THE MAJERONI DRAMATIC COMPANY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 11, 14 January 1903, Page 2

THE MAJERONI DRAMATIC COMPANY.

Those who were net present at the Theatre Royal on Wednesday evening when the Majeroni Company opened their season witb " Th-j .Shamrock and the Rose" missed onoof the grea 1 est treats that have been afforded to playgoers for a long while. The drama is one of the old " Adulphi" type full of thrilling interest aad sparkling dUlonu will a continuous vein of Irish humour running through even the mjs' 1 path»tic scenes. Wttheut exception [every member of the Company is «n artist of high rank, from th< opening scene to the fall of the curtain the audience followed the plot with the keenest interest, and, at times, became so absorbed in it tha ; ; th < villain received as hearty a condemnation as if tfte incidents were real. This of its'df shows that the character delineaious were a triumph of Brt. But the g>o i old Irish humour, pure, bright, and incisive must have been responsible foi many side aches. It is no exaggeration to say that many of the audience laughed till they cried, and there is no question that every one present enjoyed the performance most heartily. As Dandy Dunraven, Mr George Majarooi scored aa immense su ces<. Ho was equally go ,d in cliaching a s'irriog dramatic situation as in evoking roars of laughter by quiet sallies of Irish wit, his acting throughout baing perfect, and he hit the public tasto thoroughly. The character he had to pourtray waone that at once won the favour of the audience, and the haarty apphuse hfrequently received was well merited. As Stephen Flint, the cold, blooded, remorseless villain of the plot, Mr Mario Majerooi succeeded in arousing the audience to a high pitch of aversion to his detestable cours < of action. So natural wis his acting that again and again th) audience were carried away w to its r.ali y, and freely evinced their det station for his villainy a higher compliment than this no actor can receive. Mr Frank Gria: was, on the whole, succes-ful in his delineation of of O'Connor Desmond, the long suffering hero of the pity. Though somewhat stiff at times, he showed, in the more important situations, a dramatic instinct that redeemed what little fau'ts were apparent, and, considering that the part is a very trying on*, he deserves great credit for his efforts. Mr 0. Knight certainly ma<'e the mos 1 ; of the part of old Nicholas Flint, an avaricious and unscrupulous man. His broguwas much in evidence, while his cunning wag only exceeded by his fear. Oqg of the drollest characters was that of Mixy Mulcahy, and Mr Phil Walsh, both in make up as a typical Irishman and his ever ready blarney and bluff, was the life and foul of the piece. He must have been responsible for many sideiohos caused by hi* irresistible humour and he is to bs congra'uhted ontheperficfc way in which deceived and carrie 1 out on* of the most important cha>acters in the caste. In personating Dr Riverudale Mr Fitzgerald also scored a great success. F>r low comedy it would be huvd to c mceiva anything more droll than the represeatatiqns of Sergeant Drak? and P. 0, Jones by Messrs. Fernside and Swim, them chamcal pomposity of the latter creating roars of laughter, and bin catch phrase nev.tr failing in effect. Another member of the company who contributed greatly to the success of the pieci was Mr W. S. Mercer, and he won the favour of thn audieace complexly. Mies Hilda Meade h*s not only a charming personality, but is an actrass of considerable merit. As Rose Riverdale she exhibited exquisite ties and talent, and, at times, rose to great dnmitic power. To Miss Nellie Ogden belongs the cuiif success j among the lady m mbers of the company. Her concep ion of the p irt of Morna was happy in the extreme, and she moved the audience to a high degree in the emotional scenes when baing the central figure, She is a very finished and a decided acquisition to any first-class company. As Mrs Moore, the evicted widow, Miss Leighton has little to do, but in the dea'h scene which follows the eviction her acting was perfect. Miss May Renno made a lively Peggy O'Rafferty and created great amusement with her sprightly movements and coy ways. The miner parts were all well filM, every member of the company being well chosen. The scenery was far ab-jv the average, and contained several effdets which evoked loud applause. A word cf praise must also be given to the musicil director, Mr Fox, not only for the excellent selection of p)pular pieces, but for the exceptionally able manner in which tha small orchestra ) did their work.

TO-NIGHT. Will be staged the powerful domestic drama, " Brother Against Brother." It is one of those plays which hav.* such a fascination for theatregoers, and, as its title suggests, gives full scopa for the exercise of emotional acting. So pronounced was the tuccesa of the Company's efforts on Tuesday evening that no possible doubt can be entertained as to the excellence of this p rformanca, and those who enjoy a good drnma, acted as it ought to be, should not fail to be present. We cannot speak too biglaly of this talented company.