WILLIAMSON DRAMATIC CO.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1029, 19 January 1911, Page 6

WILLIAMSON DRAMATIC CO.

i— " . "THE LION AND THE MOUSE." "Th® Lion and the Mouse," a drama by Charles Klein. : Cast:— John Eiirkett Kyder...Mr. William' Desmond Jofferson Kyder ■... Mr.. Cyril Mackay Judge Koasmore Mr. T. W. Lloyd Hon. Fitzroy Uasjley ... ilr. Leslie Victor Senator Roberts Mr. Winter Hall Ex-Juugo Stott ilr. Boyd Irwin Kov. Pontifex Deetle ' Mr.' James B. Atholwood Mrs. Bossmore Miss Alma Vaughan Mrs. John Burkett- Bydcr Miss Susio VauKhan Kato Hoberts • Miss Maud Wingfield Miss Nesbitt Miss Alma Phillips Jane Deetle .'. Miss Kato Towers Eudoxia Miss Florence Glceson Shirley Bossmore Miss Katherino Grey A brilliant audience, which included his Excellency the Governor, filled the Opera Houso last evening on tho occasion .of the first. performance in ."Wellington o£ Charles Klein's play, "Tho Lion and tho Mouse," .by the Williamson Dramatic C0.,-headed by Miss ICatherine Grey. Charles Klein's - first big success was, "HearKeo.se," written in 1807;

"Truthful James" came six years later, and "The Lion and the Mouse" in 1905.' Of the play presented last evening there, is no room for two opinions. Though not an inspired pitce of dramatic work it is tho work of a skilled craftsman, stiff in its strong. central theme, nicely ombroid- ■ ered with little touches, sentimental and conversational, and not without a soupcon of comedy, making a most palatablo dramatic dish. Tho author's touch , is sure, his story is con-! vincingly possible, and it is told language crisp, bright, and incisive. If 'there is a weakness—and where is tha.play J without one—it is .that tlio'end il.'so, oij-' viously a foregone conclusion, and the development of tho story never by any means surprises. Everyone' is. conscious that when Shirley Bossmore declares that she will fight John Burkott Ryder, millionaire (who for political purposes lias ruined and is seeking to disgrace -her father) that she will win'; and when she is found to have taken up a position in the Kyder household under a falso name, the denouement can hardly be said to be ever problematical, and it would.be impossible for a.moment to imagine that Shirley will not. marry Jefferson Ryder, the millionaire's son, in tho end.. . Tho interesting motif that Mr. Klein has lit upon as matter for dramatic consideration is tho placing 011 the .stage of a typo'of man who has played* an important part in American literature for ton years past— the financial magnate whose methods, admittedly corrupt, are at utter variance with justice and right principles of any kind. 'John Burkett Ryder is tho financial lion depicted. Judge Rossmoro has dared to give a decision opposed to his interests, and ho is all out to crush him. He has already ruined him financially by a cunning movement in stock, when Miss Rossmore returns from a holiday trip to Europe. She meets thcblow with a bravo heart, and resolves to do battle with the big ■ man at the bottom' of the whole business. She. first of all writes a book, in which Ryder, thinly disguised, appears. as the central character, and as its author, Miss Green, she meets the. Rvders, interests them both, and is asked by the millionaire to writo his biogranliy. While so employed she induces. , Jefferson Ryder (who keeps hor identity a secret) to "procure for her letters, that will heln her father. At the end of . the third act these letters are produced, Ryder accuses his son of treachery, and Shirley, roused out of herself, at the callous cruelty of tho magnate, that she confesses her identity as tho daughter,of tho man ho is seeking to .disgrace, and reveals Ryder's baseness in a scene of fino. dramatic intensity and culminating force, which roused .tho house to enthusiasm. Tho last act is a realisation of tho expected. Ryder coves right in, begs Shirley to marry his soli, and orders the persecution of Judge_ Rossmore to cease. Miss Katherine Grey is surely- an actress born for the stage. Small in stature, she is the demure, thoughtful little mouse all through, seldom lifting her low-pitch-ed, but effective, voice above the demands of quiet conversation, and never .exhibiting any trace of theatricalism. .in hor methods. Once only is she called upon to lift th© action—at the end of the third act—and she climbed to a considerable dramatic height in so doing—all with that sure art which conceals art. Mr. William Desmond was the reverse of impressive as John Ryder, ffo made him a rough-mannered, blunt bully, who rattles off some of the strongest lines ever given to, an actor without any attempt at shading. Tho repose, dignity, and reserve strength of the lion were never suggested for ■ a moment, and th© play suffered in consequence. Mr. Cyril Mackay was admirably placed as Jefferson Ryder, made by this capablo actor a bright clear-headed young man, witli a waver born of .never being allowed to think for himself. Another capital performance was the affected littlo Englishman, tho Hon. Fitzroy Bagley, presented with perfect finish by "Mr. Leslie Victor. Mr. Winter Hall was satisfactory as Senator Roberts, and Mr. J, B. was amusing, if exaggerative, in. emphasising tho eccentricities of. tho Rev. I'ontifex Deetle. Miss Susie Yaughun was correctly placed as Mrs. Ryder, and Miss Maud Wingfield made a likeable Kate Roberts. Jliss Florrio Gleeson presented a clover sketch as Eudoxia (a modern servant), and Miss Alma Phillips chattered inaneiv enough' as Miss Nesbitt.

"The Lion and the Mouse" will bo played up till Tuesday next, when it gives.way to tho same author's successful play, "Tho Third Degree," for which tho box plans will bo opened to-morrow.