MEYNELL AND GUNN COMPANY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3031, 30 October 1908, Page 5

MEYNELL AND GUNN COMPANY.

"THE LITTLE BREADWINNER." The Town Hah was crowded last evening on the occasion of, the production* of "The Little Breads winner," by[the MeyneJl-Guiin "Dramatic Company. "The Little Bread-] winner" is a charming play, strong in conception and emotionally effective. It is the story of a young man who is ruined in pocket and in repute by the treachery., of a trusted servant, and who drags his wifs, and afterwards their child, down to the lowest depths of poverty, till eventually the child has to go out singing in the London streets and so become "The Little Breadwinner." the hero is Richard Laurence, the adopted son of Lord William Dorrington—a peer,, a Quaker, and a philanthropist—and the. villian is Joseph Price, His Lordship's private and confidential secretary. Of course Price is unmasked at last, and the hero is restored to happiness and affluence. In the part of Meg, little Queenie Williams was charming and natural. Her lines were spoken with clearness, her demeanour was free from constraint, and her singing—particularly ih.the solo "Daddy"—was: pure and sweet in tone* Miss Maggie Dickenson, made a hit as Bobby Trott, a lively Cockney urchin. Miss Beatrice Holloway played in capital style the role of the heroine, Margaret Daventry, and Miss Ida Gresham as the associate of the villian, Miss Mabel Russell as Ruth Cherry, Miss Alice Deorwyn as Mary Rorke, Mr G. P. Carey as Lord William Dorringtun, were all strong characters. Mr R. C. Stanford's impersonation of the villian, Joseph Price, was excellent. Mr F. Coap'e was all that could ba desired as Richard Lawrence, and Mr E. G. Coughlan was amusing as Charles j Prior., The other parts were well filled. The piece was well staged, dressed and mounted. ;, t . To-night the company play "The Fatal Wedding," which created such a favourable impression when ; produced here previously.