THE PRINCESS THEATRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8861, 19 July 1890, Page 3

THE PRINCESS THEATRE.

" OHUMS."

Tha third change of ptogramme that Jho Saint Maur Dramatic Oompany have made in their present season at the Princess Iheatre took place last evening, when the play of" Chums," by Mr D. Christie Murray, was produced, for the first time in Duuedin, under the auspices of the Savage Club. This la a piece to which, for more than one reason, a pecullu interest attached. Sir George Grey has Bald that it Is the first thing tba?. an Englishman of letters has done for Hew Zealand-thatitoonstitules the first contribution to our dramatic literature. Thin c-in hardly ba -nid to be strictly true, though It h undoubtedly the first play written in the colony, and of the colony, by an. Englishman of letters of established reputation. Beyond that, however, it rsesses for anutagoaudience an additional interest the fact that its scene is laid in this provincial district, and it possessed an exceptional interest for this ve:ry large audience that witnessed ■ Its production last night on the fact that the author made, as an actor, Ibia first appearance in one of the characters created by himself. When a person makes his first venture in the field of drama writIng— or in any other department of literature—it is only just and proper that a certain amount of allowance should be made for any constructive or other defects into which his inexperience may lead him. In thß case of '' Chums "it is no t t necessary that any Bueh allowance should ba made,-;-no Euch indulgence Is required. Mr Christie Murray has constructed this play in three nets with as much skill as if he had been engaged all his life in play writing instead of in the composition of novels in three volumes. It Is what may bo termed a prrsty play—it tells a pleasing story in a pleasing way—but its chief charm consists in its beliig a human play. There is nothing in it that is not natural, not even la the picture which it reveals of the turpitude of some mining speculators; and though tho action of the play is supposed to occur in Otago, there is nothing in it that might not equally well occur In any other part of the world, unlejo, indeed, it be suggested that the lusight which it gives into the "booming" and the " unloading " o).' mining shares marks it as being essentially a representation of Otago life. The plot has recently been detailed in these Ojlumns, but it maybe ndvisablo to briefly recount its salient features. The Bcene opens on a station in Otago belonging to a settler named Brocklehurst (Mr Greville), who has as his sttuiionmaater a young Englishman, Hed Fellowes (Mr St. Maur). There also live on the station Mrs Brooklehurst (Miss Georgio SraithBon), a young widow mimed Mrs Draycott (Miss Florence Saymour) who is a niene of the stationholder's, and an orphan boy Harold (Master Leo) who Is the prvltgc of, and " chums" with, Fellowes. A station hand, Dob Clancy (Mr Berkeley) and a maid named Ararninta (Misa Emily Mayo) are also introduced as part of the Erjcklehurst establlshmeot. Owing to unfortunate speculations Brooklehurst becomes heavily indebted to one John Furlong (Mr Christie Murray) who, after threatening to foreclose, makes a plain proposal to the effect that If the Brocklehursta will use their influence to Induce Mrs Draycott to marry him he will not disturb their possession of the station. They refuse to be parties to any Buch transaction, and Furlong repeats his offer, in the presence of the household, to Mrs Draycott herself. She had made savings to a large extent and, while rejeotlng Furlong's offer, "writes a cheque for the amount of the Broeklehurst's Indebtedness. Furlong declines to accept her cheque, and the Brocklehnrsts have to leave the station. Fellowes, who Is alno in love with Mrs Draycott. had been interrupted when on the point of proposing to her, and now, having learned that she Is a woman of means, he feels that his honour Is a bar to his proceeding further. Die retires, In the good old way, to the country, where he ruminates and does some mining, and the second act takes the audience to his claim. A. realistic piece of bush scenery was presented with rocks, ferns, and waterfall that may almost be regarded, as typical of the colony. The ■whole of the characters mentioned, with tho addition of Dr Wentwoirth (Mr Stilling Duff) and Furlong's factotum, Ssmdy Phar (Mr 0. Hill), happen, somehow or other, to meet on this claim, where Furlong learns from I'har that a mine in which his money is invested haß been found to be worthless. The two device a plot to ruin Brocklehurst and Mrs Draycctt, of whom the latter has aaquired another station for her uncle. The plan is that Furlong is to tell Brocklehurst that he has discovered, on going over the accounts, that he owes him £ 2500 and to offer him, in settlemeat, his (hares f,o that value in the worthless mine—shares on which large oalls might be anticipated. The plan is carried out, and the whole of the oompany are overwhelmed at what they believe to be Furlong's honesty. The shares are settled by Brocklehurst on Mrs Draycott, and then comes the news of She failure of the mine and of impending calls for large Bums. This affords Fellowes the opportunity of wooing and winning Mrs Draycott, as a poor woman, and then Wentworth comes with the news that the report ol the mine being worthless was merely an invention of the directors to obtain as much of tho stock as they possibly could,—that, in fact, the mine was richer than had ever been hoped of it. Furlong is, of course, infuriated at having parted with such vuluable Btocks-at having dealt a blow at himself Instead of at those he intended to Injure-and hot words ensued between him and Fellowes. He drawn hi» revolver on the latter, but little Harold, observing the turn that affairs were taking, dropped from a balcony where ho was in time to receive in his own body the ball that was meant to despatch Fellowes, Ho ia removed, and a chance eiven of justifying the Inclusion in the piece of Wentworth, who, after a period of suspense, pronounces that there is no danger, an arm only having been broken, and the curtain finally falls upon Harold's declaration that Fellowes and ho are '' better chums than ever." It will be seen that there are not many parts in the play, and all of them are well filled. Of the character of. Ned Fellowes, a manly and artistic representation, that leaves no room for fault-finding, was given by Mr St. Maur. Special mention may pei haps be made of the excellent bye-play ho exhibited In Fellowes' flrstattempt at proposing to Mrs Draycott, while the love-making between the two on the second and successful attempt was most iiiatural—unlike the convention^ stage lovir-maHhg. In little Master Leo, who enacted the part of Fellowes"1 chum," the audience naw certainly one of the most clever children who his appeared on the stage here. Infant prodigies have frequently "walked the boards" of the local theatre, but in most cases they have simply done that and repeated their lines, parrot-like, without any intelligent appreciation of their meaning. That cannot be said of Leo, an open-faced, bright llttla fellow, who threw himself with his whole heart and soul into hia part, and entered thoroughly into the spirit of the thing. He seemed to derive intense pleasure from digging his handß into tho depths of pockets, end giving utterance to the ..wise, proverbs and the observations upon politei^J which Harold had heard from Ned Fellowes, am! which be was, on that account, prepared toswearby. There was an entire absence frttin staginess in all that Leo said and ciid; it was a natural and therefore H successful performance, and it was recognised as suoh. Mr Chrlstio Murray's John Furlong was a powerful piece of noting of an unlovable character whocould not brook being thwarted In his schemes, and thirsted to put. himself level with any that came between aim and hia purpose. Mr Murray was not perfect as to the test, but when a man, whose career as an actor is one of nine days, has had during that time to master tares long and difficult parts it is not in the least surprlf Ing that in the third of these parts —even though It be written by himself-he should occasionally require ithe.assistance of the prompter. Mr Greyllle, Mr Hill (whose "makeup" was an unuiually effeotivo one), and Mr Duff (In whoße character some of tho audience caw a fancied resemblance to a local medico of sporting proclivities) cave very satisfactory impersonations of their parts whl'o Mr Berkeley and Miss Mayo created a good deal of fun ia their rustic sweflthearting. Mies Florence Seymour had not a part that gave her many ODDortunities, but she availed herself as far as possible of those that occurred. She wore a becoming costume in each act, and justified the admiration of the Claimants for Mra Oraycott's band. Mi«s Georoie Smitluon, as Mrs Brocklehurst, a lady of doubtful age bat very (usceptlblo of flattery, and with peculiar ideas about dress, made quite a hit. Tho piece wag well staged in each aot, and the scenic artist (Mr Neville Thornton) had, In response to calls, to bow his acknowledgments at both the second ancl third acts.

" Churns" will lie repeated til! farther notice, and should have a oircgessfal run.