"THE LION AND THE MOUSE."

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10667, 17 January 1911, Page 4

"THE LION AND THE MOUSE."

In America where money not merely . talks but shouts, where the plutocrat r is the autocrat, and' all' things give way ' before the power of millions, Mr Klein's play conveyed a special mission, and if for us in New Zealand lack of local application robs it of its obvious moral, | it does not deprive it of its literary merit, its clever characterisation or. its force. "The Lion and the Mouse" never relapses to the mediocre; it is consistently virile and always satisfying. And these are, curiously enough, the two outstanding attributes of the players. They speak well, they walk well, they dress well, and they are never out of focus.' There is :i conspicuous remarkable restraint and an absence of overplayed. heroes considering the strenuous nature of the work. Fr6m : the outset Mr Atholwood set a high standard in his excellent characterisation of the Rev. Pontifex Deetle,' and throughout the stage work never descended from that elevated plane. Miss Grey is really wonderful, and with remarkable aptitude she doffs one mood to doii another as naturally as shadow gives place to sunlight.; She is asked I to play a most -exacting- role,- one making considerable physical demands, yet she is "still 'refreshing as she emerges from the v 6rdeal of. subjugating the selfcentred Croesus: Mr'p.esmcind enacts this part, it. with conspicuous ability. 'He ' speaks his.- :words well, though on occasion'he turned -his back on the audience and struck",so high: a gait that his meaning was lost. This was but a minor fault which hardly de-*' tracted from an excellent piece of .work.: As the Hon. Fitzroy Bagley, Mr lieslie Victor, Chauvelin of the Scarlet Pimpernel, was splendid. The part is cleverly conceived by the author, and it is construed with equal ability by the '* player. Mr Cyril Mackay has "a thank- / JcoS task, as the son of "the Octopus?" and it is a tribute to sterling ability that he was able to make so much of his part, and to really "get away with" it. Miss Maud Wingfield was a pretty Katie Roberts, and as capable as she was beautiful, while Miss Susie Vauglian wa:; excellent as Mrs Ryder. Mr T. W. Lloyd. Mr Boyrl Irwin, and Mr "Winter Hall had but little opportunity to give full rein to their talents, and it is evidence of the ail-round excellence of the Company to find the minor roles filled by such experienced and capable actors,