HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19616, 21 October 1925, Page 8

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

"CAPPY PACKS." Very few as attractive comedies as “Oappy Ricks’’ have been staged in Dunedin for many a long day. That would be the unanimous opinion of those who attended the first production in His Majesty’s Theatre last night. For an opening performance the audience was beyond those usually seen, and the whole house gave unmistakable evidences that the comedy met with very decided approval. The originator of the comedy is Peter B. Kyne, whose book of the same name proved a great success when it was first placed before the public. The story lends itself admirably to dramatisation ; more so than is very often the case. Indeed it is questionable whether “Cappy Kicks” on the stage is not to bo preferred to ‘‘Gappy Ricks” in book form. That is by no means uncommon; the “Speckled Band,” and other stories may he quoted as instances of that. To give a brief outline of the story is always desirable. Cappy Ricks is a wealthy shipowner, and an old* man of the imperative class whose word is law, yet withal a well and kindly-disposed old chap cast in a somewhat rough mould. Amongst his numerous trading vessels is the “Retriever, .on. board of which is Matt Beasley, and a man of herculean proportions, is despatched to South Africa, where the vessel is lying, to “deal” with Matt, but Matt “deals”, with him and returns in charge of the vessel to San Francisco, muon to the surprise of’old Gappy. The old shipowner has a charming daughter, Florrie, and she and Matt strike up a friendship which rapidly develops into a much warmer feeling, quite unknown to “Popsie,” as Florrie calls her father. M®tt has notions of starting a fleet _of ships on his own account, and begins in a small way, and is assisted by Florrie to the extent of 20,000 dollars which she obtains' from her indulgent father. She approaches the old man with “Now Popsie,” and _he turns to his manager and says, “Skinner, the enemy is about to attacK.” Cappy is full of quaint remarks. He describes a young man (a son of an old friend of his), who has fallen in love with a chorus gin as suffering from “chorus delightus,” and has always an answer ready for whatever is said. Matt starts off with the 20,000 dollars and -does well, but does not know that his financial backer is Cappy’s daughter. His impression is that she is the bookkeeper. He prospers to such an extent that his company cuts very materially into Cappy‘s business, to the great annoyance of that irritable individual. Eventually they have some monetary transactions together over which Matt always gets the better of the astute old shipowner. It so happens that the bona fide bookkeeper who is in the employ of Cappy, becomes acquainted with the young man at one time suffering from “Chorus delightus,” and the pair fall in love. When Matt hears of this he imagines Florrie is false to him and -there is trouble. Florrie is broken-hearted over the estrangement but Cappy comes to the rescue and in his vigorous manner adroitly manages to smooth the way for reconciliation. And thus the story ends. The outstanding character is Cappy Ricks, an impetuous old sea captain of boisterous and browbeating propensities, but full of kindness, and the part could scarcely have been better played than it was by Mr Ward Evens It was genuine comedy Mr Lyons gave his audience. Here and there a few very nice little touches of feeling were introduced with excellent effect, and in these Mr Lyons was singularly successful. Oappy’s concern over his little girl’s love troubles and his reference to his sister were very nicely presented, and wpre quite sufficient to show that Mr Lyons understands how serious work should be done. He was the mainstay of the performance, which was very largely owing to the fact that Oappy is the central figure all through, and is rarely absent from the stage. Mr Herbert Stallard made quite a manly part of Matt Peasley. He represented the man as belonging t 6 the cool and calculating order of beings, with T)len,ty of grit and unlimited courage. Mr Donald Niool played well as the rather insipid Cecil Pericles Bernhard. Cecil is an affected dandy of the mincing kind, and the character was well sustained. Mr Walter Dyer’s John Skinner was quite a good study, and he made the most of such opportunities as Ee had. Of the ladies. Miss Mary Macfrogor took the part of Cappy Ricks’s aughter Florrie commendably. Her best scone was towards the end of the comedy where Florrie has a stormy interview with her father, which happily ends'well- Miss Loris Bingham had a light part as Lucy Ricks, who has kept faithful to the memorv of her lost lover, and did all that was required of her well. Miss Mary Macrae, as Ellen Murray, Oappy’s secretary, filled her part satisfactorily. Mr Noel Griffiths appeared as Cappy’s chauffeur. Probably the first and the latter portion of the last acts were the most interesting. “Cappy Ricks” will be -repeated this evening.