HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 69

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

"THE HYPOCRITES," i The advent of "The Hypocrites" at His Majesty's Theatre breaks the drougty from which the local stage has suffered foi quite a long time, as far as drama of th<" superior class has been concerned. Th« literary quality of the play in question v [ vouched tor by its authorship. The characteristics which have made the reputation of Mr Henry Arthur Jones as a playwright " are very much in evidence in this, the latest production of his pen to be introduced to us. " The Hypocrites "is a not unworthy successor to *' The Liars." _ It is always pleasant to be interested, speaking generally, though everything that is interesting is not beautiful. Truth, however, is not without reason pictured at the bottom of a well, and, if it would be absurd to describe •' The Hypocrites " aa a pleaeaat play, nobody would have the slightest objection to a critical examination of a sow's ear, provided there was a chance of finding a jewel in it If there be any who, seeing truth and honesty contrasted with hypoc- " risy and deceit as the dramatist contrasts them in " The Hypocrites," fail to reach any good conviction, however momentary, " from their study of the presentment, they, must blame the limitations of their vision. The fault is not with the author, for he has f drawn, as usual, with power, a.nd has scorned insignificant embellishment- or side issues. " The Hypocrites 'V is built up on a garbage heap,* but men and women of the type the author flagellates — and it must be quite the commonest in the world — habitually have unhealthy backyards to their lives, as everybody becomes aware when the man with the rake makes his appearance. An incisive satire on hypocrisy as it might- be found in the society that believes in one law for the rich and another for the poor, and that lives by taking in other people's dirty linen and pretending to wash, and by cashing other people's lies and shams and passing them on, to slightly misquote the author, " Tha Hypocrites" is a highly impressive play, Its language is more plain than metaphorical, and its cleverness is indubitable. To say under the circumstances that it is uncommonly interesting is superfluous. > The plot or story in no way offends a sense of the probabilities. The problem play — and "The Hypocrites" may be said to come within the category — is generally laid down on somewhat daring lines. In '* The* " Hypocrites " the dramatist treads on delicate ground, but while he does so with purposeful firmness he still treads with sufficient delicacy. The idea elaborated is tha'! of one honest man, and he as a preacher by vocation bound to proclaim the truth, cast among a coterie of influential hypocrites upon whom he is dependent for advancement and almost for a living. TheRev. Edgar Linnell is no rhapsodising enthusiast. The author is far too clever to use that sort of weapon against hypocrisy • The curate, of Weybury is a poor and very, practical and honest Christian. It is his unfortunate lot to make an unpleasant discovery intimately concerning the affairs of> some of his most prominent parishioners, and especially those of the lord ' of tha ' manor, Mr Wilmore, his accomplished wife, and their scapegrace son Leonard. The last-named, a somewhat weak youth, is about to make an excellent match from the point of view of the family fortunes, and the heart-3 of his parents are set on his espousal of Helen, daughter of Sir John Plugenet, a particularly unsophisticated and sensitive girl. At the eleventh hour an obstacle puts in an appearance in the shape of ' another young lady, with a strong prior claim on the hand of Leonard, and her story becomes known both to the young man's parents and to the honest curate. Thenceforth there is a trial of strength with the hypocrites who would 1 sacrifice everything and everybody to gain their own ends on the one side, and the single champion of truth and honour on the other. The situations are dramatically conceived and admirably worked up to their climax. From the verge of defeat and disgrace the Rev. Edgar Linneli 1 emerges at last vindicated and triumphant,the hypocrisy of the scapegrace son being, fortunately, less deep-seated than that o£ his parents. As for the arch-hypocrite of the drama — the Wilmores, their lawyer, the ■••anerable vicar, and others, — they ars almost admirable in the consistency of their hypocrisy, if exception be made in tho case of the doting mothor, and serve to illustrate that the master hypocrite must always be the victim of the misunderstanding and ingratitude of his" associates. The play introduces some highly interesting types of character. The Rev. Edg*c Linnell is drawn in simple and effectiva . lines, and is .agreeably free from canr, doubt, and indecision. He is not a j 6ubtJe character, bur. (he part is a very important one, and mates largo demands on its impersonator. It afforded Mr Harcouro Bcatty undoubtedly the best role in which he has appeared locally for some years, and) an opportunity of exhibiting a measure of histrionic resource foreign to the demands of melodramatic swashbuckling. Mrßeatty acted throughout with admirable restraint, and sustained tho dignified pose obviously, a cardinal necessity in a convincing portrayal of the part. He rose well, moreover, to the tenser situations of the drama. The support given by the other members of tho company is sufficient to 6tamp it as art •excellent combination. Miss Emily Fitzroy, as Mrs Wilmore, ;s; s a prominent figure throughout, and her impersonation was one of 6ustained merit, falling a trifle short of the highest in tho emotional passages of tho s-econd and third acts perhaps, but redeemad in thk respect in the last. As Mr Wilmore, a truiy monstrous and imposing hypocrite of the real Pecksniff brand, except for lack of humility, Mr Jam-ss Lindsay was in his clement, and if the excrescent humour of the impersonation was cal* culiited at times to clash with the seriousnes-, with which this man of conscience is intended to take himself, the touches oP comedy were in welcome relief. Miss Gladys Harvey made an excellent impression a= Rachel, the young lady whose claims the hypocrites endeavour to 6et aside, and 1 her acting in a thankless and difficult part suggests considerable reserve power. Mr Tom Cannam, as the effusive and worldy, Vicar of Weybury, added considerably, on lines of quaint humour, to tho general impression of hypocrisy, and Miss Nellie Montague, as Mrs Dr Blaney, made th 3 most of the email part of a type of lady, whose indignation at scandal is only, second to her zest for it. Mr Gaston Mervale «aa well cast as Viveash. the calcul***

ing lawyer, acting very naturally", while Mr frank Kandell, as Leonard Wilmore, and Edith Deverell, as Helen Plugenet, met satisfactorily the demands of somewhat colourless parts. Mr J. W. Deverell's Dr BJaney was amusing, and Mr J. E. Gardiner, as Sir John Plugenet, and Miss Winifred Gunn and Miss Hilda Meade completed the cast. The play, which is produced tander the direction of Messrs Clarke, Meyjiell, ancl Gunn, is capitally staged, and its >ficeptior» was highly favourable.