HIS MAJESTY’S. ALLEN DOONE SEASON

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1311, 10 June 1915, Page 38

HIS MAJESTY’S.

ALLEN DOONE SEASON

“BARRY OF BALLYMORE.”

The Allen Doone Company arrived from Sydney on Tuesday, and as these pages go to press are opening their season at His Majesty’s with “Barry of Ballymore,” a, piece which Australian critics claim gives scope for all those qualities of heart and character which Mr. Doone and his associates are so well qualified to depict. The play opens in the library at Bannon Castle. County Galway, Ireland. Tom Barry (the son of the gamekeeper on Bannon preserves) has left Ireland some years earlier and now returns as the tenant of Bannon Castle, leased to him by Sir Geoffrey Bannon the owner. He has accomplished fame and wealth as a world’s recognised artist. The principal idea of his return is to carry out the wish of his dying master, who confided Nanette to his care. Nanette is the daughter of Lord Bannon bv an early marriage, made in the Earl’s youth. The trust of nlacfng the ch’ld in her rightful position is entrusted to Barry, as the Earl has married again on succeeding to the title and has a daughter bv this marriage—Mary (Miss Edna Keelev). Barry mee f s Lady Mary unexpectedly at the castle and falls madly in love with her without knowing who she is. When he asks her name she tells him “Mary Macshane. the daughter of the village barber,” and rushes out. Act 11. shows Maeshane’s shop and house. Lady Mary Bannon arrives and tells him of the joke she is playing on Barry and threatens to have Macshane dismissed if he does not help her and pretend to be her father. Barry calls at the shop, and a scene brimful of humour passes between him and Mary. A certain Sir Edward Emery—the crack duellist of the day—is on a visit to Lord Bannon and is the accepted suitor of Mary. He calls at the barber’s and tries to insult Barry when Lord Bannon enters. Barry introduces himself, and the Earl tries to brow-beat the gallant Irishman. He denies the early marriage. Barry replies he has the proofs—the certificates of marriage and of the birth of Nanette. Mary meanwhile has been an unseen listener and rushes on with the exclamation. “Give this man the lie. Father.” Lord Bannon does so. Barry is staggered at finding not who Mary reallv is. An interlude with Barry and Emery results in preparations for a duel. The las + act. opens with Barrv in his library making his will. It is the night before h’s duel with Sir Edward, and the matter has been kept a secret, especially from Barry’s old mother. Meanwhile, Lady Mary, ha!f repentant, calls to ask Barry not to fight but the announcement is made tba 4 -. her father. Lord Bannon is outside. She hides behind the arras, and the Farl enters. He now acknowledges the earlv marriage, but won’t own the g’rl. and promises that if Barry will hand over the proofs he will stop the duel. A powerful scene follows — Barry defending his honour, the Earl declaring that the peasant class have no honour when Lady Mary rushes down, and unbraiding her father, hands her glove to Barry and bids him go and fight Emery, with her glove as his gage. The duel follows, and luckily S'r Edward misses and only injures Barry’s left hand. It is his turn to fire now. but. stating he can’t kill a man in cold blood, he fires in the air. Lady Mary is a hidden witness of all. Lord Bannon and Sir Edward apologises to Barry, hands are shaken and they depart. The haughty natrician acknowledges her love for Barrv and the story ends to everyone’s satisfaction. Mr. Doone. of course, was to take the part of Tom Barry, with Miss Edna Keelev as Lady Mary. Like Mr. Andrew Mack. Mr. Doone makes a striking feature of his songs and they never fail to strike responsive chords. “The Burglar and the Lady” will be played on Friday. Saturday and Monday. The piece is brimful of humour and sensations, and Mr. Doone and Miss Keeley have ideal parts.

J. C. WILLIAMSON’S “CINDER ELLA” PANTOMIME. After the Wellington season, J. C. Williamson’s stupendous pantomime “Cnderella” will be staged at Palmerston North on Thursday. June 17, a r Wanganui on Friday and Saturday nights, June 18 and 19, and on Saturday afternoon a matinee will be staged; at Hawera on Monday, June 21st, at New Plymouth on Tuesday. June 22nd. It will be presented at Auckland from Wednesday, June 23rd, until July 2nd; at Gisborne on Monday and Tuesday nights and on Tuesday afternoon, July 5 and 6; at Napier on Thursday and Friday nights and Friday afternoon. July 8 and 9; at Chr'stchurch on Monday. July 12, to July 21st; at Timaru on July 22nd, at Oamaru July 23rd. The tour will close at Dunedin, where a brief season will begin on Saturday, July 24th. Great interest has been aroused over the first appearance of Miss Minnie Love, said to be one of the prettiest actresses on the English-speakng stage. The cast of “Cinderella” also includes that prince of comedians Mr. Barry Lupino, and the pantomime will introduce for the 'first time here the two noted English actors, Mr. Arthur Stigant (the Dame) and Mr. Jack McArdle (the Baron). Misses Dolly Castles, Cel’a Ghiloni, Gertie Latch-

ford, Dorothy Firmin, Maud Amery, Leslie Gaze, Rupert Darrell, Bert Watson, Charlie Watson and George Young are also in the cast. At the matinee performance will be staged the old time harlequinade, which proved a great attraction in Sydney and Melbourne. It was arranged by Mr. Barry Lupino. The box plans will be opened in each of the provincial towns three days prior to the first night, and for the Auckland season the box plans will be opened at Wildman and Arey’s on Monday, June 21st.