ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1915, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

ALLEN DOONE COMPANY. Allen Doone came to New Plymouth to act and, incidentally, to sing, it was only a moderate audience that welcomed Kim at the Theatre Royal l««t night. Ho is both a singer and an actor, but it was the charm of his singing that struck one forcibly, and, evidently, 2i>ve great pleasure to the audience. Not t&at Allen Doone is nqfc a good actor, for, as a jovial young Irishman, he shewed last night how versatile awi natural an actor he is, but, rather, we felt that he was too good, a singer to be acting so much and singing ail too few songs. Those who enjoy a good Irish song will listen to Allen Doone with, genuine pleasure. The songs, however, were only incidents in " A Romance in Ireland," which was the piece staged last night, but, having emphasised how we liked AHca Doone's singing above everything else, we turn to the plav, to And that Allen Doone was really the strength here also. He becomes mixed uj> in an Old story in a refreshing setting. There is a bright little Irish girl in the' case.. Holoves 'her; so docs another fellow, who, s-eeking to place his rival in bad odor, money ami places it in AlFen Doone's—or. rather, he is Larry O'Daly —pocket. Larry cannot escape the incriminating evidence, and lie is banished, from his father's house. He lives a life of exile, but the girl remains true, and, after nil ample fabric of love, song and pathos is woven around the story, innocence triumphs in true dramatis fashion and—ivell, the rest Is the same old story. As Larry O'Daly, Allen Doono acts well, and as the girl who is the cause of all the trouble -Miss Edna lveeley supplies 11 fascinating character, marked bv clever acting. „Ulon Doone and Mis# Keeley together would suffice to pfoa'se any aiui'ience, but their little romance cnnnni. be carried out without support. Ijet it sullice to say that every other actor and actress in the caste assists to strengthen the play, and, while there is no outstanding brilliance, and there is certainly 110 one who weakens tile production, Miss Ethel Ttashford. Miss Ethel (Jrist, .Mr. M. Lynch and Mr. Frank Oi'llenane are the best of a good little company. To-night the company will stage " The Parish Priest,' mul last night's pprformance shows that, the company merits much better support 4hnn accorded the opening night.