"BEAUTY AND THE BARGE."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1393, 20 March 1912, Page 6

"BEAUTY AND THE BARGE."

THE ALLAN HA3IILTON COMPANY. "Beauty and tho Barge," a farcical comedy in three acts by W. W. Jacobs and Louis N. Parker. Cast — Captain Jame« Parley Charles Brown Ijieut. Seton Boyne, K.N. Kenneth Drampton Herbert Manners Billiard Vox Major Kmedley Robert fSreig Torn Codd John F. l-'ovdo Aueiu-Mis J. Stuart Ciydo .lolin Dibbs Richard liellairs George Porter Wilton Welch bury Dalltw Lilian Lloyd Mrs. Kmedley Ague 3 Kcugh .Mrs. l'orter Jluri'el Jlaie Jlrs. Baldwin Katie Towers Ethel .Smedley Beatrice Holloway It was with genuine pleasure that tho audience present at the Opera Jlouso Inst evening renewed acquaintance with W. W. Jacobs and Louis N. Parker's delightful farce-comedy "Beauty and the Barge," played here some seven years ago by the Brough Company. Everyone who roads current lite ratine knows tho Jacobs touch —the quaint simple humour of the longshoreman, the homely expressive repartee of the bargee, and the eomicai domestic intrigues of those men who go down to the sea in anything but ships. With rare insight and knowledge, and an excellent sense of humour he has created a newset of types, dealing with a - section, of the communily peculiar to nowhero but the ports of England. In "Beauty and the Barge'' quite a family of these pleasant characters appear, drawn with vigour and strength and instinct with that humour which we delight to imagine is typical of the class. Apart from that the comedy brings with it a whiff of England's fair fields, threaded by meandering rivers, and sweet resemblances of the country colonial's love to call home. The performance was an uncommonly good one even in the light of comparison, and by the manner in which it was received last evening should attract large audiences during the limited season in Wellington. Beauty is Ethel Smedlev (daughter of tho fiery .Major Smedley) who, rather horrific-d at being forced into marriage with Herbert Manners, then due from Russin, and half' in love with Lieutenant Seton Boyne, K.N., a chance acquaintance runs away from home, and with the connivance of Captain James Barley, of the barge "Heart and Hand" forms a desperate resolve to migrate to London. 'This old impressionable dog, who flatters himself that ho is no end of a fellow with the ucmen, conceives tho idea that Ethel has taken a fancy to him, and basely deserts his more matured lady-love, the amorous 3lrs. Baldwin, housekeeper to t'he Smedleys. Ethel's disappearance causes consternation in her home, and Major Smedley, his wife, his niece (Lucy Dallas), and Manners all turn out to search for the girl, and all turn up in due course in the bar of the "Old Ship" I nn, where the action becomes particularly lively. There also repairs Mrs. Baldwin to test Barley's faithfulness, but being warned the artful old bargee eludes pursuit, and successfully secretes Ethel in the "Heartand Hand." Lieut. Boyne drops on the scent, and arranges to ship as ono of tho orew, and in that capacity ships Mrs. Baldwin as part cargo to play propriety to Ethel and bowl out tho bold Captain Barley. After voyaging for a mile down tho river tho wind drops, and the barge —quite a commendable bit of stage realism—ties up beside a grassy glade, whero Captain Barley seeks to prove if love's labour be lost, and is rebuffed in favour of Lieut. Boyne, and Mrs. Baldwin, who has been stifling in the barge's hold, raises a touslc-d head to call on tho gods to witness Barley's perfidy. While this cheerful disentanglement is being sorted out, the party are discovered by Major and Mrs. Smedley, and Manners having found felicity with Lucy Dallas, Ethel and her sailor-boy receive the parental blessing. The bereft Barley, deserted even by Mrs. Baldwin, orders his crew of one (the love-lorn Augustus) to stand by with tears in his voice, and with helm in hand drifts slowly oft' to try his affability on tho fair ill other ports. Tho comedy is capitally mounted throughout. Tho inn scone has the correct air of a country hostelry in England, and the third act set displays in glad colours a charming glim [fee of tho Upper Thames on a perfect summer's day.

As previously remarked, tho performance is ■ finite admirable. Mr. Charles Drown lias never done anything Quito so well as ho dees Captain Barley. His gruff voice, rolling gait, his intense amiability and air of self-satisfaction, his leering wink, and his barnacled chuckle were all parts of a delightful characterisation that is well worth seeing. Miss Beatrice .llolloway made Ethel a fascinating little minx, and acted throughout with a natural charm and sprigbtliness. Mr. Kenneth Brampton made a spruce, cleancut Lieut. Boyue, who is just n_ trifle matter-of-fact in the maimer of his lovemaking. Mr. Hobert Greig does excellent character work as the explosive Major Smedley, keying up the tone of (ho performance iu every scene in which ho Is enraged. Herbert Manners was played a littlo stiffly by Mr. Milliard Vox, and .Mr. John F. Fordo was immensely successful as Tom Codd, ma to of tho barge. Miss Muriel Dale as Mrs. Porter, Mr. Wilton Welch as Mr. Porter, Miss Lillian Lloyd as Lucy Dallas, Miss Katie Towers'as Mrs. Baldwin, and Mr. Stuart' Clyde as Augustus were all well placed. Indeed a fcaturo of the performance was the even quality of the acting. "Boaufy and the Barge" will be played up till Friday evening, and on Saturday tho company will desert comedy for melodrama by presenting "Why Men L-ove Women." '