A LOVELY BROGUE

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1918, Page 4

A LOVELY BROGUE

Miss Sara Allgood, who .will be appearing as Peg in the first New Zealand production of “ Peg O’ My Heart ” the wonderful play secured bv T. & N. Tait, is said to possess tlie loveliest brogue ever heard on the British stage. Her manner of rendering the warm, beautiful language of Yeats and Synge when she was a member of the Irish Players unite enchanted the Dublin people. In England also her brogue was one of the great topics of comment among the etilics, one writer averring that her accent was too wonderful to be natural. It might be said that Miss Allgood’s accent is perfectly real, though to English ears, long fed on the patent artificialities of Boucocanltian and other melodramas that it is not surprising they do not recognise the real tiling when they hear it. On Wednesday night next, August 2SUI J. & N. Tait will present to the amusement lovers of Hokitika at the Princess Theatre, this supreme success of successes, “ Peg O’ My Heart.” It is “Peg O' My Heart” we’re speakin’ of, and do you know whose heart is it you’re referrin’ to ? Why, her father’s heart, to be sure, though before long it’ll be the truth you’re telling when you refer to “ Peg O’ Everybody’s Heart.” For a fascinating, red-beaded little hoyden is this Peg, as she comes through in a role that is filled to the edges with quick Irish wit and cunning devilment and tenderness that has you laughing most of the time, but it is not without the moments that bring moisture to your eves. Coming back to the theory of her father, Peg thought it an excellent way to bring up children, as he did, and from the children's point of view it is. Bill remember all of them are not Irish, with the wit that’s a saving grace However, “Peg is Peg,” and that is all there is to it. Wherefore when she arrives in tlie richlyappointed living room of Regal Villa (there’s an aristocratic locale for you), your heart goes out to her in her dowdy steamer frock and “shady” hat with its disreputablered flowers, and you’re willing to take her “Michael or no Michael,” as the case may be, which is more than her recently rich but now impoverished relations are ready to agree to. For Michael is a dogplain, if you must have it, and though there is room in the house for haughty Ethel Chichester’s top pup, Michael is not welcome —and Peg objects strongly to class distinction “in dogs.” “ Can’t see the use of learning the heights of a lot of mountains she is never going to climb” is an amusing observation of Peg’s. When she has to draw the map of Europe Peg represents England, France and Germany with blots, and writes “Ireland” all over the rest of the sheet. Miss Sara Allgood who plays “Peg” will be supported by one of the best companies that has ever visited the Dominion. Hokitika playgoers should welcome them with open I arms as it is so seldom that a com 4 pan}' like this deigns to visit us. J. and N. Tait are to be thanked. The Box Plan is at Mrs Browne’s.