ABBOTTS OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8580, 30 May 1891, Page 5

ABBOTTS OPERA HOUSE.

JENNIE LEE IN " RUN WILD." At the Opera • House last night, Miss Jennie Lee's Dramatic Company performed a play ;in which the lady: principal had already achieved one of her principal successes in London and.in the colonies—that of"; Collie, 2in t* ; / play of &«. Run J Wild." Why the play should have gob that name is a mystery, for it by no means indicates either the drift of the play or its meaning. The ; play is more of / a /domestic drama than a comedy ; in fact the comedy portions, except so far as they are borne by the minor members, are insignificant;. / The outline of the drama which appeared in yesterday's issue, will ; enable our readers to '; intelligently I follow the action of the play. V The , scenery ■; was laid with fairly good; effect, : and the • opening-scene in Parker's house was very nicely set. : This scene introduces the / character*} of the drama. Mrs. Bolton appears as Mrs. Parker, wife of »a wealthy cotton ; owner, ; whom she despises for his trade instincts, and she takes no pains to hide it. Mrs. Bolton makes a feature of this part. .It is one of the most difficult in which we have seen the lady, and that of which she has given the best account. -But to take up tho action of the play. ; Nothing; could be betteri than the character of "John Parker," by Mr. G. P. Carey. /It is a part which is full, of. difficulties, and' requires a well-disciplined, grasp to meet. ; But" Mr. Carey was equal ';: to all ? the ■;claims' oh his abilities, and ■win/ the first act ■he introduces a very pretty piece of ; pathos as he goes for his daughter Collie, in. the ? hope that perhaps she would bring husband and wife together. S Throughout the whole Jof 5 this scene the interest of the audience Was enth railed, and there : is ■ no doubt that a; dramatic effect was worked up, which ■ has not ten been witnessed. In this act also Miss Lee made one of her best points. On the ' introduction to her mother the bright lovable girl .rushed to her /mother, expecting maternal love. , She brought her flowers fresh cub in Ireland by nerself,, and her pain as they were scornfully received and thrown aside by mother," was powerfully expressed in gesture, action, and tone. This was the first appearance in- Auckland of Miss Jennie Lee in one of her most powerful characters, and it kept hold on the audience throughout.; A fine vein of pathos runs through the play which suits her to a nicety, and _it is difficult to judge in which phase she is best. In fact, it is difficult to judge when she emerges from one / phase into the other so rapidly does ; the rollicking Irish .girl emerge into the [ general peacemaker, but out of a conglomeration Miss Lee makes i-V a beautiful whole, and when at the end she has reconciled her father and mother, reclaimed her brother, and won for herself a wholehearted lover no one wonders at how the matters are accomplished, but they applaud the play and delight in the elegance with which the trick is . accomplished. Indeed, "Run Wild" is a play full of beauty '.; and equal to the best artistic display, but we wonder what it would be without Miss Lee ;as . Collie." Mr. G. P. Carey .was never cast ;to better advantage than as the retired cotton spinner, " Mr. John Parker," and his gentlemanly and humane; conduct as compared with that of his aristocratic wife was most marked. Mr. Carey deserved the recognition he received, for he showed himself to be a thoroughly conscientious and capable actor. Mrs. Bolton had ; rather a repulsive part as the/ unamiable " Mrs. Parker," and > during the • first two acts she fully sustained the role she as/ sumed, and it 'was the fault of the part, not of the performer, that it fell tamely at the end. Mr. Charles Hill made a good representation of the cad Richard Barker, who was ashamed of his* father, and nothing could be better than Mr. D. C. Smith's pourtrayal of the masher, Monty Drury. Minor characters were all well sustained, but Miss Ada Lee made quite a feature of : the pretty role of Lady Grace Howard. Mr. Cam bourn presented a manly figure as Jack Carew/ The principals were called before the curtain frequently; and at the close of the Second act the whole of the members had to respond to a Call. "Run Wild" will be presented / until further notice.'