WILLOUGHBY-GEACH COMPANY.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 804, 20 January 1903, Page 2

WILLOUGHBY-GEACH COMPANY.

“ WRONG MR WRIGHT.” The Theatre Royal was packed to the doors last night, and many wero unable to gain admissiou, so great was tho dosiro to he present during tho Willouglihy-Gcach season of two nights. Tho play put on was “ The Wrong Mr Wright,” which is noted everywhere as a mirth provoker, and played as cleverly as it was douo by tho members of tho Willoughby-Goaoh Company, thore was tho satisfaction of knowing that all tho time ouo was being entertained by artists of very high ability, who, whilo they ovokod tho hoartioßt laughtor, commanded tho warmest admiration for their acting. A ono-act comediotta, ontitlod “ Tho Grey Parrot,” was staged as a curtainraiser. It proved genuinely amusing, its theme, though simple, giving opportunity for some capablo acting. Tho parrot iB given by a jealous sailor to his wifo, who tells hor it is a magic bird and will roveal to him all sho docs when ho is absent. Naturally alarmed, tho lady is visited by a chum of hor husband's, who, to carry out a schcmo that is framed tolls her some of her husband's eseapados. Thoso sho repeats to hor husband as from tho parrot, and her plan to get rid of the bird iff successful. Miss Ethol Appleton carried off honors in this little piece, her acting being animated and graceful, and her enunciation excellent. Miss Bryer did well in her impersonation of a practical old lady. Tho other parts were capably filled by Messrs Leonard, Leopold, Lester, aud Tasman. Then came tho main fun of tho evening. Singloton Sites, a multi-millionaire and shrowd man of business, having boon robbed of 50,000 dollars by one of his clerks, invokes the aid of a private detective agoncy. Ho also sots off' in pursuit, aDd, hearing ho was heading in the direction of a certain locality in which tho plays open, goes there with despatch, and, to koep his identity dark, assumes tho same of Wright. Tho pursued ono had also tukon that name, and ho doos not come to this locality at all ; a lady detective who is on 4 his track does, and things become awkward for Singleton Sites, or tho “ wrong Mr Wright.” This charming lady losesno timo in getting on tho right side of ono Mr Wright, whom sho suspects as tho forger wanted. The minioDs of tho law are put on tho truck, and arrest the millionaire at the very timo the lady detective is imploring him to fly and save himself, for in devoting her time to him, sho has become too partial to his astounding personality. Tho greatest fun of tho piece comes in in tho efforts of the poor millionaire to establish bis identity ; though he has any number of relatives and friends at the hotel, they all deny that he is tho man robbed and not the robber, because ho had given elaborate instructions to them beforehand not to disclose his identity, and they imagino ho is still keeping up tho farce. A toiegram opportunely arrives stating that tho right Mr Wright has gono another way altogether and been captured, and the lady detective, having made so gross a bungle, decides to give up the business and becomes Mrs Singleton Sites. Mr George Willoughby splendidly takos the part of tho Wrong Mr Wright. He is a comedian of high capabilities, and all through had tho audienco in a simmer of merriment. In the scenes with tho nephew, with the ancient Miss Clingstone, or with his old college friend ho was truly “ a wonder,” and tho climaxes with the lady detective (tho charming Miss Roxy Barton) wero irresistibly fumiy. Everyone had to laugh, and when it came to the concluding act in which the Wrong Mr Wright has troublo to establish his real identity, tho audience is kept in convulsions of langhter. The handsome Miss Roxy Barton played her part in a very capable manner, and made a very strong scene of that in which she tries to shield the man whom she had been tracking. The young lady is a charming actress, and played her part in a most admirable way. As the nephew, Mr Frank Denton ably seconded the chief (Mr Willoughby), aud made the most of his part. Miss Ethel Appleton did exceedingly well as the millionaire's niece, while the part of the maid impersonating her mistress was nicely taken by Miss Millie Ascoli, who was warmly applauded for a graceful dance. The unpopular character of Arabella Clingstone was made the most of by Mias * Roland Watts-Phiilips. Mr Tom Cannam, with his lisp and eyeglass, helped on the fun to a considerable extent by tho way ho acted tho part of the lady killer. Tho part of Captain Crosby was impersonated in fine military style by Mr E. Lester. Mr Tom Leonard, as Front, contributed greatly to the fun, while as “ one of the boys of long ago ” Mr Geo. Leopold had a good part, of which he made a great deal —the whole giving a run of exquisite fun from start to finish.

"ON AND OFF” TO-NIGHT. To-night Messrs Willoughby and Geach promise still another London laughing success in “ On and Off,” which, according to the Southern critics, is even funnier than “ The Wrong Mr Wright.” The piece is one of the best farcical comedies of the day, and has had lengthened runs everywhere it has been produced. It is an ingenious, effective, and inoffensive story, which this company most amusingly act, and admirably play. A child may sit in innocence through the performance, finding pleasure in its quaint characterisation and diverting situr,tions ; the intellectual may revel in the wit of the play; whilst others would be prone to appreciate the verve that sustains it, always beyond vulgarity. Not only is the main idea humorous, hut there are two or three extravagantly comic episodes that afford the variety which is sometimes lacking in modern pieces of the sort. There will doubtless be still another crowded audience present this evening, seats for which may be secured this morning at Miller’s.