THE BROUGH COMEDY COMPANY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2501, 19 February 1902, Page 57

THE BROUGH COMEDY COMPANY.

"A RETROSPECT,

It is rather difficult to realise that in a very short while now we shall be called upon to say farewell to Mr Robert Brough and his charming and talented wife. Yet so it :s. The three revivals which commenced last evening (says the Auckland Star of January 15) mark the beginning of the end, and on Friday n-.glit we shall have said a final good-bye to the eminent actor-manager, who is -absoixitely resolved to retire from the Australas.-an stage at the conclusion of the present season. Tbe loss of Mr Brough as a manager and as am actor will be felt severely from one end of the colonies to the other. At present it is quite inestimable, for, apart from our personal predilection ai.d affection for him aa an actor, there is absolutely no one capable, even were there one willing, to undertake the task he has performed so faithfully and co well ior the many, many pleasant seasons past. To select from London the bsst plaj-s of the day, to organise a company of artists capable of interpreting those plays as near perfectly as possible, to stage them with absolutely the same lavishness o£ detail attained in London, with its hundreds of thousands of night ly theatregoers, and, finally, to take on your own shoulders the heaviest and most responsible of the parts, is not to be achieved by any ordinary man, and we shall look long before we shall find a successor to Mr Robert Brough, who has for so long past rlone all this, and done it perfectly. It would be hard to over-estimate the valour of the work he hah done m his profession. Looking back we see a long line of brilliant plays and sparkling comedies, which but for hrm we should only have known by name. We have had the best work of such masters of the playwright's art as Grundy, Jones, Pinero, An-thony Hope, Wilde, and many others, and we have had that work placed before us in a manner not excelled by any comedy company in the Old Countrj . Individual part 3 "written round" certain actresses and actois may- have been more convincing on occasion at' Home, but as all-round performances by an entire company those of the several comedy companies which Mr Brough has brought round cnild scarcely be excelled, even in the metropolis. And who shall say that we have not gained something mentally and morally from such plays as "The Idler," "The Village Priest, ' "The Second Mrs Tanqueray," "The Physician," "A Pair of Spectacles," "In Honour Bound," etc., etc ? Surely, too, our intellect was sharpened by the brilliant epigrams and sparkling dialogue of "The Importance of Being Earnest," "The Woman of No Importance," and unquestionably we aTe healthier and happier men and women for the irresistible laughs we have had over "Niobe," "Dandy Dick," "The Passport," "The Magistrate." and half a score of other comedies,

farcial or "high," 4;o which the Broughs have introduced us. The present repertoire is cerlahi'y one of ths best the company have ever biought in a single "season. '"The Second in Command." with its military atmosphere and setting; "The Magistrate," "Lady Huntivcrth's Experiment," and ' The Tyranny of Tears, will more especially always live in our memory ns n splendid quaitetts oi plays most admirably acted. As actor and actress, what is there one can say in these last days of their appearance which has not beon said before again and again "^ The infinite pams, the keen intelligence, the certain grip which both Mr ar.d Mrs Brougb bring to bear on all the parts, important or otherwise, will long be remembered by all who have for years actnm-ed and enjoyed their performances. Well, now they are praclically over, it is bad — how bad we shall not know* till the nest season for a visit from them comes, and tiiey are absent. But it's no use growling; all we can -now do 's to thank Mr ai.d Mrs Brough for much past pleasure, and to wish them all success, health, and prosperity in whatever country fate anc! their plans take them vn the luture. (The company open m the Dunedin Princess Theatre on Monday, 2ith inst )