" TOM COBB."

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6893, 3 February 1894, Page 3

" TOM COBB."

♦ It is a thousand pities that W. S. Gilbert was tempted to abaudon the writing of such beautiful comedies as "Engaged," ''Torn Cobb," "Daniel Druce," and "Broken Hearts " by the golden bait offered in the modern craze for opera bouffe. The original and startling genius of the author of the libretto of " lolanthe," who painted such a character as John.. Wellington Wells in the "Sorcerer," and conceived the pathetic situations surrounding the jester in the " Yeoman of theOuard," would have bestowed — had not has talent been drawn away by farcical opera — on the present generation a lasting heritage of serio-comic dramas, ennobling to the stage and a joy for ever to the playgoers. A few years ago a company of local amateurs staged " Eugaged," which was very well received by the Gisborne people, and the criticisms wer« so flattering to the performers that they projected the working up of " Tom Cobb" to follow. Circumstances caused it to be delayed, but the play took such a hold on the local talent that they could not resist, and the outcome of it all is that "Tom Cobb" is now ready, has been carefully worked up, and will be represented for the benefit of the Hospital on Friday evening next in the Theatre Royal. The old Irish Colonel, with his charming daughter Matilda, whose age is " twenty - noine and a bit," the two young surgeons who aspire for her hand, Tom Cobb and Whipple, the Effingham family, an aesthetic and romantic circle; Biddy, and^the footman are the dramatin personce. The old Colonel is always hard up, and when a new suitor appears for Matilda, who speaks with the most charming brogue, the old boy gets him to sign bills, and the engagement lasts until another aspirant arrives who has command of ready money. Now, Tom Cobb has signed the usual bills, and is about to blow his brains out, for he can neither meet the bills nor marry Matilda, when his rival comes on the scene and makes a compact with Tom, which removes him from his path for some time, for it appears there is a pauper called Tom Cobb just dead in the hospital and it can be given out that the acceptor of the bill is dead and Tom can get away. Before he clears out, however, he makes a will, leaving all his belongings to Matilda. Matilda's friend, Carrie Effingham, has a < romantic attachment for a poet soldier, 11 who plays the harp with one hand whilst he sabres the Paynim foe with the other," but whom she has only corresponded with through a matrimonial agent. The Effingham family afford an exaggerated caricature of the aesthetic craze. It is discovered that the pauper Tom Cobb has left a hoard of £12,000, and the Colonel gets hold of the money under the will made by Tom before he left. Tom appears in the second act, and the old Colonel refuses to know him as Tom Cobb, but offers to give him a pound a week to pass as Major General Arthur Fitzpatrick. This happens to be the name of Carrie Effinghain's poet soldier, and she fastens on to Tom in a rapturous and romautic manner, and Tom has to sham being aesthetic and improvise poetry, as he sits on the verge of lunacy in the middle of this gushing family. The above is the framework on which W. S. Gilbert has hung wreaths of fine and startling comic business. The rising young company of amateurs who lately produced "Turn Him Out" here have taken infinite pains to work up "Tom Cobb," and will give a very good account of themselves on Friday night. They are wise in selecting tho Hospital as the recipient of the proceeds, as a great many can subscribe to that most excellent institution in a pleasant way, and will have the satisfaction to kuow that the money they part with is spent locally.