'THE NEW BOY' AND COMPANY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIV, Issue I, 5 January 1895, Page 7

'THE NEW BOY' AND COMPANY.

fir! NEW BOY,’who has just been introduced to the Auckland public, and who presently goes forward to make the acquaintance of the rest of New Zealand’s dwellers in cities, is the most amusing fellow we have seen for a very long while. He is infinitely funnier than * Charlie’s Aunt,’ thongh she was certainly comic, and there is more in him, though, of course, from a physical point of view there is considerably leas of him. Some of bis dialogue is very smart, and taken all round, he is distinctly clever, and when you have finished laughing, which is very seldom, you do not wonder what in the mischief there was for you to laugh at. You remember, and that sets you off again, unless, indeed (which is probable) something fresh has not set you off before. To talk in a different plan, however, Williamson - Musgrove deserve well of New Zealanders ; they always bring along something good, and the * New Boy ’is no exception. Wherever the piece is played it will be a success, because it is impossible that even the dullest fellow can help laughing at the intentional absurdities with which the clever author has built up the farce. Judging the play as a play, it might, perhaps, have been better but for the necessity of padding it out to three acts. It would be even brisker played in two. But the author doubtless knew that the majority of the public like plenty for their money, and prefer padding and plenty, to brevity and brillance. The padding in the * New Boy ’ is not in any way ' excessive, and while public taste remains as it is, was unavoidable. All readers of the Graphic who are able to do so should make the acquaintance of the * New Boy ’ and the Company who help him.