MB. GEORGE DARRELL'S DRAMATIC SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9832, 29 May 1895, Page 5

MB. GEORGE DARRELL'S DRAMATIC SEASON.

Last niphb Mr. George Darrell produced, at the Opera House, his celebrated drama, " The Sunny South," with which his name has been associated the world over, and with which he returns to open in London in a few months' time. lb is nine years since the piece was last produced in Auckland, when it made a dramatic record, as it has done in Melbourne and elsewhere. Bub amongst the large audience gathered at the theatre yesterday evening were many old friends who remembered the piece of yore. They, with those who saw "The Sunny South" for the first time, were delighted with it, and tho universal verdict, ab the close, was bhab bhe drama was far and away the best of the present season. After every acb everyone in tho cast was recalled before the curtain — the virtuous to be cheered and tho villainous howled at and hissed amidst great excitement. Mr. Darrell had a part that suited him to perfection as Matt Morley, an Anglo-Australian, fortunate a the diggings, bub bitterly hated by the leader of a gang of bushrangers. He played throughout with quieb strength. Miss Harrie Ireland was also ab her best as Babs Berkley, the adopted daughter of Mat, a by no means easy part bo play. Her impersonation was really clever and artistic; ib would be difficult bo imagine anyone better. She was in every sense thoroughly natural. Around these two tho interest of tho drama centred, and as the company is an unusually strong one, there was never any question about either tho success of the piece, or of the individual artists. Mr. Edwin Kelly was a good Worthy Chester, an English gentlomen ; Mr. J. B. Atholwood was Ivo Carew, a new chum ; Mr. J. A. Patterson, Eli Grup, a man on 'change; Mr. Fred Cambourno, Perfidy Pounce, a man of business ; Mr. Geo. R. Ireland, Ben Brewer, a representative digger; Mr. Colleb Dobson made a lob of the part of Dick Duggan, tho leader of the bushrangers, and the heavy villain ; Mr. H. Power was Black Stove, his mate ; Mr.W.Clemow, Johnny Jinks, a Cornstalk ; Mr. Barry Marschel, a black tracker ; Mr. S. Wisdom and Mr. J. Sharp wore bushrangers; Mr. J. Byrne, Sergeanb Swoop ; and Mr. Fielding was Grumps, a fossicker. Miss Fitzmaurice Gill made an excellent Clarice Chester, a young lady born in tho purple ; Miss Bessie Colville was a good-looking Matilda Wander, found on a doorstep; while Miss Isabel Stuart was, as she ever is, the life and soul of the stage when upon it. The piece was well put on in every way, and nothing could have exceeded, in sensationalism, the scenes of the sticking up of the bank, the burning of the bushrangers' hut, and the attempb to wreck the train. During the action of the play Mr. Darrell sang "At Trinity Church I met my Doom." "The Sunny South " will be repeated for the last time this evening. It should nob be missed by any admirer of the stirring and realistic. To-morrow "East Lynne" will be produced, pieces having now to be pub on in quick succession in consequence of the near approach of the end of the season.