"THE LITTLE BREAD WINNER."

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 292, 3 September 1908, Page 8

"THE LITTLE BREAD WINNER."

In'the making of melodrama there is no end, and it might be added with all respect to everybody concerned that in. the class of workmanship involved in such manufactures there is just as much variety in worth as in anything else. We have' long since • given up the- task , attempting to classify the heterogeneous assortment of plays that a;re presented under the' broad heading of melodrama;, but leave is taken to doubt that "The Little Bread Winner" is intended as a serious contribution to the British drama— even' by the author (Mr. J. A.: Campbell) himself.. One docs not "look for the' highest literary flights in a play of this type, but- it js not out of the way, to expect smoothness of action," a nicety in the dovetailing , of the scenes, and some moderately good draughtsmanship in character. "The Little Bread Winner," presented by the Meynall and .Gunn Company at, the Opera House last evening, falls short in • each of those essentials,' and contains incongruities and inconsequent "gagging" that robs the narrative of any tend--ency to honestly convince. It is "regrettable that this is' so, : as the company is competent enough to do well in. better plays, and the melodramatic market' must, be very low indeed if better is not going a-begging for proIn brief,, tho story concerns the family affairs of ; Lord William Doirington, an aged. Quaker philanthropist, who has an adopted son in Richard Lawronce, who is engaged to his granddaughter, .Margaret Daventry. The former is apt to go a little "off the rails," and is helped to do so' by Lord William's private secretary,. Josopu Prior, who is Uriah Heep to the life. Matters .have gone so far that Prior has ( informcd tho silver-haired Quaker that young Richard is a gambler, spendthrift, drinker, and an unscrupulous philanderer. Richard, of course, is none of these. The author has just made' him an ass, for right on top of the ■ secretary's accusing information enters Richard, in company with a loud'bookmaker, who' is after ' £20 •' owing to .him'. . Tho old man is tottering when' Prior hurls the- extra' charge that Richard has dishonoured - Kate Cherry, one of the maid servants. Richard is cast forth into the cold world without theusual curse, and with him goes his fiancee. Ten years later they are discovered'living in the direst poverty in a -slum on the coppers earned by their, .tiny .daughter Meg, who is tho one gleam of light; in this valley of the shadow of melodrama. Mrs.' Lawrance has become , blind through something. not very lucidly explained, and the loud book-, maker; with the funny face-has; in. some'unaccountable manner been starving with the young couple for '{('decade out of pure friendship. llicnard, nicely tailored, despairing of getting any more horses' heads to hold, is about to make an appeal to the Earl, wnen' tho smug secretary (who it should be explained is a brother to tho bookmaker) announces that the ancient Quaker has relented and wishes to see his adoptod'son'arid granddaughter again. . Then ho fills tho silly Richard ilp with brandy, so that when tho Earl arrives lie is disgusted to : find his son drunk and making amorous proposals to tho secretary's lure, the -gay- Kitty Cherry. The old man roscues his granddaughter and her child, rewards the funny-faced'' bookmaker for his fidelity in starving with her (and when not starving ' living on tho child's savings), and Dick is left to moan in' his dull'stupidity. Finally, the! wicked, secretary is howled out, Richard is received back, and there is perfect happiness assured for everyone. -

The child interest is not so aggressive as it could bo, but what there is of it suffered from the shortcomings of the play, not . the players. Tiny Queenie Williams, as Meg (the little bread winner), was quite charming in everything she did, speaking ©very word with an intelligent idea of its value in .a clear, musical voice, and her acting was quite free from theatrical precosity; In the course . of< the play she sang "Daddy" very nicely indeed, and with Maggie Dickenson, who plays the part of Hobby Trot, sang (and danced) the duet, "The Dandelion and the Daisy." Why these clever children should. be asked to enact the .inane and pointless burlesque of "A. Royal Divorco" cannot easily be answered. Mr. G. P. Carey made Lord William a fine, composed, old gentleman of gentle denieanour, perhaps' a little too mild and pleasant where his Quaker ideas are assailed, but _ quite a picture of octagenarian suavity " and dignity. Mr. C. , It. Stanford, as Joseph Prior, was most artistic. This frank hypocrite, for over washing his hands with invisible soap, piles up his villainies consistently, if crudelv, and became the one character that thoroughly grew into something like reality. Mr. F, Coape as Richard was stiff and unsympathetic, but Miss Beatrice Holloway, as his wife, was charming. Miss Ida Gresham was satisfactory as Kate Cherry, and Miss Mabel Russoll. made a plump and pleasing Ruth Chorry, who eventually falls into the arms of the loud bookmaker and starving friend, Charles Prior, humourously played by Mr. E. G. Coughlan. Miss Alice Dcorwyn mado a hearty, smiling dame of Mary Rorkc, and Mr. Harold Lewis appeared hs Dr. Chadwiok. The scenery is adequate, the stage managomcnt excellent, and a good little band under the baton of Mr. Harold Dyson docs its duty commondably well. " Tho Littlo Bread Winner" will Ik> produced during' tho present wcok.