THE MYRA KEMBLE SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9394, 28 December 1893, Page 5

THE MYRA KEMBLE SEASON.

PRODUCTION OF A." WHITE LIB." Tub Opera House was, on Boxing night, crowded, to witness the opening of the Myra Ramble season. lb was a holiday house in dimension, and yet not only ap- j preciative, but critical. The piece selected, far the opening was Sydney Grundy's fouract comedy, "A White Lie." When such a piece as the " Idler " had to be withdrawn from a colonial stage—not a New Zealand one, by the artists must have felt there was certainly ■something wanting in the way of the education which gives power to perceive the delicate in light and shade. And ib would have been no wonder, had the colonies been flooded with this mixture commonly known as *• blood ami thunder." It was then, not surprising, but certainly agreeable to find such a reception accorded in Auckland, as in Mew Zealand generally, to «• A White Lie." Though there is nothing particularly ingenious in the plot, the working is so crisp and clever,the story so human and natural, and the piece is so admirably played by the Kemble Company that all who see it yield to it the merit of being one of the best things ever staged. Sir John Molyneux is a man who, either by habit or constitution, takes things very easily. It would take something more than a trifle to rouse him. Much ib takes to interest him, and when nob interested he generally dozes, seeming to care for nothing as much as his pair of cobs. Incidentally, however, he gives a clue to his real character. His wife frets because, as she says in the exaggeration of exasperation, out of an eight weeks' tour on the Continent he has slept six. He replies that if ho has so slept he saw as much in the two weeks he was awake as anyone else in the whole period. Lady Molyneux however allows herself to be entangled in a flirtation with a Captain Tempest. Mrs. Desmond, Sir John's brother, however, in years gone by has had experience of the captain, she having been engaged to him, and thrown him over because of his unworthineas. She tries to open her brother's eyes to what is going on, but he is irritatingly cool. As the Captain is visiting at Sir John's house she herself, uninvited, also pays her brother a visit in order to thwart Tempest. Taking advantage of Sir John taking his customary nap Tempest makes lovo to the lady. But Sir John is more wide awake than he seems, and he refuses to be "gulled" by a quickly-hatched story of a private theatrical rehearsal. He orders the Captain out of the house, and takes complete command of the situation. The Captain writes to Lady Molyneux asking for a meeting, and the husband, entering as his wife and Mrs. Desmond are reading the note, calmly demands it. Miss Desmond, to save her sister-in-law, claims that the letter is to her— the " white lie." But Sir John sees through the subterfuge, and, as his sister-in-law persists in her claim, insists on her writing a reply, which ho announces his intention of personally delivering to Captain Tempest. The two ladies are sent off to their beds, but slip out of the house independently, and unknown to each other go to the Captain's temporary lodgings—the one to upbraid him for his impertinence in writing to her, and to beg him to leave the place ; and the other to ask that he upholds her story as to the person to whom the letter was addressed. First one and then the other has to be concealed by the Captain, and then Sir John arrives, and after him Ceo. Desmond, who has just returned from America and is looking for his wife. Each denounces Tempest, and each opens the room in which the other's wife is concealed, each informing the other that ho has seen no one. The plot thickens as the two men return home trying to deceive one another. Both wives escape from the Captain's rooms, and separately explain matters to their husbands. The comicality of the situation is thus worked up to the highest pitch. Miss Myra Kemble played Kate Desmond ; she scarcely seemed herself, though undoubtedly she was good ; in the impetuous passages of an irritated woman she was exceptionally so. Mr. Edward Sass us Sir John Molyneux scored heavily ; he was so quiet yet so finished. Throughout his every lino was followed, and ho was applaudod to the echo. Miss Emma (Jwynne was Lady Molyneux, and well did she sustain the part. Mr. Scott Inglia was an excellent Captain Tempest, and Mr. H. I'limmer us George Desmond was really the jealous husband. Little Flos-ie Masters was cast for the child's part, for which she is so suited ; her articulation, and her true impersonation of a child in themselves would have made her a success. "The Nettle," in which Mr. Saes and Miss Emma wynne took part, was played as a "curtain raiser."

There was again a good house last evening at the Opera House to witness the second production of the comedy which wont much better than on the previous evening. Miss Kerable was decidedly in better form and her old self. "A White Lie" will be played tonight for positively the last time, and there is no probability of the comedy being revived, the repertoire for the season having been definitely decided upon. To-morrow night Auckland playgoers will have an opportunity of witnessing the very latest efforts in farcical comedy—" Our Flat." This is the work of a lady (Mrs. Musgrave) and enjoyed an uninterrupted run of twenty-three months at the Strand Theatre, London, under the management! of an old Australian actor— Willie Edouin. It is best described in the words of the veteran critic George Augustus Sa'ia, who wrote as follows in the columns of the Daily Telegraph :— " lb is a piece compounded of genuine fun of the most harmless type, withoub a word or suggestion of a prurient nature, and young people as well as their elders may witness it with the utmost enjoyment. It is in three acts, or to be more correct in ' two screams and a yell,' for the fun, instead of flagging, goes on increasing to such an extent, that it was a positive relief when the curtain finally fell, and gave the audience a chance of composing themselves." A notable feature in the production of "Our Flat" to-morrow evening will bo the first appearance with this company in Auckland of the popular comedian, Mr. George Laitch, whose name 13 pleasantly associated with many excellent dramatic productions in this city. Mr. Leitch will appear as " Nathaniel Glover" the part originally created in London by the famous comedian, Willie Edouin.