"THE PRINCE CHAP."

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13131, 2 June 1908, Page 8

"THE PRINCE CHAP."

Last night's performance at the ! Theatre Royal by Mr H. R. Roberts ami his company, was most interestiiU', as marking an era in matters theatrical here. Only on one previous occasion—that of the production of "J-atien:*©'' by tlio Williamson Opera Company—has a piece of European re--ji-tation had its premiere in Christchurch. Recognising that the trend ot taste, so far i:s modern playgoers are concerned, is setting very strongly in the direction of pieces r-ossea-ing "child" interest, the author of •'Th© Prince Chap has constructed a play, which may briefly be described as three epochs in the life of a young girl. In doing so ho has given, us in each of these periods most charmingly natural scenes, full of delicate touches of patho. -_jid tenderness. There is, it is true, noticeable*, in parts—particularly whero tho current of the life history of Peyton and Claudia is crcssed by the other subsidiary characters—a slight want of continuity. These characters, whilst being quite necessary (in tho evolution of the plot, are connected somewhat vaguely. So it is that until one gets- back again to the most intensely tender and beautiful story of the two principal characters, there seems something wanting. Even tne magnificently humorous character of Puckers, and the stolid character of Marcus, to which it forms such a splendid foil, seem to come in abruptly, and as it those impersonating these characters belonged to something else. But this is but a small defect when compared with tho absorbingly human interest centred in tho characters ot Peyton, and the child adopted by him. These form the centre and heart ot the story, and from this th© author has evolved a play simple in its incidents, possessing no strong oramatic situations, and absolutely without a villain, but which nevertheless possesses a subtle and most powerful charm. So strikingly natural are some of the scenes, particularly those between Peyton and Claudia, that they at once appeal to every ono. Hence the undoubted success which attended the first performance last night of as charming a dramatic idyll as it has been the lot of Christchurch playgoers to witness.. Air H. K. itoberts interpreted th© part of Peyton throughout with a teiuierness and delicacy which made his performance most realistic. His scenes with Claudia in her various stages | from her infancy till s_e attained tho ; dignity of long skirts and all the roy-al appanage of a grown-up young lady, were marked with a refreshing absence of conventionality. The part is one which is exact ling to a degree, j because not only does tho whole weight of the play rest on it, but there are scenes which, unless played with rare [ artistic ability, might, instead of beI ing pathetic, become quite the reverse. Mr Roberts finely differentiated in his pourtrav_al of the character the feelings animating Peyton in the various phases of the life of his ward. In the third act he brought out with much power the love for Claudia -which, almost unknown to him, has become the dominant passion of Peyton'6 life, and, throughout, Mr Roberts's impersonation was a most artistic conception ably worked out. Claudia in the first act -was mos. charmingly played by little Vera Huggett, and she was very ably succeeded in the second act by little Beryl Yates. Both these little ladies wore natural and unaffected to a ttegree. Miss Justina Wayne, the grown-up representative of Claudia in Act HI., was excellent. In th© scene with the Earl, where she herself, learns for th© first time the strength of the passion she cherishes for Peyton, Miss Wayne interpreted the Dart with much delicacy and power. The final scene of the play with Peyton—a scene requiring considerable skill in handling —was given very artistically indeed, and there about the whole performance of Miss Wayne a charming naturalness. Puckers, played by Miss Mary Keogh, was a matrrnSficent piece of character acting. With every temptation to exaggerate. Miss Keogh never one© over-acted, and was successful in giving us a performance Irresistibly funny and amusing. Miss Vere Remee was somewhat lacking in power as Alice Travels, notably in the seen© with Peyton, where sh© seeks to re.eain her ascendancy over him. Miss Redfern also hardly mad© as much of Mrs Harrington as the opportunities afforded -by the part allowed. The stolid servant 'Marc-us Runion was admirably played by Mr Frank Lamb, and Mr Greenaway made the most of the small opportunity afforded him in the third act, where ho pronoses to Claudia. The p'ece was beautifully mounted, the set jn the third act being very striking. t At the close of the piece Mr Roberts was called before the curtain amidst cheers, and thanked the audience for their appreciation of th© play and of tho work done by the members of his company and himself. To-nis-ht "The Prince Chap" will be repeated. at*d to-morrow there will be a special mntineo in addition to the evening performance.