“IN OLD DONEGAL”

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 176, 13 April 1923, Page 7

“IN OLD DONEGAL”

A LIVELY IRISH COMEDY

“In Old Donegal,” an Irish comedy in three acts. Cast:

Gerald O’Donoshue Richard Bellairs Mary Donovan .... ??6elq Inman Morris Donovan Kevin Kerrigan Patrick O'Donogliue — Charles Brown Larry Donovan _ 4H cn 2 00110 Shaun Allen Doone Kato O’Donoghuo .. Edna Keeley Lawyer Waddy Maurice Lynch Little Tim Connie nyte Peter Callaghan J. Vincent White Bryan Callaghan Ronald Biley William Summerfield Boss Greagn Toddy Phatts Barry Connors

“In Old Donegal,” the really amusing comedy presented by the Alien Doone Company at the Grand Opera House Last evening, gets nearer to the old-time Irish comedy than any of its predecessors. Not only does the wit bubble cheerfully throughout its action, but it gives scope for some choice character work, which fairly typifies, even if it does exaggerate, the Irish of half a century ago, when that most distressful country was a deal happier abiding place than it is to-day. In tills play Mr. Doone shows his versatility as an actor in the role of Larry Donovan, the son of a farmer with his own freehold farm. This good land is coveted by an old rascal named Peter Callaghan, who seeks not only to secure the farm by an alliance with his equally villainous son, by forcing a marriage with Larry’s sister (who is betrothed to honest Gerald O’Donoghue), but by a neatly-planned bit of chicanery seeks to gain possession of money in consols, which has been left to Larry by his uncle in London unknown to him. Larry, however, is up to all the tricks the Callaghans can invent, and by impersonating a man who is employed by old CalJaglian to do his dirty work, is on the scene all the time, and, of course, circumvents the tricksters at every turn, and finally saves his father and sister from the Callaghan trap. Some of the most interesting and comical scenes in the play concerns the lovemaking of Larry with pretty Kate O’Donoghue, the schoolmaster s daugnter, who is herself deceived by Larry s protean ability, but as the audience are in the joke the humour of these encounters never misses fire. MrDoone plays the role of Larry with rare ability. The Irish brogue comes glib from his blarneying tongue, and there is never a line spoken but the youth has a better to match it, and ST laughter is seldom absent throughout the three acts. Incidental te the comedy Mr. Doone sings with all his old charm “Kate O’ Donoghue” ami “Tunes We Dove to Hear on Paddys Day.” Miss Edna Keeley lends the grace of her charming presence to -the part of Kate O’Donoghue, a character she dresses with the nicest taste applicable to the period. Miss Adele Inman, an actress of considerable promise, is nicely in the picture as Mary Donovan. Not only does Alias Inman act brightly and look well, but she displays a musical mezzo voice in “The Last Rose of Summer,” which is introduced into a love scene with Gerald O’Donoghue, played in a manly fashion by Mr. Richard Bellairs. Mr. Kevin Kerrigan figures as old Donovan, a stubborn old Irish farmer, and Mr. Charles Brown is effective as the Latinquoting schoolmaster. Mr. J. V, White makes Callaghan a plausible old villain, and Mr. Ronald Riley is well suited as his rapscallion son. A low comedy study of outstanding humour is that given by Mr. Maurice Lynch, of the double-dealing Lawyer Waddy, whilst Miss Connie Kyte strikes a pathetio note as Little Tim, his ragamuffin clerk. The comedy is capitally mounted, a special feature being the realism in the arrangement of the interior of the Donovan homo in the first and last acts. Emerald-tinted music is supplied by a capable orchestra under Mr. Percy Kehoe.