AMUSEMENTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3737, 11 May 1899, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

"THE CABINET MINISTER.” SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE. Success may be claimed to have been achieved by the Wellington Dramatic Students in their first performance; of the society comedy, “The Cabinet Minister,” at the Opera House last night, in aid of the funds of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. Wellington has seen not a few successful theatrical productions by amateurs, and the list has now to have an addition made to its number. Pinero’s clover play was presented before a large audience. The dross circle was fully occupied, the stalls were more than well filled, and in the other parts of the house the attendance was good. There are four acts in the comedy, and of these the third and the last, were played in an extremely interesting manner. , After the penultimate act the players were recalled, and at the conclusion of the piece, when the strathspey which, forms the finale was effectively danced, the applause was of the heartiest description.

In giving playgoers an insight into society through the medium of “The Cabinet Minister,” Mr Pinero brings on the stage representatives, not of one type, but of several types of the persons who figure in upper circles. He has probably used his privilege of exaggeration at times, but that serves only to make bis picture more diverting and more vivid. Perhaps he has not exaggerated at all, for in those days the ambition to rise and the struggle to keep up to the level attained sometimes lead to queer results, as the columns of what Sir Julian Twombley would call “a prying press” bear witness. Sir Julian is the Cabinet Minister of the comedy, a square peg . continually engaged‘in the effort to make it appear that he fits the round hole in which circumstance has placed him. Lady Twombloy, who has recollections of the washtub in her farmer-father’s; house, 1 has ideas in her elevated station .which lead her into financial difficulties. There is among her acquaintances the Hon Mrs Gaylustrc, a costumiere in the morning, a fashionable lady when the hour for afternoon calls arrives. To keep her “kites” in the air, Lady Twombley is induced by the lady dressmaker , ,to seek the aid of Mr Joseph Lebanon, a Jewish money-lender. Then we have the old incident of the financier using his client’s obligations as- a lever"'to force her to introduce him into society. This takes us to a Scottish castle, whore the action of the comedy comes to its climax. Cleverly turning the tables, the persecuted Lady Twombley leaves her financial persecutor very much underneath the furniture. More or less subsidiary characters and their doings fill in the details of the plot, the unfolding of which is done by the playwright in such a manner as to hold an audience’s attention throughout, when Lis work is treated as it was last night. The name part was assumed by Mr H. E. Nicholls with admirable skill. His Sir Julian, was probably the most convincing characterisation of the production. Miss Jessie Newton displayed much vigour and abundant resource and cleverness as Lady Twombley. The conception of Lebanon the Jew offered by Mr W. P. Bastin was not quite what had been expected, but the actor’s capable work eventually won for him the complete favour of the’audience. Mrs Walter Fell made a hit as the Dowager Countess of Drumdurris, a lady whose every action was impelled by a definite motive. It is essential to hear every word of the dialogue of this' comedy, and Mrs Fell for one gives no cause for complaint on that score. Miss K. Henry was a very attractive Imogen Twombley, biit Mr A. W. Newton as her unconventional, and backward lover, Valentine White, got somewhat astray once*or twice. Otherwise he handled a rather difficult part very satisfactorily. Macphail of Ballocheevin, a;kilted Scot, attached over-long to his “mithor’s” skirts, was impersonated by Mr J. Newton, jun., and Mr Harcus Plimmer was Brooke Twombley, an exquisite with a soul above everything but the ’ latest fashion in clothes. Mr 0. N. Becro was the Earl of Drumdurris, of the Guards, and Miss Quoonie Letliam was the Countess. Their disputes as to whether their infant should be developed for politics or the army caused no little amusement. Miss Newton was • well placed as Hie scheming Han Mrs Gaylustro. , The part of Lady Mac-, phail was taken by Miss K. Holmes, and that of Lady Euphemia by. Miss G. Henry. Miss A. Maginnity was Angela, the French nursemaid, who has charge of the five-months-old Viscount Aberbrotliock. Three settings are required for the comedy, and each of these is excellently arranged. The first act takes place "in Lady TWembley’s Algerian conservatory,. This setting has been specially designed and painted for the present production by Mr Claude H. Whaite. The artist has caught the Arabesque style successfully, and last night the merit of his work was recognised by a warm burst of applause. The choice palms, which add greatly to the picturesqueness of this setting, have been kindly lent from the Government House conservatory. A drawing-room at Buckingham Palace is supposed to have preceded the first act, and the ladies arrive from the presentation in most elaborate costumes, with full trains. Throughput the comedy, indeed, the dresses of the ladies are striking and beautiful. _ An orchestra undeV Mr S. Cimino, jun., plays the incidental music. The stage management is in the hands .of • * Me. Nicholls. “The Cabinet Minister” will He repeated to-night and to-morrow evening. THE TIVOLI SPECIAL i COMPANY. The above company will open for a short season in the Opera House on Saturday. The company has just concluded a successful tour of the west coast of the South Island, and the company is spoken of in the highest possible terms. Since its last appearance in Wellington the company has been considerably strengthened. Amongst those whom t,bo company lias been enterprising enough ,to_ import from Australia are Mr J. C. Bryant the well-known and popular ventnl-' oquist; Miss Marie Masters, serio-comic ; Mr J. Driscoll, contortionist; Mr H. Me-, Kisson, the acrobatic song and dance artist. A feature of the entertainment will be the production of “Sam Kee’s Laundrv,” or “Fun in the Washouse, ’ by Mr Hr Crawford, originally of the World s Trio. ’ V_ ■ ~'’, ;, CONCERT AT ROSENEATH. A long and varied programme was rendered at a concert held in aid of the Roseneath Church library fund at the Roseneath School last night. Songs were contributed by Misses Stych, Rosenberg. Greenwood and Fraser, Mcsdames Greenwood and Black, and Messrs/ Harrison, Hill, Sawyer and Jones; Mr Palctborpe gave an excellent exhibition j of card tricks, and Mr Liardet contriba- | ted an item under the heading of “Enchanted Moments.” A pianoforte solo by Miss Taylor was received with approbation.