ENTERTAINMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2139, 14 March 1908, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

“PETER’S MOTHER.” There was again a crowded 'house at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening, when the Herbert Flemming Comedy Company presented the charming three-act play “Peter’s Mother.” The story deals with a pliaso of human nature seldom used by dramatists, and shows how parents, though they seo their children grow into manhood and womanhood, develop in staturo, in intelligence, selfreliance and all tho attributes of tho grown-up, and while admiring these qualities still continue to look upon thorn as merely children, und to eternally think they should bend to tho parental will. On the other hand tho child, when grown up, looks upon tho parents as elderly people, whoso place is tho fireside, and whoso only use in lifo is to give way to tho whims and fancies of tlioir indulgent and spoilt children. Into this phase of pyschological human nature Mrs. Ilarry do la Pasture has woven a clover story, full of literary merit, intense interest, and sparkling humor. Tho dialogue is crisp, natural and easy; tho repartee is at times brilliant, and tho audience is kept absorbed in the play from the rise of tho curtain to the fall. The story tells how Peter’s mother had married when a mere girl, a comparatively old man. .Peter is tho only child of tho union, and both parents are so devoted to the boy that from infancy he is indulged. Without consulting liis parents Peter leaves England for the war in South Africa, and liis father dies on tho same evening from the offects of a surgical operation. Thus left childless and husbandless, Peter’s mother, after two years of mourning, forms a second attachment, and just as life is opening up bright and hopefully for her again, Peter returns home, minus one arm, from the war. Ho .is received in his native village with a great show of welcome, is honored on all sides, and becomes a self-conscious prig. While his mother sees in Peter only her baby boy, Peter sees in his mother tho elderly matron only, and seeks to relegate her to her place, while he stops into his fathers shoes. The news of his mother’s attachment comes upon him as a thunderbolt, just as ho is planning an engagement for himself. At first he cannot grapple with tho position, but his. own chosen bride shows him the utter.selfishness of his attitude, and he comes to see that while he seeks his own happiness he should never stand in the way of tho happiness of others. The honors of tho performance last evening were with Mi6s Boatrico Day, upon whom, as Lady Mary Crewys (Peter’s mother), the principal sliaro of the story falls. The part allows a wide scope of acting, and Miss Day made the utmost of a heavy and difficult part. Her emotional passages woro well and truly done, and the audience showed their appreciation by repeated recalls. Mr. Aubrey Mallalieu, as Peter, presented a welldefined conception of tho part. His unconscious selfishness, his self-ad-miration, and at times tyrannical and overbearing manners were well studied. Mr. A. S. Homewood, as John Crewys (Lady Mary’s second attachment) was equally successful, though the part gave little scope for powerful dramatic work. Miss Joan Blair, as Miss Georgina Crewys, an elderly maiden, and Miss Nellie Mortyue as Lady Belstone, an elderly widow, both of whom are aunts to Peter, had bright comedy parts, and their eccentricities kept the audience in roars of laughter. Mr. Winter Hall as Sir Timothy Crewys, Mr. John Forde as Canon Birch, and Mr. W. J. Montgomery as Dr. Blundell had small but important parts, which were carefully acted. Miss Guildford Quin made a charming Sarah Hewell, and acted with much charm and grace. The staging, especially the garden scene, was again excellent.

“THE MORALS OF MARCUS.” To-night the company will appear, for the last time during tho present season, in “The Morals of Marcus,” a clever adaptation of the story “Tho Morals of Marcus Ordeyne.” When the play was produced in Auckland last week, both press and public pronounced it one of tho finest stories ever interpreted on tho New Zealand stage. The plot is unique in conception, strong*in action, and original in its termination. The dialogue is said to be particularly clever, and alternates between bright, wholesome comedy and a more serious note. Mr. Homewood appears as Marcus Ordeyne, Miss Beatrice Day as Judith Mainworing. and Miss Guilford Quin as Carlotta, a bohemian waif, around whom tbo story revolves. The play calls for some rich mounting, and should attract a crowded house.

The .Russian .actress known to the stage as Madame Alla Nazimova—whose works so deeply impressed Miss Ola- Humphrey on her recent visit to New York —will probably bo seen an London in the early part of next year, Mr -Gaston Meyer having begun negotiations to that end. During the past year Mme. Nazimova has provided" it is said, the greatest sensation in America, so far as tlio serious work of the theatre is concerned. # The productions of the new year in London have introduced a new dramatist .a student of humble life, named Georgei Gloriel, whoso piece, “The House,” at tlio Court Theatre, refers to the “workhouse” to which old Jack Mudsey is reluctantly driven. The honest half starving Creek family, headed by Mudsey’s married daughter, is nearly broken hearted over it all; but it will bo one mouth less to feed, and he bravely trudges away. Then, 'after six weeks, another scene shows that- the Creeks are a trifle better off, Jo,o Creek having got a job, and there are bloaters on the table to welcome “grandfather’s” return from the “house.” He enters in his livery, looking better, cleaner, stronger but puffing over the steep stairs, while he fretfully says “at- our place they ’as lifts!” So it is all along the line. He shirks his bloaters ■and tea because “at our place they ’as a joint, two ‘veggies,’ and a glass o’ beer,” and he also misses his game of billiards and his round of cards. Their horrified call that it is all “charity” does not move him. “Stuff and nonsence! It’s all out o’ the taxes!” And gradually, the family deterioates. Gone are the sturdiness, tlio pride, aiid the valor of tlie striving poor. They will all go off to tlie “house” ; and this lesson, this sermon against “overdoing it” at- out charitable institutions, is brought liome' in a comedy overflowing with observation and humor. Tlie queer piece seems to have been cleverly acted, with Mr Albert Chevalier especially fine iu a forcible characterstudy as old Jack Mudsey.