ENTERTAINMENTS AND MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11856, 7 January 1902, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS AND MEETINGS.

THE BROUGH COMEDY COMPANY.

" MRS. DANE'S DEFENCE."

There was a fairly large audience at the Opera House last night to witness tho Brough Comedy Company's first production of " Mrs. Dane's Defence." This is a four-act play, in which the author, Henry Arthur Jones, offers an old solution of an old problem by demonstrating that a woman who has that attribute commonly termed a " past" (whatever her excuse), is to consider herself for all time debarred from the privilege of wifehood if she shall allow herself to be found out. In arriving at this conclusion the playwright takes a leaf out of everyday experience, and illustrates his arguments by means of the characters best suited; to that end. His central characterthe woman delineated as one who sinned in ignorance, and pleads that as her excuse. In working out the rjvoblem as to whether or no there is a " way out" for such a woman, the author spares no argument in her favour, but he never leaves the issue in doubt. The negative answer is inevitable, and he gives ; it. That it is just or fair ho does not say, simply leaving it at this, that there is an unalterable law which cannot be gainsaid. Mrs. Dane, the subject of the problem, is, when the play opens, living at a country resort, where little is known about her. Tins fact is sufficient to arouse tho suspicions of Mrs., Bulsoin Porter, who is never so happy as when engaged in pulling another woman reputation to pieces. This lady's nephew, James Risley, on first meeting Mrs. Dane, recognises her as identical with a. governess who some years before, through a liason with her employer (a married man), had caused a scandal and a tragedy. Risley tells his aunt who she is, but later, out of pity for Mrs. Dane, declares that lie has made a 'mistake. Mrs. Bulsem Porter, however, is not satisfied, and continues to repeat the story. Lionel Carteret, the adopted son of Sir Daniel Carteret (a judge of great legal acumen), is passionately in love with Mrs. Dane, and desires to marry her. He resents tho scandal emanating from Mrs. Bulsom Porter but his father, who is strongly against the idea of his adopted son marrying Mrs. Dane, because so little is known about her, urges him to have nothing to do with her. Mrs. Dane denies, the imputations made against her. Sir Daniel then consents to get at the bottom of tho matter, and to give his consent to his son's marriage on Mrs. Dane being cleared. By dint of a plausible series of falsehoods she succeeds in making her innocence believed in, and Sir Daniel calls urion Mrs. Porter to publicly apologise. Wishing, however, to leave no evidence incomplete, lest by Mrs. Porter's refusal to sign tho apology, the matter should reach the law courts, Sir Daniel goes deeper into Mrs. Dane's history. Sho supplies him with very, full particulars, but uses the facts connected with a cousin's life to deceive him. Ihe judge is almost convinced of lier" innocence, when he detects a flaw in her story, and, in spite of her gradual dismay and her appeals to bo spared, further questioning, he proceeds to mercilessly cross-examine _ her. Tho result is that ho finds her out, and dramatically tells her so. Mrs. Dane is overwhelmed, and begs him not to let Lionel know. To this he will not consent, but he goes so far oil his friend's, Lady Eastney s, intervention as to keep her secret- from tho others, even allowing Mrs. Porter to be forced into signing the apology. In the end Mrs. Dane accepts the inevitable, gives up Lionel, whom she loves with great fervour, and departs. Lionel is thus free to return to his old lovo, Janet Colquhoun, and presumably does so. The story is one of great interest and of emotional quality, but its Icing out is not accomplished without sjcio dull moments. In the third act the play' approaches the tragic in its intensity, and was most dramatically played last night. The first two acts (which might easily bo curtailed into one) are by no means so convincing, comprising, as they do, a maximum of words and a minimum of incident, so that at times they are perilously near becoming tedious.. Nor dons the fourth act appear strong enough—at all events, it is weak in comparison with the previous one. On the wholo, the play did not take that hold upon the onlookers last night which would warrant a description of the result as completely successful. It lias powerful situations, but power and force -do not permeate it throughout, and its quieter moments were not given the greatest effect to by the acting, which How and then showed signs of lagging. Mrs. Brough, as Lady Dane, was forceful up to a certain point, but scarcely availed herself of the full possibilities of the role. Her conception might , justly be termed both capable and thoughtful, but it lacked that quality which would have made it deeply impressive. In the cross-examination scene the dismay and terror of, the hunted woman driven, so to speak, from one corner to another as her tissue of falsehoods was broken down—these were portrayed wonderfully well, but there was not sufficient of the tragic in her reception of tho blow of being found out. Mr. Brough gave a powerful interpretation of Sir Daniel, and proved the mainstay of the play. /.The force of his portrayal lay in its intense earnestness and trueness to life. His conception, of the astute, farseeing lawyer was, in short, a fine performance. Miss Temple played well as Lady Eastney, and Miss Susie Vaughan's Mr 3. Bulsom Porter conveyed a good idea of the somewhat coarse scandal-monger. Miss Mary Chatteris, as the dainty Scotch lass, Janet, was very successful. Mr. Ernest Vere, as Lionel, gave a capable impersonation, and Mr. Leslie Victor was amusing as Mr. Bulsom Porter. Mr. Orlando Daly playod acceptably, but made up badly, as Fendick (a detective). Mr. Mclntyrc's impersonation of Canon Bonsay was somewhat too insipid, whilst his attire was not altogether well fitting. "Dane" will bo produced again tonight and to-morrow night.