ABBOTTS OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9270, 4 August 1893, Page 5

ABBOTTS OPERA HOUSE.

GOURLAYAND WALTON'S DRAMATIC

COMEDY COMPANY. Last evening the Gourlay and Walton Dramatic Company staged for the first time in Auckland, the humourous comedy by Mr. Manning of "Kindred Souls" Notwithstanding counter attractions there was a fair attendance. The comedy abounds in smart dialogue, exceedingly amusing and cleverly-conceived situations, which resulted in the audience being convulsed with laughter throughout the performance of the piece. The characters allotted are admirably adapted to the peculiar talents of the members of the company, affording them every opportunity of generating the drollest kind of fun. including the London successes of comedy. The opening scene of the comedy, which is in three acts, is laid in a hotel where Winkle (Mr. George Chalmers) has the letting of the rooms, and generally acts as factotum to the lodgers. In this capacity, lie lets the same rooms to different people at the same time, and the result is contusion worse confounded, and some of the most ludicrous scenes which the imagination can conceive. Among the first visitors was Frank Feather-ley (Mr. John Gourlay) and Mark Maybery (Mr. W. Cameron), two old friends, who unexpectedly meet, the former doing his best to elude a sheriffs officer. While conversing, Polly Drake (Miss Flora Hastings) appears on the sceoi and having known both gentlemen from girlhood, she confides to them that since they last met she had married, ami her husband, a naval officer, had proved so jealous that she had left him for ever, and was now looking for a Kindred Soul. In that end she had come to the district to consult a professor of spiritualism, her counsellor and friend, who hud taken charge of all her jewellery. Professor Steerman, alias Croft (Mr. Kobt. Harwood), the gentleman referred to, makes his appearance, and an interview with Polly follows, during which he hold* a seance communicating with the spirit of Polly's grandmother. Captain Drake (Mr. .1. H. Martin) next appears in full uniform, and, under the impression his wife resides in the hotel, engages the room from Winkle. As she is nob to be found he leave? in search of her. Major Flutterwig (Mr. George Walton), and Mrs. Flutterwig (Miss Georgie Leigh ford) enter, and ttony, too, secure the rooms from Winkle. The other occupants of the hotel are Mary M«ybery (Miss Ellen Griffiths) and Fanny Fsrttherley (Miss Alice Holbrook), who are looking for their husbands, and these, with Lucy, the maid of all work (Miss Evelyn Harte), completed tho caste. Mr. John Gourlay was at his best as the fugitive, Frank Featherley. Mr. Chalmers, as Winkle, was a great success. Mr. Walton, as the Major Flutterwig, gave a clever representation of the henpecked husband, and kept the audience in roars of laughter with his excellent fooling. Miss Leiiihford's rendering of the part of Mrs. Flutterwig was capital. The make-up of Mr. Harwood as Professor Steerman was good, while the hot-headed jealous husband, Captain Drake, received an excellent interpretation from Mr. J. H. Martin. The other members of the company acquitted themselves creditably. During the evening an excellent programme of vocal music was given, several of the numbers being encored. "Kindred Souls" will be repeated this evening, and those who desire to witness a splitting comedy, and some excellent acting, should avail themselves of the opportunity of attending to-night's performance. ____