THEATRE ROYAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13919, 2 June 1909, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

TWO LITTLE 'SAILOR BOYS

The Meynell and Gunn season opened in tile Tneatre Jioyal last night to a iioiiae crowded m nearly ev<.j y part. The piece chosen for representation was one Willi winch the company has won golden .opinions from tiiea cre-goers, aud it is sale to say that another distinct success- Jias been' added to the list by the production of tlie play in Timaru. The title might certainly have been better chosen, for both the bpvs who play not" inconspicuous parts in I lie drama have practically nothing to do with the sea, or sailoring, unci! tne very last act of the play; but that, after all, is a small matter, and is not calculated to interfere witii the public's enjoyment of a production that is crowded with incident and strong situations. The play is a play '' of strenuous incident, wJiich bares the wayward passions of seared humanity, yet also glints with the sunshine of true tionest purpose —thus the programme describes it, and taking it big and large, it is a fair description'enough. The modern melodrama is usually distinguished for the improbability of its situations, but though here and there in this play there occur some incidents that must strike the most lenient as slightly improbable—to put it mildly—yet the plot does not sin in tliis respect to as great an extent as 80 per cent, of similar productions, and this must be accounted to the author lor righteousness. However brilliant the plot may be, and however gorgeous the scenery, no play, and especially a melodrama ,can hope for success, and it is in this department that the present combination of artists score heavily, for seldom indeed is so even and meritorious a cast found in a company. With one exception, which will be mentioned later, all who took part in "Two Little Sailor Boys" last night were thoroughly capable, aud some excellent pieces ot characterisation were shown. The plot has already been described in the advance notices, and was followed with deep interest last night. The bulk of the work fell upon Miss Lilian Meyers as Lola Grey, wind she gave a very finished and artistic performance, especially in the second set, showing commendable restraint in a situation that might easily have been over-acted. The parts of the two boys were admirably taken by Miss Beatrice Holloway as Cyril Grev, and Miss Mabel Russell as Tom Yorke, and both filled none too easy parts with conspicuous .success, and gave renderings very far removed from the usual insipid "boy-girls" of the stage. Miss Nellie Florence as Mildred Grey, the Admiral's daughter, was natural and adequate, and had, it would be imagined, a congenial part. Both Mr H. J. Bentley as Noel Tregarthen, and Mr A. Neville as Lieutenant Redstone, did good work, and gave a well studied rendering of their parts, bub Mr I'. Coape as Admiral Grev, did not seem happy, and missed many excellent opportunities of enlisting the audience's approbation. His make- up also was not convincting; he did not look like a retired naval officer. Although it inav be admitted'that- there is no law against a. retired admiral growing a black moustache, yet it would be thought that after a life's work in the • navy, where a clean shaven faco, • or else • a complete set . of "-face fittings." as Frank Richardson terms tlieiiu are risidlv insisted on, he would not" have altered a-style to which he must .have become accustomed—also raven hued moustache . in conjunction with his snowy locks, conjured' up

hideous visions of the dye-boitle a concession to vanity surely beneath so gallant a sailor. Comic relief v.as ati'orded bv the parts of Jack Joll\ (Mi H. Hailey), Benjamin Baxter (Mr L. de Chateau), and Lucy Wi'f 011 , < M,SS Deorwyn), the latter especially deserving the greatest credit for a really splendid study. The play, it is hardly necessary to state, was excellently mounted and the stage management left nothing to be desired. To-night the all too brief dramatic season of the company will be brought to a close when will lie staged in a thoroughly complete manner rthur Shirley's latest and greatest p ay "The Stepmother." Arthur Sluiley is one of England's greatest dramatists, whose "Two Little Vagabonds will be remembered by theatre-goers with pleasurable reminiscence and the writer in this instance is said to have surpassed himself. The full strength of the company will be employed m the delineation of the play, the principal characters being: Abraham WVrrins, Mr J. B. Atliolwood; Danny, Miss Beatrice Holloway; Anna pickers, Miss Lillian Meyers: Luke Trixell, Mr C. R. Stanford. Tkeplan of reserved seats is at the Dresden and day sale tickets may be purchased at Kingston's. .