“ East Lynne.”

Manawatu Herald, 26 November 1904, Page 2

“ East Lynne.”

The plot of “ East Lynne ” is so familiar to even the insignificant school-boy that last night’s dramatisation of that emotional work needs no detailed description. We merely intend to give a fair criticism of the individual characters. The country theatre certainly does not allow of any effective staging of dramatic works, hence if a person had seen “ East Lynne" staged by large dramatic companies in the city he or she may be pardoned if they did not recognise the “ East Lynne ” of last night. The mention of this play always appeals to a sympathetic community, and no matter whether the artists be of the first water or not, the play attracts the hearing of the average human being—for human nature is so plainly evidenced in the plot that it commands attention. Some of the characters last night were lamentably weak. Mr De Mannersby, as “ Archibald Carlyle,” seemed to be very lacking in the matter of force. He was content to repeat the part of the much-injured Archibald, instead of elocuting his sentences to suit the real nature of the character. He certainly was not an ideal Archibald. In her early life at “East Lynne,” Miss Nita Steele gave a clever pourtrayal of “Lady Isabel,” her lovemaking being perfect, but when it came to emotional acting, rather overdone it. We have witnessed better “ Francis Levison’s ” than the one presented us last night, though credit is due to Mr W. Medus for his efforts in the last act where he had been transported for life. Certainly his contemptible manner ot saying things gave the audience a splendid idea of what “ Sir Francis Levison ” might have been. Miss Gertrude Esdaile as “ Corny Carlyle ” gave a splendid representation of the haughty sister, her character-acting being first-class, but “ Barbara Hare ” (Miss Marie Edwards) was impersonated in an amateur-like fashion. No life was put into this character, which should always be in good hands. Mr George Conroy as “ Richard Hare," the muchwronged brother, who has the cloud of murder hanging over his life, was successful to a degree. The minor characters were well represented. What Foxton wants is better stage accommodation. Until then we cannot expect to have drama well represented to us.