THEATRE ROYAL

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2449, 10 February 1882, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL

“ Dbab Joe.” The piece de resistance last night at the Theatre was a comedy of what is known as the domestic character, entitled “Dear Joe.” It is a piece which was played, we believe, for the first time last night since it has been written, so that really this may be considered the dehut of the comedy. It is, except in one or two points, excellently constructed, the interest of the audience being sustained throughout, and strongly resembles the works of Mr Graven, a well-known dramatist. While this is so, there are several crudities in the piece which, after more performances, will no doubt bo removed. For instance, the first act terminates in a most abrupt manner, without any apparent rhyme or reason. This of course, in future representations can easily be remedied, and if done will improve the piece greatly. Another point is, that in the denottsmeat, where virtue, as represented by Joe and Bessie, is triumphant versus vice defeated, in the person of Mr Marjoy ; the lady represented by Mrs Stammers, whose name does not appear on the programme, but who nevertheless has a good de.al to say in the piece, is invisible, and the closing scone falls rather flatly in consequence. With these two exceptions, which no doubt, now Mr Williamson has seen the piece played, will be remedied, the comedy is a well written one, full of healthy interest and force, and the only regret is that it was not ployed earlier in the season, for its intrinsic merits would most certainly have secured for it a favorable verdict at the hands of playgoers. The scene closing the second act, and that in the third, where wife and husband meet, are both capitally conceived and; very dramatically j and pathetically worked out. Miss Maggie Moore playedfßessio Cress very well indeed, throughout developing a great deal of pathetic power. Miss Navaro had not much to do as Nance, but did that well, and Mrs Stammers was appropriately starched and prim as the aristocratic aunt. Mr Williamson would probably be unhappy without an excuse for going mad in the course of the piece, of which he takes full advantage. He, however, infuses a great deal of character into his madness, making it entirely different from his other impersonations in t'ne same line, and also manages to infuse into bis rendition an amount of pathos and feeling which makes i the part stand out most vividly. Mr Vincent played the part o£ the villain of the pioco.

As a rule villain* on the stage, as in real life, aro prone to plunder whenever they get opportunity. Mr Vincent’* idiotyncracy, however, a* opposed to the general ru« of stage villains, appeared to be to diapause cheques in a manner rejecting the greate*t credit upon hi* liberality. Mr Stuart O’Brien played a character part with a care and attention to detail, even to appearing in bare feet, which stamp* him na an actor of great oomcientiousness. The other parts in the comedy were well played. The piece was admirably put on the stage, the set in the second act being especially worthy of commendation. The laughable sketch of “ The Chinese Question," in which Miss Maggie Moore and Mr Williamson, as usual, kept the audience in a roar of laughter, concluded the performance. To-night, for the benefit of Miss Maggie Moore and Mr Williamson, an exceptionally attractive bill is announced, comprising “ Kerry,” recitations by Messrs Stuart O'Brien and Williamson,, the comedy of “ Snowball,” and “ The Chinese Question.” Owing to the length of the bill the performance will commence sharp at 7.45 p.m.