ENTERTAINMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2225, 31 October 1907, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

WILLOUGHBY-WARD SEASON. “MR HOPKINSON." A cordial' greeting was extended to tho Willougliby-Waril Comedy Companv l>v tlio public of Gisborne last night. His Majesty's Theatre being packed to the doors. 'J'lie opening piece of the tliree nights’ season, “Mr. llopkinson,” which has achieved 1 emarkable success everywhere, completely captivated the audience, and laughter .reigned supreme from curtain rise to fall. The piece served as a splendid introduction, and it is safe to assort that the. company will i (a.ve crowded houses each evening. Of slight construction, as most pre-sent-day comedies are, “Mr. Hopkinson” is one of the most smartlywritten pl’ays of the present day. epigrammatic on society and middle life, and happily setting off tho peculiarities of a typo of humanity occasionally encountered. - Tho first act introduces tho Duke and Duchess of Bracehorough, whose relations are merely those of indifference, at their residence. Fina'ircial embarrassment s discussed, several effective allusions to the ways of the smart set. being cleverly interwoven into tho dialogue. It. seems that the castle is mortgaged to the irascible Earl of Addleton, who is British Ambassador lat Madrid, and he makes it. a stipulation before agreeing to renew tho mortgage that the Duke and Duchess shall find an eligible partner for Iris daughter, Lndy Thyra Egglosby, a condition being that the parte must be rich and Rave no “past.” This last stipulation is doubtless a twinge of conscience, the. Earl’s name having been prominent in an almost forgotten di-.-orce case. The Duchess confides that she has been unsuccesful so far’ in finding a partner for Lndy Thyra, though never in any way unduly pressing her duties as clilaperon. I'ho Hon. Otto Dursingham, finding that the eligible need not necessarily be “in our set,” introduces Mr. Hopkinson, a vulgar little Cockney who bad made a rise in trade and had an income of £40,000. Tho scene of his entry into such a distinguished circle was happily pourtrayed, tho plebian’s sorry showing and malapropisms fairly bringing down the liouso. Indeed, this was the theme for much of the merriment throughout. Tho Duchess, with studied graeiousness, takes Mr. llopkinson in hand, and raises his hopes by telling him that with such an income a titled marriage could be brought about. Her injunctions as co certain lines ho must follow to get cho entree into Society make capital reading. “You'may ho almost anything you like,” she assures him, “hut not respectable,” much to the horor of tho little parvenu who had boasted that his parents were “com” but respectable. The aspirant for social distinction is mean at heart, though wealthy, and his qualms at the largo expenditure necessary for motors, yachts, villas, etc, are most amusing to behold. Act 2 sees much improvement in Mr. Hopkiuson, who lias recovered from his bashfulness and excessive humility only to go to the opposite extreme of familiarity. 11l tho meantime, however, his marriage with Lady Thyra has been arranged ; but the fair aristocrat recoils from the. union as she realises the obvious ineompatability betwen her and the vulgarian. At this stage, a new maid arrives, who turns out to lie ilr. Hopkinsou’s former flame whilst in humble circumstances, and she wears a determinedly aggresive air that threatens possibilities. In his efforts to wheedle her into silence, the unfortunate “Hoppy,” as he is dubbed, is caught in several rather compromising situations with the maid, and falls into hopeless confusion when seeking to hide the past. A new development arises by Lord Gawthorpe and the Lady Thyra quietly going off to be married, the irony of it being that tho “needful” £IOOO is obtained from “Hoppy” by a friend of Gawthorpe’s. The closing scene is admirably arranged. Tho old Earl arrives back in England, and is not at all placated by the appearance of Mr. Hopkiuson as a son-in-law, and some diverting dialogue ensues over the renewal of the mortgage and tho drawing-lip of a marriage settlement. It is characteristic of “Hoppy” that lie resigns himself at last- to sign the deed, but takes exception to paying for the stamp. An anti-climax is a claim by the maid for £SOOO damages, she in the alternative threatening to make a scandal. Mr. Hopkinson will not “part” more than £2500, and to save any talk the Earl writes out a cheque lor the balance. Then comes the denouement when Lord Gawthorpe arrives and announces that he has already married Mr. •lopkinson’s bride-elect. The Earl is furious; the others have mixed feelings on the matter, and in Hie end Hoppy makes the best of things by marrying the maid, not overlooking the fact that she has £SOOO in her nossession. Tho piece is brimful of amusing situations, and the audience is never tiled at laughing at the unconscious humor of Mr. Hopkiuson. Mr. Hugh Ward, in the name part, achieved a hit from the start, and gave a fine impersonation of the 'character. Tlio stately; and worldwise Duchess was an important role, bandied by Miss Grace Palotta (whose charming costumes were a picture) in finished artistic manner. Mr. Geo. Willoughby, as the Earl of Addleton, an elderly pompous aristocrat, whose health was a consideration, infused much quiet'humor into tho last act. Miss Olivo Wilton was prominent .n the rolo of Lady Thyra, showing the moods and caprices of that young lady with spirit, Mr. Reginald Wykeham, as the Duke, an average typo of nobleman, was well placed, and the various subsidiary roles were in capablo hands. The staging was elaborate and tasteful in every particular. -> “THE NEW CLOWN.” To-night “The New Clown” will be presented. An exchange says:—“ln ‘The New Clown’ Miss Grace Palotta adorns a part which is dainty rather than farcical, with one quaintly pretty song, ‘Mary,’ and, with Mr. Ward, sings a gay lyric, ‘Strolling,’ in which the pair make the best hit- of the piece. She does justice to both the merriment and pathos of her part. Mr. Ward pervades tlio play with Ins character sketch of Lord Garston—played in a spirit of the broadest ' com eel 3*, but with always a subtle note, showing the development of the callow levelling till he is a man and not a mouse. His songs, topical and otheriwse—solos, duets with Miss Palotta, trios -with Miss Palotta and Mr. Willoughby—are as numerous ns they arc humorous. To Mr. Willoughby falls the part of the circus proprietor, a typical lion unique character, and ho puts it into the front rank with Mr. Ward’s Clown.” The season will terminate to-mor-row night with a performance of the over-popular farcical comedy, “The Man from Mexico.”