"JEAMES" AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6075, 19 September 1881, Page 3

"JEAMES" AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.

There was a capital downstairs house at the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening to welcome the first appearance in Napier of Mr F. Marshall. The fame which this gentleman has won at London, Melbourne, and Auckland, caused many to look forward to his visit with an anticipation that an exceptional treat was in store, and if Mr Marshall is as good in other characters as in " jeant.es," produced on Saturday, the anticipations of lovers of genuine comedy will not be disappointed, but rather surpassed. Seldom have playgoers here had such an opportunity of showing themselves fully appreciative of genuine talent, and at the same time enjoying pure innocent fun. As the comedy of " Jeatnes " is new here it may not he out I of place to give a resumS of the piece — which was mainly suggested to the author, Mr J l . Burnand, by Thackeray's sketches : — Jeames invests some of his savings, and those of his fellow servant Mary Ann, in goldmining shares. This speculation proves very remunerative, and suddenly Jeames find 3 himself a wealthy man. Plunging into high society, where he is encouraged so that he may be fleeced, he makes himself ridiculous in the extreme, and pays his attentions to the daughter of Sir John Aldgate, a wealthy banker, discarding his former love, Mary Ann. Jeames unfortunately places the management of hia affairs in the hands of Warren, an unscrupulous scoundrel, who soon makes "ducks and drakes" of everything to his own advantage, leaving Jeames penniless, and the object of pitiless ridicule. Jeames returns to his old home and station in life, eventually makes it up with Mary Ann, and all ends happily, Jeames finally recognising that he had made an idiot of himself. Mr F. Marshall, as a matter of course, took the part of Jeames, and it i 3 but faint praise indeed to say he excelled in it. There is plenty of room for the display of the powers of a comedian in the part, and no opportunity was lost by Mr Marshall, and during the whole time he was on the stage the audience was kept continually laughing. No one watching him could but feel that the character and behaviour of Jeames as pourtrayed by him were just what would very probably take place in a man of Jeames' position, so suddenly elevated. To add to the merit of Mr Marshall's performance it must be said there was not even the most trifling vulgarity, or anything that could possibly offend, a virtue not to be found in all comedians. Whilst in the service of Sir John Aldgate as footman, the manner in which he acted was intensely amusing, and the sighs which he heaved as he cried, " Hangelina, my 'cart, my 'cart," were irresistible ; but the height of ludicrousness was reached in the second act, when Jeames de la Pluche (as he styled himself after his elevation) makes his advances to Angelina and sings to her accompaniment, "Me 'cart, me Hangelina." In the third act, too, where an explanation is volunteered by him as to the results of his shooting adventures, there was not one present in the theatre who was not kept in good humor. Farther on, when being upbraided by Mary Ann for his inconstancy to her, the mild manner in which he soothes her, always beginning with a patronising air, "Mary Harm," he was also particularly good. But it is needless to particularise any other por-

tions of his performance, there were so many deserving of the high encomiums passed on them during the evening. He was deservedly called before the curtain, in company with Miss Knight, after the third act. Mr Marshall has a strong company at his back, all of them being on Saturday well up to their work. Foremost among them is Miss Maggie Knight, than whom a more charming actress has not graced the Napier stage for a very long time. Miss Knight baß gained for herself a reputation in Australia which is a sufficient guarantee of her ability. As Mary Ann Hoggins she acted with grace, and presented a capital ideal of her part. In the third act she was very effective in the pathetic passages, when expostulating with Jeames for having deserted her. The manner in which she told him that he was being duped and ridiculed was very telling, and had a great effect upon the audience. A portion of a song was given with great sweetness and expression. Miss Ethel Adelle made a capital Lady Angelina, and Miss Watt-Tanner was very good as Emily Aldgate, though neither had much onportunity of distinguishing herself. Mrs Lachlan M'G-owan and Miss E. Duke had minor parts and little to do. Mr F. W. Marshall gave an excellent representation of William Blodder, Jeames' uncle, and known as " H uncle Bill," and Messrs J. S. Welsh, W. J. O'Brien, J. P. West, A. Elliott, and Harry Sefton were all good in their respective parts. Tonight " Blow for Blow " will be given.