THE HAWTREY COMEDY COM-P'NY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 1 July 1903, Page 67

THE HAWTREY COMEDY COMP'NY.

The Princess Theatre was well patronised on Monday, when the Hawtrey Comedy Company initiated a brief return season with tho production of " Little Lord Fauntleroy," the dramatised version of Mrs Burnett's best known literary effort. The merits of the book are those of the play also, it need only be said, and, as presented by the Hawtrey Comedy Company, " Little Lord Fauntleroy " is a thoroughly delightful comed> in every respect, and not a whit prettier in sentiment than meritorious in performance. The comedy afforded a good indication of the capacity of Mr Hawtrey's capable little company, and the cast, though small, was last evening vnmarred I by any appreciable weaknesses. The characters, '

though few, are quite sufficient, each being a study and an individuality in itself, and as such, thoroughly well pourtrayed. The comedy element of the play is quite sufficient to convulse the audience at times, but touches of pathos are not wanting to relieve it at times. Naturally a good interpretation of the comedy depends largely on tins way in which tho child part oi the httk> lord is handled. Mr Hawtrey has been very fortunate in this direction, and much praise must bs given to little Miss Addie Lorking, whose clever impersonation of the part made it thoroughly attractive, and never a cause for the slightest apprehension: The part was very naturally played moreover, and Miss Lorking looked quite the character. In the gruff old Earl of Dorincourfc Mr Hawtrey had one of those parts he revels in, and gave a strong, dignified impersonation^ of the character that, under the ohild's winning influence, becomes in the end softened out of all its original harsh repulsiveness. In the second' act, where Lord Fauntleroy and his grandfather commune tete-a-tste, one of the prettiest scenes of the play is witnessed, full of humour too in the shocks and surprises to and the gradual thawing of the old earl. Mr Oily Deering shone to particular advantage as Mr Silas Hobbs, the grocer ally of the young lord's less illustrious days, whose deliverances on the subject of earls, whom he characterises as all ' gory tyrants," are delightfully houmorous, and a happier or better impersonation generally could not have been desired. Mr Gregan MacMahon, again, as the withered but kindly old lawyer, Mr Haversham, waa quite the thing, and quietly effective and withal comical. To Miss Elsie Austin was allotted the part of Mrs Errol, or, in the young hero's vocabulary, more commonly " deaie3t," and she met its demands gracefully and wel!, though rather lacking animation. Miss Mary Bancroft infused, plenty of spirit into her impersonation of Minna, the adventuress who designs to oust little Lord Fauntleroy, and Mi3s Winifred Austin as the bootblack, Dick, met all the slight requirements of the part satisfactorily. Miss Emma Brontoa did very well as a servant, and equal praise can truly be given to Mi* Heggie as Farmer Higgins, Mr L. Stanley as a footman, and Mr G. W. Elton as the groom Wilkins. The mounting of the play is adequate.