MURIEL STARR SEASON

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17184, 6 November 1926, Page 16

MURIEL STARR SEASON

‘ THE SIGN ON THE DOOR.” The season o£ the Muriel Starr Company in Gisborne was continued last evening, when ‘‘The Sign on the Door,” a drama, by Charming Pollock, the celebrated playwright, was presented to a largo audience that exceeded in enthusiasm even those of tire two previous evenings. Again the company gave a finished performance, and those who had seen the various members in the other productions came away convinced of their versatility. The performance of Miss Muriel Starr was the best this talented actress lias given during the current season. THE OAST. Mrs. Lafo Regan Muriel Starr Lafe Regan Harvey Adams Frank Devereux ... KennetT? Brampton Hud Whiting Augustus Neville Helen Regan Bebo Scott Inspector Treffy Felix Bland And others. Tn the “House of Glass” and ‘‘French Leave,” Miss Starr had two different types of characters to present. Last night she was seen in a third type, one which demanded an entirely distinct interpretation. The story is a curious mixture of melodrama and humor, relating to the trials of a married woman whose single life was marked by an incident which she dares not confess to her husband. There is a girl, the stepdaughter of the heroine, who falls into the snares of the villian, of whom the hcioine had had bitter experiences, and a startling development of the story conies in the killing of the villian by the father of the girl. To save the father and the girl from the penalty oi the crime, the stepmother confesses that she was guilty of tlie killing. Tilings look b]ack, but by the intervention of a well-disposed district attorney, Eud Whiting, tlie tangie is straightened out, and the play ends happily. The tale is a rather sombre one, told thus, but its rendering was lighted by'many skilful touches of humorous dialogue ,and piquant situations which turned the audience from a state nearly of tears to one of keen amusement.

In the role of Mrs. Lafe Regan, stepmother of the threatened girl, and selfconfessed murderess, Miss Starr had a most difficult part to play, but in no manner did the accomplished actress fall below the high standard maintained in tier previous roles, and there were times when her emotional portrayal reached great heights Her effects were obtained without strain or over-coloring, and in everything Miss Starr gave an accurate intepretation. The scene in which she assumed the guilt of killing the waster, Frank Devereux, was one of great power. Kenneth Brampton took the part of the villian, and tiie scorn which lie earned for the character of that individual was a tribute to his capabilities as an actor.’ A prologue to the play outlined a scene in a private room m a restaurant, in which Devereux was especially good. The character of the husband was a quiet one, save for one thrilling awakening, and must have been a difficult- one to play so acceptably on the stage, but Mr. Harvey Adams made the most of it, and secured a well-judged contrast between tho light and shade. In the part of the attorney, to whose good offices tlie happy ending of the story owed much, Mr. Augustus Neville gave a convincing picture of a keenminded legal light, practised in all the wiles of cross-examination. The minor parts were taken with good effect, and rounded out the play excellently.

The season will be continued this evening, when the company will present the farce, “The Goldfish.” This is described as one of the most hilarious comedies ever staged in New Zealand, and is said to tie very capably played, bv this company.