THEATRE ROYAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12428, 18 February 1901, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

"PEG WOFFIXGTON." Miss Nance ■ O'Neil brought her 'Ghristcliurch season to a close on Saturday with a tscond venture into the realms of comedy, "Peg Wofiing-ton," or, as it is better known in theatrical'circles, "Masks' and Faces," being produced. It is a ■ quaint,,'old-fash? toned play, with a good deal .of shrewd humour in its composition, and, withal, u suggestive little under-current of. pathos. Its construction, is hardly suited to modern demands, and though it plays prettily, its strength is uneven. Miss O'Neil's personation of the eccentric and big-hearted actress " Peg," was a, better comedy rendering than her "Lady Teazle," and although it would not compare, even avowing for the distinctions in character, with her tragedy work, it still sufficed in merit to show that she has a distinct vein, of versatility. Her 'boisterous abandonment, and the generally-loud note of her acted actress, tempered by her alternate, tenderness and scorn in the intrigue with Ernest Vane, called for a varying mood which she represented with no mean measure of success. More'particularly -did she impress in herfirst scene with Sir Charles Pomander, where her s-vnrtflate'd scorn was cutting m the extreme, in the scene at Triplet's lodgings, and at the last " curtain," where- the reserve of pathos was keenly apparent. Mr Thomas Kingston's " Sir Charles Pomander "'was a capital study of;the blase town, roue, whose refinement and elegance and insolence lashed the fiery-hearted " Peg "to a fury of scorn and indignation. Mr piunme'r's "Ernest Vane" was also, an interesting impersonation, though lacking somewhat in life. ' Mr Atholwoodi kept his best to the end of the season, for his "Triplet" was one of the ■•features of the performance. Miss Alice Crawford ma* a satisfactory Mabel Vane, and others who- call for mention'are Mr George Becks as ■■' Colley Gibber, ',' Mr Bernard as " Snarl," and Mr Benson- North as " Soape-r." The piece wa.s beautifully dressed, and in lino with other productions, effectively staged. Miss O'Ned •in view of her departure, was accordtd a specially hearty, reception, and at the close of'the performance, 'was twice recalled.