PRINCESS THEATRE

Otago Witness, Issue 2668, 3 May 1905, Page 61

PRINCESS THEATRE

Mr Auguste Van Biene and the company appearing with him at present at the Princess Theatre were seen last evening in a new play, the simple title of which is " Daddy." The play made a very favourable impression on the audience, being throughoirt a pretty and unpretentious little comedy, the humour of which is of a very wholesome kind. " Daddy" is, however, essentially a light composition, and hardly claims serious consideration. The story deals with the domestic affairs of Adclphe Brisson; a retired botanist and musician, and his three daughters, who, married and unmarried, are in a state of xmrest particularly unsettling to their parents and everyone else in the story. Violet, Kose. and Lilie are the names of the three daughters, and of these the first marries a man who is madly jealous of her and of a former admirer, the result being a serious estrangement that is enly successfully disposed of at the fall of the curtain. The second sister, Rose, has for a husband a gentleman of peculiar disposition and a passion for obstinate declamation the le-sult being many a scene rich in humour, but trying to the easygoing disposition of Pere Brisson. The third daughter is a madcap who, not enlightened by the awful example indicated by the matrimonial experiences of her sisters, would above all things have a husband. Cohesion is not a strong point, however, of the play, though it provides many a good laugh. Some touches of pathos, too, are not wanting in the quarrel between husband and wife. _ Mr Van Biene had a congenial part as Brisson, the " daddy" of the title a sort of impatiently benevolent presiding spirit, pouring oil -on troubled waters on every possible ocasion Mt Van Biene acted the role of the genial old gentleman with spirit and a teen perception for its humour. Mr Arthur Bawtree posed too much in the emotional scenes where he acts the jealous husband, but did well in the part otherwise. Mr Ernest Laceby gave a really humorous impersonation of the part of Saunders, ■ the obstinate and quarrelsome son-in-law of Brisson, and Mr Arthur Eldred in the role of a lengthy lisping fragile-hearted young man provided some delightful humour al&o. Miss Lena Burleigh in the part of Violet Brisson gave a nicely-studied presentation in quiet tones, and Miss Marie Rignold also appeared to advantage in the part al-

lotted to her. Other characters in the cas? weic adequately sustained by Mr H. Ludlow, Mr H. M'Lennan, Miss A. Grahame, and Miss Ida Chapman, the last-named deserving a special word of commendation for her vivacious acting. Miss Court-Rice, who appeared in the cast as a maidservant, was heartily recalled for a clever soug and dance. Mr Van Biene'3 'cello solos, which were apt.y interpolated into the production, proved exceedingly pleasurable, and those who have not yet heard the actor-musician perform on his favourite instrument should not lose the opportvuuty. Mr Van Biene's solos last evening were Elgar's " Salut d' Amour, " Serenade" (Leon Cavallo), "' Tarantelle" (Dunkler), and "Home sweet home.''