‘DR BILL.'

Evening Star, Issue 8775, 16 March 1892, Page 2

‘DR BILL.'

Midi Myra Kemble and her comedy company reach Dunedin by to-night’s Southern express. Of ‘Dr Bill,* in whiph they appear at the Princess’s to morrow night, the ‘ Australasian ’ says “‘ Dr Bill ’is an adaptation from the French; in other words, it is an emasculated edition of the original, and intended to amuse without offending the delicate susceptibilities of the British public. The materials of which it fa composed are of ths flimsiest description. There is not the remotest approach to even a suspicion of impropriety. It might have been written for a private theatrical club of young ladies. Indeed its fun is a combination of mirth and innocence, yet so fpeo from any deleterious compound that the parental mind need have no misgivings as to the subject of its French extraction, lu further referring to its negative qualities, it must be said that the dialogue is by np means brilliant ; indeed, if we were disposed to be over-critical, it might be styled feeble and insipid. This is especially observable in the first act, which goes at a snail's pace. It has po plot, no local coloring, and, except in one or two instances, does not make very large demands upon the histrionic ability of the company, On the other band, the piece is calculated to provide two bppjrs’ uninterrupted enjoyment, Having got through the formalities of an introduction to the characters, the audience can lie back aud enter into the pleasure of witnessing a rattling, screaming, side-splitting farce, in which all the parties engaged are of social standing sufficient to dignify the piece by the title of a comedy, There are absurd situations, an entertaining conflict of ideas and characters, perplexities innumerable, and one or two really amusing scenes. For instance, the kangaroo dance between Dr Bill and Miss Fauntleroy, the coryphee from the Frivolity Theatre, is in the very best form of stage fun,” Qi Miss Kemble's portrayal of Mrs Horton we are told: “Nature has done almost everything to assist Miss Kemble in the successful prosecution of her professional career. She has gpod looks, a pleasing stage presence, a sympath®^ o voice and manner, fine intelligence, habits of study, a worthy ambition to excel, and personally she is known to be the kindliest and most generous and self-saorifloing lady on the stage. It is therefore satisfactory to her friends and the public to find her in a position, as in * Dr Bill,’ where all her professional qualities ere seen to the best advantage,”