ENTERTAINMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2255, 29 July 1908, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

“THE CASE OF REBELLIOUS . SUSAN.” Mr. Henry Arthur Jones’ comedy, “The Cate of Rebellious Susan,” was staged before a large audience at His Majesty’s Theatre by Mr. Harry Roberts and the members of his dramatic company last evening. The play throughout was brimful of merriment, the plot easy to follow, and the situations well worked out. The story deals with the estrangement of a society man from his wife, “Lady Susan,” the ex-ward of Sir Richard Kato, K.C., who uses his wise counsel and in time heals the difference. Into the romance is woven another ward of the distinguished lawyer, a Miss Elaine Shrimpton, who holds advanced ideas on woman’s rights, and after falling in love and ultimately marrying a man of temperament, becomes a female agitator whoso solo ambition is to reorganise Society. Tho materials for a comedy are certainly not superabundant, But, as staged last evening, tho play was most enjoyable, and the house rang with laughter from the rise to tho fall of tho curtain. Mr. Harry Roberts, as Sir Richard Kato, K.C.. was again seen to advantage. Tho part is one that affords good scope for bright comedy,, combined with the preserving of dignity. and whether when lighter vein or intense feeling was necessary to be displayed, Mr. Roberts showed that lie was equal to th.o task. Tho character showed tho versatility of Mr. Roberts’ work. There was no stage preaching, no long discourses oil morality or social problems, but a handling of the character as if that character was a living person in everyday life. “Sir Richard Kato” was presented in a natural manner, and the audience showed appreciation by rounds of applause. Miss Justina Wayne was particularly well cast, as “Lady Susan.” The last act of “The Princo Chap” in which sho appeared on Monday evening hardly afforded Miss Wayne scope to show the extent of her ability; but slio fully demonstrated her histrionic power last evening. Her displays of passion, nervous irritability, (and repentant love were all well done, and proved that she is gifted with rare talent. Miss Mary Keogh again played a comedy part. Ibut it was not so resourceful as that of tho “Phoebe Puckers” of lior previous performance in “Tho Princo Clinp,” in which part slio displayed her best work. Her excitability' as the suffragist and the lien-pecking housewife, were humorous and lifelike, and she kept the audience in roars of laughter whenever sho as on the stago. Mr. Arthur Greenaway made an exceedingly good Fergussdn Pybus, a poet, while the “Sir Joseph Darby” of Mr. Frank Lamb, the “Lucian Edcnsor” of Mr Stuart Clyde, the “Janies Harahin” of Mr. Fred Francis, the “Lady Darby” of Miss Florence Darby, and the “Mrs. Quesnel” of Miss Vera Romeo, also deserve mention. Other characters were: “Kirby,” Mr. W. A. Charles; “A Waiter,” Mr. B. Field; “Footman,” Mr. Lewis. The play was well staged and artistically mounted ill every detail.