"THE BOOKMAKER."

Otago Witness, Issue 2299, 24 March 1898, Page 47

"THE BOOKMAKER."

Mr Frank Thornton's company made their final appearance at the Princess Theatre ou Friday night, when they produced "The Bookmaker"— a domestic comedy by J. II Pigolt, which had not previously betn staged heie. The piece is a highly amusing one, and it was petformed in a manner which .'fforded the audience a considerable amouot of pleasure Tbe most piominent figure in th-: play is Sir Joseph Trent-, a man who had beea born and bred among horses, and had followed the occupation of a jockey, and subsequently that of a bookmaker. He, however, wakes up one fine morning to discover th-it, by the death of a relative, he has dropped into a. baronctcv and a handsonn fortune. Whea he first makes his appearance in polite society he naiuriliy feels very much life* a tish out of water, aud shocks some of hi** newly-made aristocratic acquaintances by his comical manners and slangy speech, whicli smacks strongly of the stable and the turf. Bat Lady Jessie, the daughter of ths Earl of Harborough — a lively young lady, who has a strong predilection for horses aud jockeys, — takes very kindly to Sir Joseph, and contrives to make him feel as much at home as possible. This 3 ouug lady i-i engaged to the lion. (Japtain Oare-w. Her father, however, forbids the mar isg*', as he is iv financial difficulties, from which he hopes to extricate himself by his daughter ciutracting a marriage with the Marqui-s of Biuileish— a scoundrel who holiis a mortgage over the carl's estate. Whea Sir Joseph Trent learns the position of matters he comes to th-Mvscue. Atfiist he wishes to give the earl half his fortune, but finding that is impracticable he buys a racehorse for Lady Jps-ie, backs it heavily, wins £40 000 with it, and thereby relieves the earl of his difficulties*, and in the end also makes everybody happy. Everybody i*, therefore, foiced to admit at last that, although Sir Jotepii had not the manners and education of a gentleman, yet he was after all one of nature's noblemea As Sir Joseph Trent (the bookmaker), Mr Frank Thorntou had a part which suited him admirably, and the audience never had a dull moment while he was on the stage. On the contrary, his exceedingly clever and comic il iinpirsonatiuu k^pt the whole assemblage in. the height of good humour throughout, tbe play, and his graphic and (spirited description ot a race on one occasion fairly brought down the home. Mis* Clare Manifield also* portrayed the character of Lady Jessie in a decidedly pleasing manner, whil« the other members of the cort-pany all acquitted themselves with varying degree 3 o-f success. The play, indeed, was throughout as successful as anything the company have produced here, and also as greatly enjoyed.