"JO."

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3661, 9 April 1883, Page 3

"JO."

Mr Beecham-Hepbuiii, advance agent for Miss Jcni-i.e Lee's dramatic company, arrived to-day per Arawata to makeae-ange-ments for the company's season here, which will commence at the Then Ire Royal on Saturday ne:.t, 14th instant. The follow"lg flattering no'iee of Miss Lee's "Jo," a character in wH.h she w." 1 make her di-Uat before a Napier audience, is from the New Zealand Times of a recent date :—

AVhen we prognostioat2:l a few r days ago that iv thefoi'thconr-igproduclion of "Jo" at the Theatre Royal, a dramatic treat was in store for the AYe 1 ' lglon pub"c, we did no confidently, ha\ nig witnessed Miss Jennie j Lee's W'Oiidexfll performance some years a"-o :'n Loudon, and we are ghul to be able to record not only that the actress' impersonation has not fallen off, but also that the overflowing house which greeted her thoroughly enjoyed the master.piece set before them, although Miss Lee has performed this pari upwards of 3000 rimes, her renderi lg of it is as shaip and crisp as ever, and has not became slurred over, or carelessly pomtrayed from constant repetition." Of the piece itself, we gave the outline on Friday, and it is scarcely necessary to say more. The words are Dickens', and the adaption isJMr Burnett's. To those who know the book, " Bleak House," from which it is taken, the plot is clear enough, but we fancy that to those ignorant of the original there must be a hazi less hanging over the whole affair. It suffices, however, to bring out prominently two or three of Dickens' great diameters, particularly Jo, Cuppy, audGuster, a id to keep the audience alternately : i tears of laughter and pity. Those who tli'uk that Jo is entirely a lugubrious play should go and sec it, and— be prepared to'hold their sides firmly. Miss I Jenny Lee's Jo is simply perfect; there is no fault to find in it, and indeed it i.s almost, I if wo may be allowed tbe expression, move

than perfect, for it is absolutely without any sta°-iness or conventionality. The gestures, the voice, the expressions ax-e absolutely new. It is not long eiuce we saw Mr Maceabe in the character of a street Arab (a grovwi-up one), bis was bi-rlesque; Miss_ Lee's is nature. Her make-up and voice are so good that it is hard to suppose that off the stage " Jo" is a lady of the nineteenth century. AYe have nothing but good to say of "Jo," except to counsel all our readers to take the present opportunity of witnessing the performance. The style of the whole piece, and the humor of the characters is Dickens in spirit, and Cruiekshank in appearance. It is undoubtedly one of the best pieces that has been put upon our boards for a long time.