"TWO LITTLE SAILOR BOYS,"

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12750, 22 April 1909, Page 2

"TWO LITTLE SAILOR BOYS,"

Considering the unfavourable weather, there was a very good audience at the Opera House last evening, when the Meynell and Gunn Company produced the four-act drama, entitled "Two Little Sailor Boys." It is a much stronger production than "A Miner's Trust," the interest being better sustained. The story tells of a woman of the adventurous type who, after deserting her husband and child, lives a life of pleasure, and ultimately marries a retired admiral. She then proceeds to make matters very unpleasant for Mildred Grey, her step-daughter. The latter is engaged to Cartain Noel Tregartlipn, and the plot- largely concerns Mrs Grey's efforts to separate the lovers. The failure of her scheming and the discovery of her past crimes is most ingeniously told. M : se Lilian Meyers, who essayed the unpopular role of the adventuress, "Lola Grey," achieved a great success, showing much dramatic torce. It must, however, have struck most of the audience ac peculiar that she should have visited a professional thief at a low class "pub" in the slums wearing a magnificent evening dresa and opera cloak. This was a somewhat inartistic touch, but Miss Meyers must be credited with exceptionally good work on the whole. Miss Nellie Florence made a very sweet and winsome "Mildred Grey," her acting being perfectly natural and much admired. The two little sailor boys were "Cyril Grey," a warm-hearted son of the Admiral, and "Tom Yorke," "Lola Grey's" son. tMiss Beatrice Holloway took tne former part, and Miss Mabel Russell impersonated "Tom," both ladies doing excellent work. Miss Alice Deorwyn, as "Lucy," the maid, did particularly well, and her scenes with "Jack Jolly" (Mr Henry Halley) and "Benjamin Baxter" (Mr Leo de Chateau) caused no end of amusement, both comedians 'being in capital form. As '"Captain Tregarthen" Mr Herbert J. Bentley played quietly but effectively. Mr J. B. Atholwood was seen to much advantage as "Jim Royston," the burglar, and the same may be said of Mr A. Neville, who filled the role of "Lieut. Redstone." Mr Gilbert Emery made the most of the part of "Captain Yorke," but the same cannot be said of Mr Coape, who essayed the role of the Admiral. One associates force of character and plenty of life and dash with a British admiral, but as pourtrayed last night "Admiral Grey" lacked these essentials, ana appeared as a very weak individual indeed. The play was well staged, some of the seta being decidedly good.