HIS MAJESTY’S.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1403, 15 March 1917, Page 34

HIS MAJESTY’S.

ROYAL DRAMATIC COMPANY. “SUNDAY.” A piece with as much heart .nterest as “Sunday'’ is a sure card co p.ay to theatregoers, inomas ixacewarus comedy-drama was piayea in .\ew Zealand some ten years ago uy j. u. vviinamson, Lta., with ±ylss i.ue.i Brune m the name part, ana tue rtoyal Dramatic Company hate snown a nappy choice in reviving it m tne new generat.on or piay-xovers. Bunday" is a story or western America, with the goidfieids for its setting. An orphan girl named Sunday is uequeatned oy a dying mate to four rougn miners, familiarly Known as •JacKy,” “Davy," “Towser" tnd “Livery,” who are pledged sornmniy together “to stand by the gin in tne days to come as we stood togetner m the days that are gone." They give ner an “edd.cation" to the best of tneir ability, and then draw cards as to whetner she shail go to a convent. The outer worm steps in in the rorm of an Englishman, named Arthur Brinthorpe, who msuits Sunday on tne eve ot her departure, and is snot by Jacky. Subsequently, Sunday is discovered by an aunc, who takes ner to England, where late decrees tnat the man with whom she ians in love should be Coionel Brinthorpe, mother ■of the man Jacky had killed. With this shadow between them, sunuay returns west to the “boys” aga.n. Colonel Brinthorpe follows, and jacky makes a clean breast of th.ngs, and relates the circumstances that rnd up to the murder, which completely exonerate Sunday. Tins brings about a dramatic nnaie, with happiness to Sunday and Brinthorpe. Miss Madge Surtees created a distinctly favourable impression as Sunday, revealing nerseir as a young actress With brains and emotional qualities, while her girnshness and innate suninness ot disposition heiped her considerably towards an ideal portrayal of the cnaracter of that lovaoie, unspoilt child of the woods. Mr. Ronald Riiey brought judgment to bear in Ils impersonations of Arthur and Coionel Biiiithorpe, skilfully contrasting the two types of men. Mr. Colville Duan distinguished the part of Tom Oxley with his quiet acting. Good character studies of the “boys” were presented by Messrs. Gerald Harcourt, >vho, as frail old Lively, gave fun value to the pathetic notes; Mr. George Hewlett, as Jacky, the embodiment of healthy manhood; Mr. C. W. Throsby as Towzer, and Mr. Fred. Coape as Davy. Miss Beatrice Esmond, as the stately Mrs. Naresby (Sunday’s aunt), and Miss Mildred Carlton, as the placid S.ster, creditably sustained their roles.