"WHEN KNIGHTS WERE BOLD."

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 252, 17 July 1908, Page 8

"WHEN KNIGHTS WERE BOLD."

FRANK THORNTON CO. AT THE OPERA HOUSE. Old friends liko old,wine are the best, and as Frank Thornton has been a synonym for laughter for a score of years back, it was but natural that lie should receive a hearty welcome on' his re-appearance at the Opera Houso last' evening. Moreover past experience has taught local playgoors to put their trust in him in the matter of providing something to laugh at, and his popularity will increase, as tho public realises : what a capital farce ho presents' in ' George Marlowe's dream-comedy, • "When: Knights Wore Bold." ; "Dream-comedy" hardly describes the type of play Mr. Marlowo. gives us. There is a dream and there is comedy, but-in tho main it is a rollicking farce that ,ono cannot smile a.t, because one is forced to .laugli—uproariously—and therein lies tho difference, between good comedy and good farce. It is over five years-sinco. Mr. -Thornton gave us joy in "A Little Ray of Sunshine," but'there are memories of a quaint old:damo- known as,"Charley's Aunt," who is alleged to.belong to a-country that fosters .nut-growing as a.n industry; or dear old impecunious whisky-drinking Dick Phenll of tho golden heart (in "Sweet Lavender"); and farther away still in tho blurred perspective the flabby figure of 'tlio- meek bun-loving curate in "The Private Secretary"—all to remind us of this popular actor as the faithful jester, who declines to bo any older than his,latest play. "When Knights were Bold" • is .really, a sermon against nagging. Young Sir Guy Vere de Vero has just dropped into, tho title and .tlio estates,, and is,entertaining some guests at the .old tapestry-walled castle, : known as Boechwood Towers. The party includes, Lady Rowena Eggington (Sir Guy's iutended), and her two jolly sisters, Millicent. arid Marjory, the Hon. Mrs. Waldegravo (Guy's aunt), a Mr. Isaacson,, who hopes to bring about an alliance between his daughter, and Sir Guy; Sir Bryan Ballymoto, who iu the pay of Isaacson, is endeavouring to break into Lady Rowena's affections; tho Hon, Charles Widdicombo, and the Rov. Petor _ I'ottleberry.. Lady Rowena is a charming girl,' but over romantic. She revels' in tlio past,-and would, have Sir Guy a valiant knight as were his centuries-dead, ancestors, but, despite her ravings in the name of chivalry, Sir Guy regains just a good fellow, fond of fun, and rather, sick of_ being "fed up" with his ancestors. Ho is human and catches a cold, and after a'prolonged "days of old" discus-, sion with - Rowena, drinks 'a decanter of. whisky, falls asleep by the' fire: and dreams. Dreams that, while still tlio twentieth century Sir Guy do Vere, ho is back in tho twelfth century.. AH tlio characters of the first scono assumo characters .such,'as they' might havo 'been' ages' before, land' whilo ho rails at them in modern, slang '•for"arranging such a masquerade, they 'aiisiver in tho quamt phraseology of the days of Richard the Lion Heart. Rowena becomes a lady suing for sanctuary in' tho Do Vero castle from the importunities'of "the'wicked Sir Bryan; Mr. Isaacson becomes Isaac of York, who lias been consigned to dungeon deep and dark for supplying .usurious gold to the wicked knight, and his daughter, accused of witchcraft, is in danger of death. Tho Rev. Mr. Pqttlcberry becomes Petor the ■Monk, and Widdicombe tho court,jester. In such a prodicamont, >tho -twentieth-century baronet finds plonty to arauso and exasperate i: lii.m,!. until. if. is announced that. Sir. Bryan' is'attackiiig tho castle .with, a view to seizing Rowena. Tho enemy's herald- throws "down the guage to Sir Guy, who- amidst shrieks of, laughter dons tho'armpur of his ancestors, has, a burlesque set-to. with Sir Bryan; and kills him. So onds tlio dream,' -Tho. awakoning sees Sir Guy back in his quarters slashing at ,a fallen suit, of armour, and persisting that he is back in " tho . .day's of old." He keeps up the farce to cure Lady Rowena of hor far-fetehed' romanticism, bowls out -Sir.-' Bryan and Isaacson in , their nefarious little scheme;- and' returns to his own.,.jolly self.,- : \ .. . As ivill be : judged, . the burden of the work. falls upon M-. Thornton as Sir Guy :. de Vere, ' but from' the cheerful snappy mannerisms and tho. exhilarating spontaneity exhibited in the part, it,would seem to be a light ono, and there is no questioning the fact that lie has added another bright stage portrait to the famed Thornton.gallery. The ;Lady ; Rowena of Miss Belle Donaldson was,, of course, a tall and stately creature, with_ something of "the days of old" in; the draping of her frock. Jljss Donaldson, in the pure white nun's habit of the dream act, looked.very well indeed, acted with grace and dignity, and displayed a rare elocutionary gift. Miss Lilly Willis,(who by the way hails from Johnsonville) acted brightly and looked decidedly well as Lady-Millicent, and Miss Olive Dudley was-nicely suited as Lady Marjorie. . Miss . Harriet Trench was • properly. dignified as the Hon. Waldegrave, and Miss Clare Manifield made a favourable impression as Miss Isaacson.. All tho ladies of tho company possess personal charm in no ordinary degree, and in this . respect Miss Elizabeth Hawthorne as Alice' Barker (a maid), deserves favourable mention.,' Mr. Douglas Hamilton was markedly artistic as Mr.' Isaacson, i and Mr. Charles Stone as the Hon. Chas. Widdicombe. Mr. Harry Ashford as the Rev. Mr.' Pottleberry was capitally suited. Mr. Charles Windermere as Barker (the butler) gave an excellent little character sketch,' and. Mr. Kempton Powell as Wittle was little less successful on straighter lines. . The dresses, particularly those of the .dream act,, 'were particularly, fine, and the scene that goes .with 'them—a rolling extent of forest-clad countryside—was an admirable example .of the scene-painter's art. ■ ' "When Knights "Wore Bold" was preceded'by the curtain-raiser "That Brute Simmons," a laughable playlet, capitally acted : by Miss Harriet Trench, Mr. Douglas Hamilton,' and Mr. Harry Ashford. Tho company's next production will be "Charley's Aunt.". 1

Tho danger, to India lies less on the frontier of. Afghanistan'.than in the secret arsenals and printing-presses of Calcutta and the timidity of tho Indian' Government.— "Manchester Courier." , ~ One can hardly realise how Londoners would ■ bo affected were somo cataclysm to wipe out Hyde Park. It-would-not oiily tako the heart out of the West End, but rob poor as 'well as rich,' the 'lofty arid tho liumblo, of one of tho most cherished relaxations of our metropolis.—"Pall Mall Magazine." A meeting of the newly-formed Wellington Lacrosse Association, to which tho existing clubs liavo now been affiliated, was held on Wednesday. Mr. .A. H. Casey occupied the choir. I'he meeting discussed the pending (rip of tho Wellington 1 representatives to Auckland in .order, lo piny, the, picked Incrosso players of that city. Jt is stated thai it is likely, that a particularly good team will bo sonl.. Reports from Auckland show Ihni Iho prune is making great ' progress;• and a. particularly strong combination has'been prepared for the Wellington isea,