THE TAYLOR-CARRINGTON COMPANY.

Otago Witness, Volume 14, Issue 2648, 14 December 1904, Page 61

THE TAYLOR-CARRINGTON COMPANY.

The Alhambr* Theatre was reopened on Saturday evening, when the Taylor-Carrington Company made their initial appearance there in the presence of a large audience. The Tayior-Carrington Company comes along, uncfe.^trnsively, comparatively speaking, and without making- any great pretension, but theatregoers who visit the Alhanibra Theatre during ths company's short season will undoubtedly b> pleased with the even merit of the performance to be "witnessed, and the genuine capability of a compact little company. The management essay nothing over ambitious, but evidently fcring the wisdom of an invaluable experience to bear on what they do essay, the result being that the melodrama produced on Saturday night " caught on" from the start, and was followed by those present with an interest almost flattering. " Never Despair," the title of Saturday night's production, applies to & melodramatic play of the kind so well known that description is superfluous. It suffices to say that there is quite the usual suyp-ly forthcoming of exciting incident, sentiment, and humour. In " Never Despair" the story is told of the evil doings of Mr Desmond Adair and hi 3 attendant evil spirit, Mr Septimus Phipps, a lawyer, and of how these two worthies seek the undoing of the hero and heroine, Harry Brierly, and his betrothed, Kate Brierly, the former being really. Adair' s nephew, whom he is wrongfully ousting from his legal rights and position of affluence. The good genius of the piece is Mr Horatio Spriggins, a bibulous Bohemian with a university education and a faculty of turning up ■at the right moment that makes him very j>opnlar with the audience and distasteful to the villain. The hero, and heroine in the course -of the play are both lured into a ruined cellar in London, bordering on a receptive and darkly-flowing river, and sensational incidents attend their escape ; but it is hardly necessary to say that all ends happily, as usual, and virtue has its own reward. The piece is adequately staged and the scenery effective. Th° cast of characters was not large, but their presentation was very even all round. M- Charles Taylor as Horatio Spriggins made a great hit in the part, and with the drolleries of a rather Micawher-liko impersonation kept the audience greatly amused; while he was ably seconded by Mr Edwin Green, who presented so repulsively effective a, study of the creature Phipps that it quite irritated the audience. Misa Ella Carrington as Jack, a Btreet Arab, acted the . part with a deal of latnral animation and humour; and Miss Muriel Murtou was quite equal to jakrog tbs

part of the heroine according to its customary requirements. Mr C. M. Keegan's impersonation of a Lancashireman was a capable and corsistent character study, and Mr W. Wallington. took the part of the hero in a style that whs manly and agreeably free from affectation. Miss Marion Willis as a Sister of Charity, who eventually proves to be the mother of the iie.ro, Mr G. Paget m a humorous role, Miss Nelly Annitage, and other members of the company did sound work in their respective parts. The audience frequently manifested their approval of the performance in no uncertain manner, and the company should have a successful season.