AMERICAN COMEDY COMPANY.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 981, 29 August 1903, Page 2

AMERICAN COMEDY COMPANY.

“ BROWN’S IN TOWN.”

Equally as amusing and humorous as their first comedy was the performance of “ Brown’s In Town,” given by the StineEvans Company in the Theatre Royal last evening, and from the rise to the fall of the curtain the crowded audience were kept in a constant state of morriment. The play is essentially light, both in character and plot, and in its course are introduced a number of quaint and novel “ turns,” which, although they have no connection with the piece, nevertheless add distinctly to its effect. Miss Olive Evans as Miss Letty Leonard, otherwise “ Mrs Dick Browne,” and her unfortunate husband, Dick (Mr Bates), who are trying to spend a' happy honeymoon, are rudely interrupted by numbers of town friends, whom they have vainly tried to dodge, and amongst them all some clever dancing is done. Miss Evans sang a quaint little Japanese song, entitled “ Pinky Panky Poo,” with an amusing chorus and dance, for which she receiyod a hearty encore. When he psn forget his trouble, Dick Brown is inclined to be happy, and sings “ The Same Old Crowd,” in which number is introduced several local hits. In rosponse to a decided encore he made a lightning change to a German, and gave a comic recitation, and th,en a clever parody j on “ Good-goo Eyes.” Miss Bicknell appeared as Miss Kitty Grey, the amateur cook, and with her bright and sparkling manner of acting, pleased the audience greatly. She was also responsible for some clever dancing. Miss Caulfield as June, the possessor of a truly wonderful voice, sang “Down on the Qld Swanee,” in a splendid manner. Miss Ford and Mr Douglas as Freda Hollubeck and Chauncey Worth, sang a tuneful coon song, “ My Queen’s the best that ever was seen,” and as an encore danced a breakdown. Mr Stine, as Abel Preston, the loving but irascible father, and Mr Bickneil as Arthur Howard, were responsibe for an amount of amusing and witty acting. Later on, when the real Mr and Mrs Brown appeared, matters became more complicated, and in the midst of the trouble Miss Evans sang another song, “ My I Little Hindoo Quoen,” with a chorus, in which some eccentric dancing was done. Mr Hunt appeared as George, and his singing was specially enjoyable. He gave a truly musical rendering of “ You for Me and I for You.” and in response to a hearty encore, sang “ The Rolling Sea.” The theatre was packed to its utmost capacity, and judging by the keen appreciation of the large audience, there will be another record house to-night, when these clever American comedians make their final appearance in Gisborne, staging “ Where is Cobb ?” °