NELLIE BRAMLEY

Southland Times, Issue 19461, 28 January 1925, Page 8

NELLIE BRAMLEY

“PEG 0’ MY HEART.” SUCCESSFUL SECOND NIGHT. “Oh, there’s nothing half so sweet in 1 life as Love’s young dream,” says Peg, and then the curtain descends upon the last act of J. Hartley Manners’ defightful Irish comedy-drama, “Peg o’ My Heart.” The play is by no means a new one, and theatregoers will remember its presentation in InI vercargill during the summer of 1918, but it i has lost none of its ftharm and sentimental appeal, and the large audience in the Municipal Theatrb last evening apparently en- • joyed every minute of its presentation by the Nellie Bramley company. The story it tells is one of Irish wit and cheerfulness triumphing over snobbery and class distinction, and it is spiced with deliciously clever humour and dry wit. ■: The aristocratic Chichester family, con- ' sisting of mother, son and daughter find themselves, in the first act, faced with genj teel poverty owing to the failure of the I family bank. They :/? on the verge of desperation when a solicitor arrives to in- • form them a wealthy uncle has died, but • has unfortunately left his fortune to Mrs ! Chichester’s niece, a poverty-stricken Irish- ' American living with her father in New York. However, the terms of the will pro- , vide that £lOOO a year shall be paid by the ' trustees to any refined lady who will undertake to educate the young heiress, and the I solicitor persuades Mrs Chichester to make a living by so doing. “Peg” therefore ar- ' rives and creates a sensation by proving to be a young lady of high spirit and fiery temper, passionately fond of her father, and her dog. Complications set in when she finds Ethel Chichester, the aristocratic cousin who despises her, in the arms of Christian Brent, a married man, and when she later prevents an elopement. Peg herself falls in love with “Jerry,” who afterwards turns out to be one of her legal guardians, but after a month of discontent under the care of Mrs Chichester, she determines to go back home. She is stopped by the explanation of her presence in the Chichester home, and turns to her aunt with: “So you were paid for abusing me.” Alaric Chichester, her other cousin, desires to marry her and i thus retrieve the family fortunes, but is 'told: “I would sooner have me dog.” and Peg marries Jerry, while the Chichester family are left happy in the belated 'knowledge that their bank will re-open. The whole success of “Peg o’ My Heart” depends upon the performance of the leading lady—Peg, and the play stands or falls .on the measure of her success. As Peg, the i lovable and gold-hearted little Irish tomboy, ' of 18 summers, Miss Nellie Bramley cari ried the audience with her all the way, and 1 undoubtedly saved a rather weak situation. ’ The Nellie Bramley Coy. are an excellent i combination, but with such an extensive • repertoire cannot be expected to suitably cast all their plays, and the casting of “Peg o’ My Heart,” even- in the case of the principal, was not of the strongest. Miss Bramley, though not the required vivacious little tomboy physically, put excellent work into her portrayal. Her brogue was deI licious, and her personality and quaint turns iof expression fairly captivated her audiI ence, while in a scene at the piano where ■ she sang an Irish love song to her own ac- , companiment, she was particularly clever. Still, she failed to be quite the perfect “Peg” that the author pictured. The leading man, “Jerry,” as played by George Hewlett, was quite up to standard —as a leading man. His most glaring fault was the unforgivable one of changing personality, one moment he played the true role of a cultured English gentleman with an Oxford accent. The next he was a breezy individual with a hearty Australian twang. However, he “put it over,” and was more convincing in act 111, when as the defender of Peg his part called for faster action. Mrs Chichester was played by Sylvia McNair, who suited her part to a greater extent. As the aristocratic, but grasping matron, she was never found wanting, and though not a polished actress, she put the correct temperament and haughty disposition into a prominent characterisation. Ethel Chichester, the icy and unlikable daughter, was played , by Beryl Barraclough, who also met with | success. Hers was quite a polished performance, and she made an efficient contrast to the excitable anil erratic “Peg.” The comedy of the play was left to John Galway as Alaric Chichester, a conceited young English “Johnny.” Mr Galway missed many opportunities for really excellent fun by a much too quiet performance, , but he was never found wanting in interi pretation and the easy, graceful deportment that the part demanded. Guy H'istings, as the mildly offensive villain, Christian Brent, ■ walked through his part with ease and asI surance. His performance was good, but | his attempt at extreme naturalness of voice j made his delivery too low and indistinct. Geogre Bryant as the solicitor, Carl son as the butler, and Kathryn Murie in the maid’s part, were all comfortably situated in minor roles. The stage setting was very pleasing, and the lighting and storm effects unusually effective. The orchestra, with its clever drummer, played well, and filled in lime between acts with popular selections. This evening the company will appear at Gore, and tomorrow evening “It Pays to Advertise” will be presented in Invercargill.