"THE BIGAMIST."

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7722, 17 November 1886, Page 3

"THE BIGAMIST."

There was another change of programme at the Princess Theatre on Monday evening, Mr Mallnby's company produced for the first time a farcical comedy, " The Bigamist," written by Mr Fergus Hume, who was until recently a resident of Dunedin. In judging of the merit of a play of this description a different standard from that applied to other classes of the drama must be taken. T,he primary object of the writer of a farce or farcical comedy is of course to present persons and acts in a ludicrous manner. Consistency and probability are not to be expected, and are almost out of place in such a composition. Smart dialogue, absurd complications, ridiculous situations, and a dash of satire are essential, but in other respects almost unlimited license is allowable. The principal thing insisted upon by an audience is that tne piece shall in some respect be original. In " The Bigamist" there may be some originality displayed, but it is not very prominent. The coniedy is founded upon the devices of a young man to escape arrest for debt for a period of 48 hours, by whioh time he expects a wealthy aunt to die and leave him a large fortune. Upon this generous assumption the Hon. Teddy Miles has taken unto himself a wife, and soon after the curtain rises he introduces her to her temporary home, a boarding house,kept by Mrs Crupples, who is bitterly lamenting the absence of a ruuaway husband. The Hon. Miles is followed by the inevitable money lender. This gentleman suggests that Miles should marry a widow, rich and vulgar, and on condition that he does so promises not to exeoute the warrant. The terms are accepted; a friend, to aid the deceit, pretends to be the husbaudof the Hon. Mrs Miles, and being engaged to the widow's charming daughter—all vulgar women in plays have charming daughters—gets into trouble entirely on his own account. The widow is, by a piece of jugglery, married to a M'Nab, who is supposed to represent a Scotchman very anxious for her " siller"; and Miles, disguising himself to escape detection, is claimed by the boarding-house keeper as the lamented Crupples, «o that he is claimed by three women as their lawful wedded husband. At last a telegram is received announcing the aunt's death, and thereupon the widow accepts "The M'Nab," the daughter is ■ reconciled to her lover, the bigamist returns to the arms of his only wife, and in fact everyone is satisfied—except, perhaps, the audience.

The best part was no doubt that of the Hon. Teddy Miles, taken with credit by Mr Arthur Rodney, and the next his wife, who was represented by Miss Florence Wade. Mr Alleyne as "The M'Nab" could not perhaps do more with the character excepting speaking the dialect more correctly, for a more absurd misrepresentation of a Scotchman never appeared iv farce. Solomon" Isaacs, was the traditional stage money lender, and was played by Mr George Melville very much as all such characters are played. Mr Harry Power made a good Irish waiter; Mr Beaumont as Oliver Walford (Miles' accommodating friend) played successfully, as did also Miss Jennie Gwynne, who as the widow provoked a good deal Qt' laughter. The piece was repeated last night, and went considerably better than on the first presentation, Miss Wade's bright, vivacious acting as Mrs Miles being especially good. The final performance of the oomedy takes place to-night; and to«morrow Mr Mallaby "benefits" in a special programme.