PRINCESS THEATRE

Otago Witness, Issue 2663, 29 March 1905, Page 61

PRINCESS THEATRE

"BLIND MAN'S BUFF."

The Musgrove Dramatic Company was seen in its season's first change of programme at the Princess Theatre on Thursday — namely, in a four-act play by Clyde Fitch, entitled

Blind Man's Buft." 'x"he title is lather suggestive of something more humorous ihan anything else, but ' Blind Man's Buff ia not a play so tufling as the title might lead one to believe. It is full of humour, and that of a most wholesome sort, it is true; but through it also runs a very pretty vein of sentiment. There is pathos in it, too, and an attempt at delineation of real life as jt might be seen in American upper circles that strikes one as by no means unsuccessful. The dialogue is undoubtedly smart and the situations are natural, the characters are rev.lly well drawn, and the author has not strainedi unduly after effects and has avoided exaggeration to a pleasing degree; so that it was small wonder that last evening's audience was a highly appreciative one, for the play certainly deserves approval as a play, and bears the stamp of originality. Further, however, this can be emphasised of the play in question : that it -undoubtedly is particularly dependent on good actirg for its success. That the company now occupying the Princes 3 Theatre is a strong one has already been suggested, and that opinion was confirmed by the capital treatment the play received at its hands last evening. The plot of " Blind Man's Ruff is not intricate. It has for its subject the rivalry existing between Samuel Coast, a New York millionaire, and Richard Coleman, a United States army lieutenant, for the hand of Eleanor Carley. Coast is a persistent suitor and will take no refusal ; but, albeit his affection for Eleanor is strong and sincere, he makes it secondary to pecuniary considerations, and is hardly capable of understanding that his wealth will not eventually give him all he wants, including the lady of his choice. Between Coleman ancS Eleanor there does exist a mutual but so far undeclared regard ; but, on the eve of Coleman's departure for the Philippines, Coast informs him he is the accepted suitor of Eleanor, and tne lieutenant, greatly depressed, goes out with his regiment with death or glory in immediate view. His rival out of the field, Coast sets to work to render his position secure by ruining Stephen Carley (brother of the heroine), who, being naturally weak-minded, and a speculator that has already squandered the money of his -".ife and his mother, is like wax in the hands of this scheming, calculating lover. Stephen is now persuaded to invest the fortune of his sister Eleanor in some speculating schemes, which bring him and his family to the verp.e of ruin and disgrace. Coast, whom a peculiar callousness actuates, when he has reduced his dupe to a position in which, suicide appears to be his only refuge, calmly makes Eleanor acquaintec) with the fact that this is all bis doing. anS that he is prepared to restore the financial credit of the family if she will consent to marry him. Eleanor, despite the chance of regaining its position in society offered her family, and despite the news of the supposed death of her lover in an ambuscade in the Philippines, steadily adheres to cor refusal of the millionaire's overtures, and at length convinces him that there is one inirig that money cannot buy-, so he beats a retreat to his silver mines and gives no more trouble. -Eleanor settles down to a quiet life of singleblessedlness; but a happier future 11 in trore for her, for her soldier lover has escaped the massacre of his troops and duly arrives m New York before the story closes, and is, moreover, himself a man of wealth sufucient to make all end happily. The play opens in an unusual and very taking manner. The curtain rising for the first act shows a children's room, where four delightful specimens of that time of life comport themselves to the great enjoyment saad amusement of the audience, and the entrance of Eleanor (Miss Nellie Stewart) gives opportunity for some charming comedy, in which, as of old, Mias Stewart excels wonderfully, and where the game of the title is indulged in. The parts of the children were taken exceedingly well by Misses Rosie Fitzgerald, Doris Pounds, and Ella and Sybile Miller, and they were all heartily applauded at the close of the act. Most of the other events take place in the handsomely-furnished drawing room ; and it may here be remarked that the staging of the play is very complete, and the charming costumes worn by tHe ladies helped' not a little to give the play abundant and brilliant colouring. In the role of the practical, highspirited, but not unsentimental heroine, Eleanor, Miss Nellie Stewart had a pait well suited to her capabilities, and, as usual, made the character a delightfully non-commonplace but at the same time natural creation. More effective acting than that contributed by Miss Stewart in the pathetic scene at the close of the third act could not be desired ; and Miss Stewart also does some very fine work at the endl of the second act, when E'eanor's lover is departing under a trying misunderstanding. The part of Sam Coast, the millionaire, is allotted to Mr Harcourt Beatty, and he excels himself in it. ' The character is exceedingly well drawn, and a marked contrast to the somewhat feeble Garrick of " Pretty Peggy." The author has made Sam Coast a. man who is something less than a gentleman and whose instincts are mainly guided by the almighty dollar; but in the generally straightforward selfishness of the character and! his devotion to one object a certain attractiveness is created, and Sam Coast says some good things and is xiot aonpox>tila,i- T and msilces a. rather good exit. Mr Beatty's impersonation was dalisfhtfully natural, and the calm assurance of the drawling American was admirably assumed. The part of Lieutenant Coleman was taken by Mr Malcolm Dunn in a natural, manly style that suited it. though the part gives few opportunities. Mr Dunn did really good work in his one good scene in the seconcli act. The character of Stephen Carley is another that is really well drawn, being that of a generorts, well-meaning, "nit weak young man in a constant state of repentance ; . and Mr James Lindsay, it must be said, scored a distinct success in the role, and had always the sympatbv of the audience. Mrs Mfiesmora Morris, as M^s Stephen Carley, a rather foolish society lady, had a comparatively tiifiing role, of which she nude a good deal, however, and did full justice to some charming costumes;

while Miss Amy Singleton, in the character of the mother of Mis Stephen Carley, had a part forming an admuable foil to the former, and in which she was responsible for great amusement as a lady whose dimensions and social aspirations were more remarkable than her brains. Miss Amy Willard took the rather disconnected role of Miss Shindle, a lady hairdresser, and took it with plenty of animation • and Mr Evelyn Davenport, as a maidservant, Mr Harry Hill, as Moles, an excellent butler, and Mr L. Stach, as a footman, completed the cast. The orchestra, under^ Mr Wynne Jones, contributed some excellent music.