MISS TITTELL BRUNE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 826, 28 September 1906, Page 5

MISS TITTELL BRUNE.

"DOROTHY VERNON OP HADDON HALL."

There could be no greater proof of, Miss Tittell Brune'a popularity with Masterton playgoers than the faot thai; the audience which assembled at the Town Hall, last evening, to welcome her, after an absence of a little over twelve Fmontbs, was one of the largest ever seen in, the building. Long before the rise of the curtain the accommodation was taxed to its utmost capucity, and a great many were content with standing throughout the performance. The piece chosen l'or the opening night was Paul Roster's dramatised version of Mr 0. Major's ncvel, "'Dorothy Vernon of Baddon Hall." The ecene3 are laid in the period of Queen Elizabeth, and thus ample scope is afforded in the play for picturesque dressing and an atmosphere of ohivilry and romanoe. It is a play that cannot bat help Keep the audience in an interested mood. Situations follow fsat upon one another and the general interest is sustaiued right to the fall of the curtain. The plot is simple—just a girl betrothed in infanoy to a baby boy, the 'son of a man who has,since become the sworn enemy of her father. The latter has therefore repented of the betrothal, and would break the bond by mairymg his daughter Dorothy to her cousin, and so carry on the family name. She is a high-spirited girl, and refuses to be disposed of like a bale of goods, so defies her father and everyone who seeks to coerce her. Sir John Manners—the gentleman betrothed to her in her infancyappears upon the soene masquerading in her cousia's name, wins her heart, and then is o€(nfounded by the arrival of the real cousin in question. There is an under plot of intrigue and treachery, iu which Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of , Scots figure with Sir John and the unworthy cousin, Sir Malcolm Vernon. Dorothy becomes involved"—first to save her lover's life, then his honour and Queen Mary's life. In the title role,"Miss Brune haa in every scene numerous opportunities of displaying her remarkable versatility. To say that she achieved a decided success, lust evening, and only added another to her already long list of triumphs, is but a mild' way of putting it. However, as Dorothy Vernon she is seen at her best, and displays all that conception of and sympathy with her part that has done.ao much to secure the success she has already attained.' Her aoting was puuotuated with frequent applause. Her support in the caste is excellent. (Mr Thomas Kingston, in the role of Sir John Manners, Dorothy's lover, gave ao excellent representation of the part. His aoting was natural and unconstrained, anrt his by-play without , exaggeration. As Dorothy's father Mr J. B. Atholwood showed considerable ability, and was especially successful in the several scenes with Miss Brune. Mr M. Dudley was I always bright and entertaining as Ferfein, and Mr Gaston Mervale, as Sir Malcolm Vernon,, did all he had to do in a creditable manner. Miss Susie Vaughan personified Queen Elizabeth in a manner becoming of the dignity of that personage, and her representation of the role contained some good aoting. Mr Lloyd as the Earl of Rutland, Miss Stephenson as Lady Vernon, and Miss Helen Ferguson as Mary Queen of Soots, filled their parts admirably. To-n»ght "Leah Kleachna" will be staged for the first time in Masterton. The new pieoe has been one of the greatest suocesses of reoent years, both in New York and London, and if the remarkable enthusiasm with which it has been greeted throughout Australasia can be accepted aa a guide Masterton playgoers may safely look forward to a great treat to-night. The oritio for the Sydney Referee says:—"We have probably never had a more powerful play, whioh, as may readily be imagined, gives magnificent scope for IVliss Tittell Brune in its title vole—a character which suits her even better than its predecessors—and it is almost superfluous to add that the young star siored a mag-nificent-triumph. _ grand study of the remarkable character aroused continued enthusiasm, and at the end of each act there were several curtain calls in her honour. The strong company supporting the 'star' also scored a pronounced success."