St. John and Hayman Company.

Hastings Standard, Issue 443, 5 October 1897, Page 3

St. John and Hayman Company.

"THE VAGABOND." That powerful drama, The \ agabond, by Messrs Sims and Pettiit, was staged lfi~S evening at_ the Princess Theatre by the St. John-llayman Company. A full house greeted the rise of the curtain, and from that time until it fell on the final act the interest and enthusiasm of the audience were maintained consistently. The acting all round was superior to any dramatic company that has been round here for .some time, and when it is stated that the audience insisted on the performers coming before the curtain in order to receive either liberal applause or a vigorous hooting it must be admitted that the representation was much above the average presented to the provincial public. This was especially noticeable as the very worst enemies of a Hastings audience cannot accuse it of being too impulsive, and indeed there are many who would say it was apathetic and unresponsive, but this calumny was definitely refuted last night by the spontaneous applause and the exhibition of genuine feeling by the house. If it is fair to guage the company's business in Hastings by last night's performance there can be " no probable, possible shadow- of doubt" that they will bow to crowded houses to the end of their season. Mr Bert Bailev acted in the title /•<</,->, and gave a most convincing representation of the bluff generous bull-hearted .Jack Peyton. Mrs Harrie Marshall interpreted the character of Leslie Grey to perfection, and her attention to the thousand little details gave a reality and a vim to her acting wh:ch elicited hearty applause from her audience. Miss Madge Corcoran took the part of Patty Perkins, the sympathetic widowed proprietress of the Lion Inn, and she proved herself fully equal to her responsibilities. Mrs Peyton, the Vagabond's mother, was entrusted to Miss Marie D'Alton, who seemed to lose her identity in the part. Her acting even in trying emotional scenes bad not a false ring in it throughout, and though her part v. as one that the author intended as a secondary one it was about as conscientious a piece of acting as was given last night. Ned, the Vagabond's little waif friend, found a capable exponent in Miss Dora Mostyn. Dunstan Peyton, the squire, was in the hands of Mr John Bruce, and his acting was most realistic, especially in the scene where he comes on dazed with the blow he has received from his unnatural son. Mr Irve Hayman took a daring step when he undertook to remodel the interpretation of the greedy money-lending East End Jew. A great many of the stereotyped gestures of the Jew as he is generally presented from the stage are dropped completely, and it must be admitted with considerable advantage. Mr Hayman may be fairly congratulated on the result of his endeavor to raise the character from the narrow interpretation in which it was conceived. As Simeon Jacobs Mr Hayman was in evidence through the piece, and his brumorons handling of the character of the sleek, unscrupulous self-satisfied son of Abraham kept the house in a ripple of merriment from start to finish. Mr' Fred E. Patey w as exceedingly funny as the simple minded toft who was continually spitting out couplets " on the spur of the moment." Mr Charles Field, Will Peyton, last night earned the undying hatred of the virtuous gods for his cold blooded villainy, hypocrisy, and filial ingratitude. Loud and hearty were the howls which greeted him when he came before the curtain, and it was a paltry trick of those behind to try and prevent him escaping from the cyclone of yells which fell around his ears. Minor

characters were well filled by Messrs O'Donoghue and L. Dal/.k-l. To-night a rare treat is promised in the gnat nautical drama " Harbor Lights." This is a real holiday bill, and the house should be packed ia all