THE HOWARDE COMPANY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17943, 24 May 1920, Page 7

THE HOWARDE COMPANY

" POSSUM PADDOCK." "Possum Paddock," tho comedy-drama produced by ML* Kale Howardo and her company at IU Majesty's Theatre on Saturday night, derives its name from a eection on the property of an old Australian backblocker.named .M'Quade, the possession of which is covded by Dan Martin, a neighbouring former. The section has not very much to do with the play itsulf, and is rather used as a means to an end, which is to place before the audience tho amusing ways of tho M'Quado and tho Martin families. In sonio respects "Possum PaddookV is not unlike '"I'he Waybwks, , ' but it goos in-ucJi further. "The Way backs" doos not go muoh beyond an exceedingly amusing depiction of Iho family and its visit to "fciidiney."_ "Possum Paddock" does a similar thing, but it has added a re-ally good story of roiiianco, love, misunderstanding, doubt, and villainy. It- is not dosirablo to institute any comparison between tho two—for each presents its special merits —further than to serve the purpose of giving tho public somo idea of what "Possum Paddock" is like What predominates throughout the performance of tlie play is tile comedy presentation by tho two sons of old M'Quado and tho two daughters of old Martin, buttressed by somo outside humour from a rouscabout on M'Quadc's selection named Shad, and the elderly spinster sister of Dan Martin, and also by the wooing of a wealthy relative of M'Quado's by a squatter named Hugh Bracken. Of course, a few amusing interludes between Dad M'Qunde and his wife aro inevitablo; little homo jarg and tiffs that more than touch the fringe of reality, and aro very diverting. The characters are well drawn and in a general way the-" are cleverly represented, Rome of thorn beinir most comfortably placed before tho audience. The story, briefly told, is that M'Quade has been on his selection for 20 years when ho gets into finajioial difficulties with tho bank and is sold up. Possum Paddock, the valuable and indispensable portion of the property, is placed under tho hammer, and thero is spirited Irdding for it between Dan Martin, who is reminiscent of Simon Legree in "The Octoroon," Hugh Bracken and a young Englishman, Martin seeking to purchase for greed, and the other two from philanthropic motives. Dan's purse is evidently the longest, and tho property is on. the point of being knocked down to him when the good fairy of the nlay to. rich widow relative of the M'Quado's) enters and badly beats Martin in the bidding. From this point onwards tho M'Quades are prosperous. M'Quade has. a pretty daughter named Nancy, who is just home from school after an absence of four years, and a stock inspector (Fred Dooring), hearing that tho girl will, in about a year's time, inherit £5000, thinks the opportunity too good a one to miss. The young Englishman ' (Allpress) has formed an attachment for Nancy, but she will not listen to him. preferring the stock inspector. Everything is goin<» well with Deering until the rich widow discovers his presence and his designs, which she completely upsets. Deering, who has courted, deserted, and robbed her when she was a poor girl 12 years before, endeavours to temporise by again paying her court. In fact, he attempts to run with the hare and hunt with tlie hounds; knowing there is £5003 on the one side, and much more than that on the other. But tho widow*is not deceived by his • blandishmeiis, and manages to prevent him eloping withNancj. Nancy then turns towards tho young Eng glishrnan. While all this is going on Hugh Bracken, -an old bachelor, forme an affection for tho widow, who is by no moans averse to risking a second marriage "ith Bracken as hor choice. Unluckly Bracken surprises her and Deering. while she is rcting her part, in such olose juxtapositbn that he abruptly leaves her. Ho returns later, the position is made clear, ni.d +-''e second couple are mode ha.ppy. Running all through the play tho amusingly awk-vavd and oven grotesque love-making between Bill M'Quade and his brother Bob, arid Mary Elfen and Anastasia Martin, who in their peculiar way give every encouragement to the young men, is fairly continuous, and is crowned with happiness. f?liad and Elizabeth Martin—a sour but. with Shad, simpering elderly lady of angular appearance—have no desire to escape the epidemic of love, and from tho last glimpse caught o"f them have evidently come to , a good oinderstanding. "Possum Paddock" produces a crop of love, from which the weeds aro all eradicated before the final fall of tho curtain. ' • Tho palm for acting goes to Mr Fred Mac Donald, partly bccauso , as Bill M'Quado, he has a .groat deal of eomedy work to do, and partly because h e is successful in fillinrr a rather difficult part. Billy's brother Bob was played- by Mr Jack Souter, who, while giving & commendablepresentation of the young baek-blocker, was inclined to bo guilty of exaggeration, though it woe never painfully conspicuous. Dad M'XJuade was very satisfactorily im--personated by Mr Leonard Budenck. Mr Jack Kirby was exceptionally good in the love-making scenes between tho widow, Netta Carsley. and Hugh Bracken, and he acted effectively throughout.- Dan Martin was made to appear as hard, as selhsh, as blustering, and as cruel as could be dosired by Mr Mee M'Donald. and Messrs Lesl : c Woods and Phil M'Grath wero satisfactory as Deering and Allpress, respectively Miss Leslie Adrieno made a charminn- 'Nancy M'Quade, and gave a jjraiseworthv stufly of tho part. Mrs M Quadc was capably represented by Miss Cora Warner .who had a fair amount of work to do. Miss Kate Howarde w:is very wel cast na the city widow,.Mrs Carsley. It was not exactly a heavy part, but n remiired skilful handling, and th:s_ it received Mary Ellen and Anastasia wore made very amusing by Misses Jos&e Dale and Alice Walton, and srood woVk wasdone bv Mies Vivian Langley ns tho spinster silter of Dan Martin. . Other P«tsw filled -by Mr Albert Harrison (Shad), George Watson, and Bert Lynno. "PoHMm Paddock" w:ll be presented again his evening.