COLONEL D'ORSAY OGDEN'S COMPANY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2250, 15 April 1897, Page 39

COLONEL D'ORSAY OGDEN'S COMPANY.

After the lapse of several years Colonel D'Orsay Ogden has again visited Dunedin, and with the capital little company which is associated with him initiated a short dramatic season at the City Hall on Saturday night. There was a good attendance, and a cordial greeting was accorded the company, most of whom are familiar to Dunedin nlaygoers. The lady who in bygone years was knuwa as "Biby" Ogden was singled out for h ly warm reception, and she was the recipient of a really beautiful floral tribute. The niecs selectad for the opening of the sea?on was Sydney Grundy's farcical comedy " Pot aud Her ]")ottic," and it may be at once added that it went "swimmingly" from start to finish. The plot is meagre ami somewhat involved, but the comedy is replete with many amusing situations. The dialogue is of a spaM-cliiig character, and as times, perhaps, a little suggestive. The Hudience, however, acMng on the principle of honi soit gui mal y pense, entered into the spirit of the piece with heartines-', and the progress of the play right through was punctuatad with outbursts ot merriment. The story, briefly narrated, is that Mrs Harcourt Evergreen, having been estranged from her husband for some six or seven year?, lives with her mother and daughter, and is visited by a distant relation in the person of Mr Bertie Maydue. Dot, the daughter, is an en/ante t'rrible, and i-steems parental authority very lightly. !>he learns from Maydue that her father, who is supposed to be in India, is really living in London, and U separated from her mother, a\,d she hits upon ths daring plan of effecting a reconciliation by marrying someone. Who the gentleman is she is to select she does not stop to consider, but chooses the flrst«comer, who happens to be Mr ilaydue. The latter is excessively bashful in the presence of la'Jie^, and his consternation when he is proposed to by the little tyrant, who leaving him no option in the matter insißts that he shall marry her, may be better imagined than described. The unhappy man is compelled to swear eternal affection, to aßk from the mother her daughter* hand, and to seek the permission of the father. This he does with a great deal of diffidence, and in the events which follow father and mother are brought together and a reconciliation is effected. Such is the framework of the piece, nnd it serves to introduce a wealth of diverting episodes. Mr Ogden appeared in the character of the bashful man, who is so entirely at the mercy of the fair little plotter, and he enacted his part with ad* mirable skill all through. His presence on the stage was the signal for laughter, 'and he availed himself of every possible opportunity to score a point. As the capricious young heiress, Dot, Miss Ogden secured for herself a high place iv the estimation of the audience. At no time was there a soupgon of exaggeration in her portrayal of the character, but she acted with a grace and spontaneity which evoked the most emphatic demonstrations of approval. To Miss Helen Dunbar was allotted the part of Dot's mother, and her impersonation of the character was not without its praiseworthy features. Miss Irene Carlyon had not altogether a congenial part as Mrs Neverdie— the mother-in-law — but she made the very most of her opportunities, and her efforts met with due recognition. Mr Laurence Dunbar was somewhat forced and unnatural in his acting as the father of Dot in the early part of the evening, but as the play progressed he in-

fused a little more spirit into his work, although in one or two parts he hardly responded with the skill and force that the occasion required. Other parts wore taken with a greater or less degree of success by \lifc-; Millie Un-hardsou, Messrs A. E. Manning, E. B. Russell, F. T. Morris, aafl K. Athol. Tho D'Or.say Ogden Company repeated its performance at the City Hall ou Monday night. The piece was stag d with general excellence, and was Kone through in a manner that left little to be desired. Colonel D'Orsay Odgon, Miss Oakdene, and Miss Irene Oarlyon were well received, and their efforts in the principal parts evoked liberal applauEe.