HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1645, 11 January 1906, Page 3

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

“ THE J.P.” The opening of tho Gisborne seasoi of the Strand Theatre Comedy Com pany, as was expected, drew a crowdec house at His Majesty’s 'Jheatre las night, when the great farcical success, “The J.P.,” was produced for the firsl time in Gisborne. Those who go tc tixe J.P. go for an evening’s mirth, the aim of tho author being to create jollity, and in such hands the audience [ are kept in a constant state of laughter. Tho chief parts are taken by Miss Florence Lloyd and Mr J. J. Dallas, supported by a clever company. The groundwork of the piece is the adventures of Caesar Montague, “ J.P.,” the letters signifying both justice and peace and jocular party. Caesar is both. At home he is eminently respectable, staid and sober to a degree; abroad at Boulogne he is completely opposite. He is particularly anxious to stand well in the estimation of his nephew, who is to be his heir, provided he falls in with the matrimonial arrangements made by his uncle on his behalf. Charlie has matrimonial arrangements of his own. hie has been married on the quiet to Flo Neville, principal boy at the Bijou Theatre, whose particular friend is | Kate Earle, at the Gaiety Theatre, and wife of a low comedian, who fancies he was ;born to play tragedy. - The two ladies take the lead in the exposure of the pious fraud, who is ever addressed as the J.P., and who has had a bad time, particularly under the treatment of Flo Neville, who putting herself, in male attire, assumes the style and title of Captain Fattier, a gay dog, and lures the man on the brandies and sodas and a little game of nap, in which he or she contrives to fleece him of all his money seeing that Charlie underneath the table arranges the cards.

The comedy, whioh was most elaborately staged, caught on from the outset, and the vast audienoe, by the continual and sustained supply of breezy and farolcal situations, were throughout hilariously enthusiastic. Mr J. J. Dallas’ Ctejar Montague, J.P., was without doubt one of the cleverest samples of comedy acting yet displayed in Gisborne, His ponrtrayal of the giddy uncle who becomes hopelessly complicated through pretending to be a saintly teetotaller whilst in realty an abandoned toper of the worst type, was an inimitable display of clever mimicry, which was enhanced by this artist’s wonderful power of facial expression adopted to suit the main ludicrous si'ua-

t>oaß. Much interest was centred in the appearance of Miss Florence Lloyd, wbo from start to fiaish held her auditors’ rapt attsnticn, and evoked much admiration by her charming and graceful interpreta* tion of Flo Neville (Mr 3 Ohas. Vivian), whilst her ponrtrayal of Captain Rattler was truly fascinating. In the song and dance in the second act Miss Lloyd proved herself so wonderfully attractive and versatile that a desire was immediately created for encores innumerable. Mies Maud Cbetwynd proved hereelf to haye a most refined conception of the difficult role of Eats Earle, her characterisation was tricky, bright, and vivacious, and achieved for her a complete triumph. Miss Cbetwynd has a pleasing soprano voice wh’oh she used artistically in the catchy song •’ Teasing,” scoring a double encore. As Busette (tho French maid) Miss Florence Redfern had a moat congenial part with whioh she did excellent work, her French accent being admirable. Miss Elsie Austin, wbo is favourably known to Gisborne audiences, made a oharmiDg Amy Lovebory and made the most of the work alloted to her, whilst Miss Madge Herrick and Miss Norah Delaney proved highly successful in their respective roles. Mr Charles Mallalim easily supplied the great and continual demands of the character Charlie Vivian (the J.P.’s nephew) and rose majestically to the many eritieal situations forced upon him throughout the cotneTy. As Tom Hall (the low comedian with aspirations to tragedy) Mr Gregon McMahon (who lately distinguished himself throughout tho oolonies in the Hawtrey Coy.) supplied an enormous fund gf humour as the geisf strioken and jealous husband. His qoting iq the second act stamped him eg a comedian of high erder, The remaining parts of the casts were ably sustained by excellent supported of this capable combination. The company repeat the ” J.P.” comedy ogain this eveniog, and we strongly recommead a'l those who have not already availed themselves of the opportunity not to mi-s tti < lart performance of the never-to-bo-forgot‘en ‘'J.P.” comedy.