"SWEET LAVENDER."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10275, 30 June 1911, Page 5

"SWEET LAVENDER."

A SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE. Despite the adverse weather conditions there was a very fair attendance at the Town Hall last evening to ' witness the production of the comedydrama, "Sweet Lavender," by local j and well-known Wellington amateurs. The performance was promoted with a view to assisting a most worthy object, that of the District Nurse Fund, and as a result it is anticipated that a respectable amount will be added to the funds. The entertainment was a pronounced success from every point of view, and the manner in which the performers carried out their respective parts reflects great credit on the stage manager, Mr C. Bentley Russell, ofWellington. From the commencement the piece went with a swing, and throughout the evening there was not a dull moment, the audience showing . its emphatic appreciation of the representation of the play. The drama itself is delightfully contrived, and abounds with happy situations and humorous incident. The scene opens in the bachelor quarters of Dick Phenyl (barrister), a very charming but rather wayward old gentleman, and Clement Hale, the adopted son of a worthy banker, .Mr Wedderburn. The banker's sister, Mrs Gilfillian, is anxious to bring about an alliance between her daughter Minnie and her '^"brother'sadaptedson.. Clement, howi ever,* has'other notions* in'-regard to '. his love affairs, having,!-Muring the progress of events, become deeply enamoured ;of Lavender) the sweet Ruth Rolt, the house- ; keeper. The fun of the piece is in the ; unravelling of the various 'entanglements, which, needless to say, are brought to a most happy climax for all concerned. Mr C. Bentley Russell, of Wellington, was surprisingly effective in the role of Clement Hale. He gave a clever characterisation of the devotedlover, his acting being; fault-' . less. Miss Madge Tait was a natural > and most acceptable Lavender, and gave a remarkably good interpreta£ tion of her part. Miss O. Richards gave a distinctly pleasing pourtrayal of the somewhat difficult character of Minnie Gilfillian, her acting throughout being of a very high order. Mr Hubert Fairweather's conception of Dick Phenyl was a sterling one, his depiction of the foibles of the some- '■: what tiop generous-hearted old gentlebeing a special reature. Miss fifenei Mason, of Wellington, was remarkably clever in the role of the haughty vridowy Mrs Gilfillian,'"her convincing and artistic acting being ':. accentuated by her impressive tone of; 'voice. The part of Horace Bream, a,, breezy and irrepressible American, found a clever exponent in Mr » B. ■:::\:Jjffierstiai t mho introduced a good deal ; of humour into the part. The acting of Miss Nora McCarthy, as Mrs Ruth I > Rolt, is also deserving of special mention,particularly in the final scene. Mr D. Hebenton made a most capable Geoffrey; Wedderburn, the wealthy /■'banker, showing both dignity and- - fidenity to nature. Mr W. M. Falconer, as Dr. Delaney, Mr D. Walsh, ;-as "Bulger" (a hairdresser), and Mr. JW. Parker, as/'Mr Maw," (a solicitor) were all particularly good in their reA special word of praise is due to. the performance of the orchestra, under Mr Frank Mc- . -The piaiio, Used during the:. /evening was a beautifully-toned"'' ; Haake, kindly lent by the British and .Continental Piano.Co., Ltd. \ <