NELLIE BRAMLEY SEASON.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17544, 28 August 1922, Page 11

NELLIE BRAMLEY SEASON.

"WITHIN THE LAW." I l ! In breaking into the theatrical business on his own account after many years on the managerial staff of J. C. "Williamson, Ltd., Mr W. F. BnsselUhas evidently adapted as his slogan "Good plays, good artists, good production." His company is not. » stock company as. yet, but, having seen "Within the Law," one hopes that it may become bo, with New Zealand as its home. Mr Eussell'B plan i« to P™ T* best fare a* popular prices, and one must not take- the prices a» an indication of the merits of the company, which is undoubtedly one of the strongest dramatic combinations seen hore for a very long time. "Within the Law," with which the Christchurch season opened at the Theatre-Koyal on Saturday night, was a I bstter production, from every point of view, than many shows for which the public has had to pay from half a sovereign downwards, and if, as Mr Kussell pieces to come we better, then. Church patrons will be extremely sorry that the five •weeks' season is not to be longer "•«*»{ point about the company is Its its versatility. Austria's idolised actress, Miss Nellie Bram ey, ».«*.""£*' the star, but, what is not always the case with dramatio <sbnipanies-in fact, Y«J "1, dom-the whole supportmg cast is c° m P rl °~ of actors and actresses of standing,.artists who may play lead one week andverysubsidiary parte the next equally well,jrtists who may be ruffians in one piece and P° h9hea gentlemen in the next. Mr, Russell has indeed been fortunate in banding mto.«M . o«a pany artists who might easily and V*™™! ■ .demand to play lead in every piece ?»*««£. The large audience on Saturday night quickly realised that it was being given fare above the ordinary, and its. applause was frequent, while at the oonolusion of the performance the company had to take aevew curtain calls, and bouquets and boxeß 01 chocolates were lavished upon, the a e "> rv "i!: ladies. If merit obtains its due reward, Mr Buasell will soon be doing as he had to do almost nightly in Auckland and We lington, and hang out the "house full" sign long Before 8 o'clock. . ~ . "Within the Law" is a play that was conceived with a fine aense of the dramatic, in/ most respects it is a propaganda play, «>• propaganda lying in the exposure of Amertoan police methods, which, happily, are not known in this country. Perhaps the American system has changed since, the play was written, for- it ia not a new play, but there is no doubt that a few years ago the American police motto was, "Conviot at any price, and hound down the victim when he baa come out." As an indictment of auott methods the play ie a very strong one, ana the author lost no opportunity of making intense drama out of a subject whioh offerea excellent chances. Incidentally he worked in an attack on the big money-making estsDliehments which employed girls at a starvation wage, so small as almost to compel them to seek unlawful means of proouring enough to ensure bare existence. The unhappy story is cleverly drawn, and cleverly leavened with humour, though at no time does it approach anything, like broad iunwu*. burlesque, or farce. It is good stuff all through, with the characters well devised and well balanced. To give a true impression of the merits of his company, Mr Russell could not have hit on a better opening piece. Of Miss Nellie BTaraley, who heads the company, one can only say that she is .in a class by herself, and it is not hard to imagine why Australian theatre-goers were loth to let her go. Dramatio actresses who have been atarred round this way in the past have not been few, but Miss Bremley has to bow not even to the beat of them. Having secured her, New Zealand would do well to keep her, for she ia on artiste in the fine sense of the wotd; It i* rathe* hard to describe her. for she is an emotional aotress of the highest standard, a quiet comedienne, and an ingenue' rolled into one. Few ao tresses could suddenly change from intense drama to comedy as she does. Fos« eessed of a fine stage appearance, she has -the additional assets of a musioal voice, irreproachable diction and a true sense of the dramatio. Emotional, but dot too much bo, she is when emotion is demanded, and. quietly humorous when quiet humour is asked for. She has a great command over her voice, and whether she is passionately danou.noing the sweating system of her employer, or speaking soft words to her lover, she is always convincing. Her interpret**' Won on Saturday night of the fine .oharaoter of Mary Turner was splendid, and the.do lighted audience was ,"not'slow to show its approval. If she remains here for a while, Miss Bromley will have just as much admiration. 'as she enjoyed in Australia. Ae the confidence girl, 'Miss Ethel Bashfoxd was responsible for a olever piece' of acting, and her changes from the aristocratic to the aing Sing stylo were admirable. Miss Bashicrd is a young lady who would, delight the heart of any playwright, such is her appreciation of the situations a.lottod to her. As. the forger, Joe Gareon, Mr Victor Fitzherbert, gave a masterly performance. It is a big part with big opportunities, and Mr Fuzherbert, who is an actor of the quiet and the more convincing type, made the most of it. Never obtrusive, he was always a central figure, and his work in the burglary scene, and in the "third degree" episode, whioh leads to his Confession of the murder, was that of a polished actor J Mr Guy Hastings was absolutely at home as the earnest, but susceptible, police inspector, and he was reßponubie for an excellent piece of work. Truculent, or oon» ciliatory, he was always what be was intended to be, a keen po.iceman, and he was! equally good in diainatio or comedy scenes. Mr Arthur Cornell provided a good ch*i actor study as the owner of a big emporium, with a bag. love for his son, and just as big a love for money, earned by the sweating of his big staff of young l ladies. Mr Leslie Woods, as the "stool pigeon/'-.gave a, very ctever little study, in which the accent of the aristocracy was Well simulated. Mt George Hewlett was the juvenLe lead, and he made quite a good job of his task, -being breezy; ronuintio, or dramatio as the situation demanded. His only drawback was his pronounced American- accent, whioh, however, was not noticed-in the more emotional scenes. The remainder oj the bag cast was satisfactorily filledi . The production of the piece, which w«J Under the direction Of Mr Thomas B. Foster (who has to ltis credit the successful stage control of several 6f the J, C. Williamson firm's biggest shows) left nothing to. be desired. It wis quite up to the big firm's highest standard. Tho furnishings were pleasing and the eleotrioians did' their work well. ''Within the Law" will be played fox the rest of the week.