AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13100, 27 April 1908, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

DR. WAKE'S PATIENT.-'

Tlie com cdy-dra ma, "'Dr. Wakes Patient." with which the Herbert -Fiem-ming Comedy Coniyany brought tle-ir scc'-cn to a close en Saturday n_-.ii- a_ Hi_ Majesty's Theatre, is a play vibrant with human intereit. Th? oh a .'trill!- love story of Dr. Wake and Lady Gerania. the sturdy independence ai-d' magnificent fc.elf-_acrif-ce in the interests of his son, Andrew Wake, an<l tho homely, but touching, leve of tho doctor', brother, are all salient points which ao to make.up a beautiful and most interesting drama. Beyond all those it is a play full of excellent points. 'Ihe dialogue is witty, and seme of the scenes notably those fino one* in the third and fourth net. which bring out of the character of Andrew Wake, are notable for their powerful dramatic character. From fire-t to last on Saturday night, the various pa_-t6 were admirably played, and tlio piece wctinb with a smoothness and completeness "which made it most enjoyable. Mies Beatrice Day, who received quite an ovation on making her reappearance hc\>, gave a meet art.stio and excellent performance of the character of Lady Goran ia. It is true, that to some extent the part is somewhat ' subordinated —as, indeed, are all the female ones —to the overshadowing strength of those- of Dr. W..ko and his father, but there still remains to Lady G-erania a very strong playing p-a-rt, and Miss li._iti-.-o- Day niavt admirably fulfil led all its requirements. There was about her a quiet- power and a n-.0.t e>l._rming naturalness. Tlie scene with Dr. Wake,"where _h_> reveals her love for him was cue which stood out m_.t strongly for artistic completeness and finish.' Miss Joan Blair was'excellent as Mrs Wa.l.e, tho lender _o.ic_ti.de and pride Ln her son, which arc- the characteristics of tlv* part, being well brought out. Miss Guildford-Quin .is entitled to a high meed cf praise, not alono for her acting, but for her remarkable versatility as exhibited in the two totally dissimilar parts of- Jenifer and Mrs Murdoch. Tho parts of tlie Countess and Harriett wero effectively filled by Misses Nellie Mortyno and Eliso Clavens. Mr Herbert Flemming's Andrew Wake, was a magnificent character study. Added to considerable power and artistic finish, Mr Flemming infused into tho part a pathos which mado his performance most interesting. He'was notably excellent- in the scene at'the end of tlio third act, where Andrew Wake tells with honest pride of his long lino of yeoman ancestors of unstained honour. Xc-hing could-have been finer than Mr Flemming's pourtrayal of the character in this and in the succeeding act, ■ where he tells of the sublime act ot self-denial which ho, proposes in his eon's interests. * Throughout his impersonation was a really splendid piece of dramatic work. Mr Homewood mado a good Andrew Wake, playing the character with a combined brightness and power which made it stand out strongly. He was at his best in the scene with Lady Gcrania in the third act, where he learns that she lores him. Mr Mail alien's Duff Winterton was n very excellent comedy impersonation, cApitally acted throughout, and the same may bo said of Mr Montgomery's Earl of St. Olbyn. Mr Forde was also capital as the Bishop of Selby. and y Mr Winter.Hall quite mado a feature of the part ot Anthony by an exceedingly clever pieco of character acting. Tho play was very finely mounted, the set' in the third\act being especially pretty.