THE COLLET DOBSON COMPANY AT THE PRINCESS THEATRE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2045, 4 May 1893, Page 37

THE COLLET DOBSON COMPANY AT THE PRINCESS THEATRE.

" THE SHAUGHRAUN." The Collet Dobson Company on Monday night inaugurated, under conditions which augur well for their success, a three weekß' season in the Princess Theatre. They have adopted popular prices, and claim to be the first and only complete dramatic organisation that has done so in the colony. The managers are evidently men who are wise in their own generation. They recognise that it is better policy for them to fill a theatre at popular prices than to play to a beggarly array of empty boxes under the old system of admission fees, and they are not so foolish as to believe that there is any degradation of their art involved in meeting the public half-way in the matter of prices. That their policy is appreciated was well evidenced on Monday night, when the audience that welcomed them was so large as to completely filled the theatre in every part. The opening piece was Dion Bqucicault's "The Shaughraun" — a drama which has all the elements of popularity about it. It was very creditably put on the stage, and though there were a few misfits in the distribution of the characters, the representation was so satisfactory as to command the enthusiastic approval of the house. The main essential to a successful performance of " The Shaughraun" is, of course, that the name part shall be suitably played ; and the company who have now introduced themselves to the public of Dunedin are fortunate in having been able to secure the serviceß of Mr JT. E. O'Neill. Belonging to what may be called the old school, the lapse of years since Mr O,'N,eill last appeared on the braids in thisqty it) perhaps, greater than, he

will care to recall ; it is so great that practically a new generation of theatre-goers, that knows little or nothing of his former career, has grown up here. If, however, Mr O'Neill had not the advantage of receiving the greeting that is extended to a well-known favourite when he first appeared on the stage on Monday night, he at once sprang into the good graces of his audience, and throughout the whole of the performance was the life and soul of the play. He fairly revelled in the part of Conn, and his impersonation of it was richly humorous. The great charm about it was its spontaneity and naturalness, which were in marked contrast to the artificiality of the majority of the stage representations of Irish character. The part is one, of course, that affords great scope to the actor, and Mr O'Neill lost no opportunity of scoring. His recital of the hunting incident was exceedingly good, and elicited prolonged plaudits from all parts of the house, and he was also excessively droll in the scene in which Conn puzzles over the letter which, in consequence of his neglect of the schooling which his mother provided for him, he was unable to read yet was so proud to receive. Though these were perhaps his best scenes, Mr O'Neill's impersonation of the part was, all through, one to which words of praise only can be applied. Mr Collet Dobson, who will be remembered in Dunedin as having been one of the company that supported Mr G. C. Miln in his Shakespearean season a few years ago, was cast as Captain Molineaux, and played the part with the soldierly dignity that was requisite. The distinctness with which Mr Dobson enunciated every syllable of his share of the dialogue was very commendable. Mr Newton Griffiths assumed at very short notice the part of Corry Kinchella, and, though he was not perfect in the text, displayed a capital conception of the character, and that gentleman's Jidus Achates, Harvey Duff, was suitably represented by Mr W. Medus. The impersonation of Robert Ffolliott by Mr J. M. Moss was fairly good, but that of Father Doolan by Mr A. Inglesan was weak. The part of Clara Ffolliott does not admit of much being made of it, but it can at least be said of Miss Idrene Thornton's representation that it was bright and intelligent and earnest. Miss Fanny Wiseman, who, like Mr O'Neill, can recall her triumphs in bygone days, was a vivacious and natural Moya Doolan ; Miss Dora York played creditably as Arte O'Neill; and Miss Annie Wyniard and Miss Grace Forster suitably represented Mrs O'Kelly and Biddy Malone. The principal performers were called at the close of the second act, and the performance, taken as a whole, was a gratifying success. " The Shaughraun " was repeated on Tuesday night to another capital house, while for Wednesday night "Current Cash" was announced for production.