“OUR BOYS.”

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXI, Issue 3902, 25 May 1899, Page 2

“OUR BOYS.”

‘ Our Boys ’ enjoys the distinction of being one of the most, if not the most successful modern comedy ever staged. It waß first produced at the Vaudeville Theatre, London, on Saturday, January 16tb, 1875, under the management of Messrs David James and Thomas Thorne, who appeared respectively as Perkyn Middlowick and Talbot Cbampneyp, while Mr Charles Warner sustained the character of Oharlos Middlewick, a part which was afterwards well played by ‘ handsome ’ Montague. The play hit the public taste and had an uninterrupted run for four years, daring which time it is said to have netted £83,000 for its fortimate owners, while the author, Mr H J. Byron only got £3OO for his work. Mr H. Lin gard and hia wife introduced th-s comedy to tbe notice of Colonial play-goers, and they reaped a rich harvest from it. As played by Mr Lingard in this colony, the cast of characters was a very strong one. Mr Lingard was tbe bntterman, and Mr HoskiDß was Sir Geoffry, while Mrs Lingard ai Mary Melrose, and Miss Florence Colville, as Violet, two beautiful women and splendid actresses, took the publio by storm by their almost faaltless impersonations. Mrs Soott-Siddons also ‘starred’ as Mary and Mr Andrews enhanced bis reputation by the manner in wtiiob he sustainod the character of Middlewick.

Although the comedy is nearly twenty five years old it bag lost none of its fresh ness. Indeed, of it might be said, ‘ age cannot wither, nor custom stale its infinite variety.- It depiots human nature as it is; tbe sentiment is healthy aod honest, and the hnmonr spontaneous. It was a big undertaking for tbe iooal dramatic club to

stage enoh a piece, for all the characters are important and difficult ones. But the members came through the ordeal successfully, especially when it is borne in mind that several of them have had very little previous experience. There were blemishes of oourse ; occasional exhibitions of stiffness, and a want of ease, bat these are minor defeots which praotice will remove. Taken all round, the performance was an exceedingly enjoyable one, which re fleeted credit upon the performers and augurs well for greater snccoßsea ia the fatare. Mrs W. H J. Bannett made the most of the many opportunities whioh the part of Mary affords for the display of archness and vivacity and soorod a distinct success. Her acting was very natural, especially in the scenes with Talbot, whioh were provocative of much mirth She also dressed and looked the character to the life. Miss A. Bradbury had a diffieult obaraoter for a novice, but bsr impersonation of Violet was a meritorious one, and with more experience she will bo a deoided acquisition to tho clnb. Miss Bradbury as Clarissa was distinctly good She had a correot conception of the character and her acting was free from constraint. Belinda, the lodging house ‘ slavey ’ found a oapable exponent in Miss Ethel Sebley, whose * make up ’ and acting would have done credit to one with much greater experience. Mr Bennett, to whom was entrusted the difficult role of Sir Geoffry Ohampneys, appeared to greater advantage than he b is done on previous occasions, for be was more at ease, and depicted the various phases of the character admirably. His make up and by-play wore consistent and he certainly onhancod the favourable reputation he bears as a Capable exponent of the drama. Ta bot Cbsirapneys is what is commonly termed ‘ a fat part.’ So many of the author’s olever lines aro spoken by him and he shares in the ludicrous situations But it is a part that requires acting and can easily bo overdone. Dr Reed was painstaking, easy, and successful and with Mr and Mrs Bennett shared the honours of the evenin'*. Mr Whittington appeared as Perkyn Mid-Hawick. Mr Williams, who appeared as Charles Middlewiok, showed considerable improvement. His reading of the character was a good one, the defects being a want of light aod shade and a trace of stiffuess, otherwise there was nothing to cavil at Kempster found a suitablo representative in Mr Peters, and the Poddies of Mr Andrews was good. Tho play was well dressed, excellently staged and was received with loud expressions of approval by a orowded audience, who twice recalled the performers. The orchestra, consisting of Ist Violin, Mr E. O’Halloran ; 2ad Violins, Misses Buchanan, Messrs Bone and Arrow ; Cello, Mr F. Shanly ; Clarionet, Mr Murray ; Flute, Mr S+eere ; Ist Cornet, Mr Jas. Cosgrove ; 2nd Cornet, Mr J. Golder ; Euphoniom, Mr J. A. Cosgrove ; Trombone, Mr W. Golder ; Conductor Mr King ; Pianist, Miss Arrow ; contributed the following selections Overture—‘ Undar the banner of victory,’ Waltz—‘ Ever True.’ In termezzo —‘ Orynthia.’ Their playing was, as usual, a feature of the perform anoe and added to the general enjoyment Mr King, the conduoter is to be oomplimented for the efficient manner in whioh he performed bis part in the evening’s entertainment.

Unfortunately tho oontinoonß heavy rain which fell io torrents throaghout the evening, interfered witb the snoozes of the play, for on several oooasions the performers oonld not make themselves heard. In view of this fact Mr Benoett announced that the clnb would repeat the performance, next Wednesday, wh<*n those present last night will be entitled to free admission.