"SERGEANT BRUE."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1244, 28 September 1911, Page 6

"SERGEANT BRUE."

Sergeant Brue, a musical comedy in three acts, by Owen Hall. Music bv Liza Lohin.inn. Lyrics by J. Hickorv \Ycod. Cast:— ' , Sergeant Brue Percy Clifton Michael Bruo Frank Lincoln Aurora Brno jjc'l Finnia ? r al . s S; <Servant) Kcllie Cozens Jlauel ffidcett Mabel Dark ymenno Kusscll Cliff Palmer Louise Clair ' Bertha Goldberg Gerald Trehorno Frank Oakden-Brooks Matthew Ilabi&ham W. L. Montcomery Inspector Gorrineo Carlcton Stuart Captain- Bay Kobert Jackson Lrsluno Murray David Jefferson Mr. Crank iMnsistrato) Frank Compton Crooiiic Scruhbs (a Criminal) ... Tom Graven Lady Bickenhall Florence Imcson

In Sergeant Bruc" the architects of a most entertaining musical comedy have co-ordinated tho elements of broad farce and light opera with happy ingenuity. Under these auspices tho members of- tho Clarke-Mcynell Comic Opera. Company were on strong ground at tho Opera House last evening when "Sergeant Brue" made his first appearaace before tho Wellington public. The plot is-simple. Sergeant Brue is a highly respectable member of tho London police, who prefers the peaceful side of the police business—traffic control—to the darker and more precarious responsibility of laying criminals by the 'heels. He lails'in love with a beautiful lady, whom he first saw outsido "Rabbits's boot-shop," and to whose carriage he subsequently gave entire right-of-way through the traffic of Piccadilly. Later, he discovers that she is a titled society lady, and is depressed by the hopelessness of his situation. Opportunity there comds to him in this dark hour, the will of a deceased brother who accumulated much wealth in South Africa conveying to him a legacy of £10,000 per annum, conditionally on 'V s "sing to tho rank of police inspector More depression, for Sergeant Brue is not of the stuff of which inspectors are made A casual act of benevolence to one Lrookio Scrubbs' (a common thief) enlists to tho service of bis aspirations a valued ally, who, "for a consideration," undertakes to arrange .sensational coups which will bring fame and quick promotion to the love-lorn sergeant of police. 'Crookie" cannot go straight, for constitutional reasons, and his tactical incompetence in arranging' the coups results in a semes of amusing complications, which supply the star comedians of the company with abundant scope for come really excellent "business," and upon this rests the wholo success of tho performance. Sergeant Brue, en passant, owns a barber's shop, managed by. his son Michael. There is also a daughter, Amora, who is a professional nurse.- Al=o there is Mr. Crank, the magistrate, who encounters the Sergeant on various disastrous occasions, when Crookio's schemes go wrong, and who latterly sits in iud<*ment upon him after his arrest on a chargo of feloniously secreting himself in a fashionablo hotel—"Crookie's" la«t "coup." Tho Police Court scene is screaming y funny. Finally, Mr. Crank is beguiled into a game, of baccarat bv tho Sergeant's titled lady, acting in collusion ivith the Sergeant and "Crookie," and at tho psychological moment the police, in tho persons of Sergeant Brue and the'disguised "Crookie," raid tho house and arrest the magistrate. Jlr. Crank is released, for a consideration—Sergeant Brue is to bo recommended for quick promotion—and all ends well. The heat and burden of the evenin" are borne by Mr. Percy Clifton, whcW impersonation of the character of the bucolic Sergeant Brue is admirable, Mr. Tom Graves, who as "Crookie Scrubbs" is the life aud soul of the performance. Mr Frank Lincoln (Michael), Mr. Frank Compton, whose comic opera -magistrate is capital, Miss Florence Imesou (Lady Bickenhall), -Miss Nell Finnis (Aurora) and .Miss Nellie Cozens (Daisy, a servant in the Brue household). The mus'c is by Liza Lehmann, the celebrated writer, of song-cycles, whose unexpected excursion into the realm of comic opera is distinctly advantageous to Owen Hall's "Sergeant Brue." The music is bright and attractive, though it diies not linger in the memory. Miss Nell Finnis and Mr Frank Oakdeii-Brooks (Gerald Trehernc' a young gentleman of minor importance in tho general scheme of things), made a decided hit in the cleverly-written duet "Only One Old Daddy"; Mr. Tom Graves in his'songs "Put me in im- little cell " and "Captain Ginger," and Miss Florence Imeson ("Instruct"), were equally sue cessful, while Mr. Percy Clifton aKo scored with his song "P. C. Green." Gen. erally speaking, the comedy went with a hearty swing from the rise to the fall of the curtain, due principally to tho excellent work of the principals, and especially of Mr. Tom Graves and Mr Percy Clifton. lr -

ITis Excellency the Governor, and a party from Government House, attended the performs uce, which will be repeated tins evening. '