleß Henderson Pirie Bush t j Colonel George Annesley ... Vivien Mwards j: Count Karloff Kcnnutli Brampton Colonel -Frank lialeigh ... Mac. M. Barnes '• Magistrate Watts I.enhe Victor Monsieur Pierre Carey Clork of the Court Kenneth Carlisle _ Officer O'Brien Hedge Carey Officer Cassidy * ran it Jlarcour , William i' V-'. m'?° . MiHS Betty Amiesley Lolit-a liobertson , Miss Nancv Worlmrton ... Vrimrose tflryll * Mrs. Conway Emma Tcmplo f Cora Ca,ler A . t It is now some ten years or so since 3 Harold MacGrath's novel "The Man on tlio Box" achieved -popularity by reason 0 of its amusing stylo and tho quaiiitness b of its raison d'etre, a perfectly absurd ~ practical joke with serious results. Tho t comedy itself hardly runs so smoothly as the narrative, for very obvious reasons. The joko thnt is built up by Bob AVor- I burton, in a sudden fit of mad humour, 0 of shaving off his beard and taking A charge of someone else's carriage in mistako for his own, nud then finding that tho vehicle contains tho only girl - in all the world, is just a little too palpable for the stage, though it did not read so anticipatively in tho book. Probablv becauso it was' the first timo the company had played the piece, the action x was not nearly so smooth as it should have been with ixperienced players; there were queer little halts and jerks c here and there to bo remedied before ono could conscientiously write it down a good performance. Some of the characters were too worried about their lines T to givo much serious thought to sound and convincing interpretation. Air. Max i Figman, not so well suited to tho rolo s as ho was in "Nothing but tho Truth"— the dialogue constantly refers to AVorburton as the beau ideal of manly beauty among Army men—worked hard to arouse tho humour that unquestionably lies in tho comedy, and Micceeded up to a point, but it was an effort, particularly in the first act, where AVorburton is charged with reckless driving, disorderly conduct, and abduction. The storv £oes that when AVorburton drives off with whom lie believes to be lis 6iste.r and her friend, and finally pulls up, he caps the performance by kissing his supposed sister, who turns out to be Betty Annesley, the very girl he < has distantly adored. Betty, suspecting f who the reckless drivor is, not only pays his fine, but engages him as coachman, and Bob, in the spirit of romantic, ad- j venture, accepts the post. This brings tho comedy into tho domain of farce, and one of the best scenes occurs when he is being baited] by his swell friends, who are in the joke) whilst acting as Betty's butler. Finally, Betty confessed that she knows, and has known all the time, Bob's identity, and what a trump ha has been in many ways. A thread of dra- • matio interest is lent tho play by Colonel Annesley's affair with Court Karloff. Tho colonel, beggared at Monte | Carlo, has listened to tho temptations of Karloff, who wants plans of. all the , Amorican fortifications for his Govern- ; mcnt, and consents to secure them at a price. In tho end Annesley's conscience smites him, but the plans have already passed into Karloff's hands, and he, in love with Betty, threatens to expose Annesley's treachery unless Betty becomes his wife. The prompt action of AVor- ' burton saves the situation. One striking difference in tho players as distinct from tho play was the divergence in accent. Three or four of them, including tho leads, had a strong American accent, and used American tricks of pronunciation, whilst the rest were broadly and unmistakably English through'and through. As the action takes placo in and near AVashington, one must assume, in the interests of international peace, that the Amorican sec- ■ tion of the players have the "pull." Mr. Figman was lively and alert in his business and expression as Bob AVorburton, but hardly came up to' the writer's glowing description of the Adonis-like attributes of the chief character. Miss Lol-'/ta Robertson has a quiet charm that wins its way. Her Betty Annesley was pitchcd in too low a key, and much of her dialoguo was lost to tho audience in consequence. Her accent was uncompromisingly American; that of her father, Colonel Annesley (played by Mr. A'ivien Edwards) quite English. Tho outstanding performance of the piece was . tho Magistrate AA'atts of Mr. Leslie A'ictor, a fussy, vain, pedantic, fulsome idiot, who always says tho wrong thing. In "make-up," soundness of characterisation, and finish, Mr. A/fctor's sketch will probablv be tho best remembered featuro of the comedy. Mr, E. Pirio Bush was fresh and eager as Charles Henderson, and Mr. Kenneth Brampton was convincing in the nasty little bit ho had to 'do" 1 as Count Karloff. Miss Emma Temple was satisfactory as Mrs. Conway, and Messrs. Mac Barnes, Redge Carey, Frank Harcourt, Kenneth Carlisle, and Miss Caryll wero sufficient in minor roles. "Tho Man on the Box" will be played again this evening.

WADE'S WORM FIGS eradicate Worms of all description. Price. 1?. Gd. —Advt.