AT THE PLAY.
"The Two Virtues."
The news, which ran like wildfire through the town on Wednesday morning, that Sir George Alexander had signed the Covenant, must have stirred many hearts; but those of us who saw him on the next night as the hero of Mr. Alfred Sutro's comedy are hoping that, at any rate, there will be no fighting on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, and that sentry duty in the evenings may be performed by less valuable signatories. For in Jeffery Panton he has really found a part to suit him, and a part which should keep him busy for some months. Comedy is certainly his medium.
It is not, alas, Miss Martha Hedman's, nor is English her language. Her pretty foreign accent and tearful manner became her as a French girl in The Attack, but it won't do for every part she plays. It didn't do in the least for Mrs. Guildford. The difficulty of understanding what she said was made greater by a surprising catarrh amongst the first-night audience, so that her scenes had a way of going like this:—
Jeffery Panton (clearly). But I must just talk to you a moment.
Stall on left. Honk—honk! Honk! H'r'r'm!
Dress circle. Honk! Honk!!
Mrs. Guildford. No, no, I must get on with my work.
Stall just behind. What did she say?
Her neighbour. Something about her work.
Her other neighbour. Honk—honk! H'r'm! Honk—honk!
Gallery boy. HONK—HONK—HONK!
Several voices. Sh'sh!
Mrs. Guildford. No ... I ... you ...
Second gallery boy. Stop that coughing there!
Injured voice. I can't 'elp coughing!
Several voices. Sh'sh!
But I'm afraid the coughing was not always the fault of the microbes but sometimes of Mr. Sutro, who seemed to be exploiting a wonderful talent for starting his Acts dully. The opening scene of the Second Act, between Mrs. Guildford and Alice Exern, was particularly tiresome. It went on a long time, and seemed when audible to be only a recapitulation of Act I. We simply had to cough.
I have said nothing of the story, for the reason that a summary of it would hardly do it justice. It is slight, and yet just strong enough to carry two or three pleasant creations and much happy dialogue. The important thing is that Sir George is on the stage most of the time, has many delightful things to say, and says them delightfully. There are also Miss Henrietta Watson, Miss Athene Seyler, and Mr. Herbert Waring, all excellent.
It remains to be said that the Two Virtues are Chastity and Charity; that Mrs. Guildford lacked (I think—but they were coughing a good deal just then) the first virtue, and the other ladies the second; and that the reclining chair in Act I. was kindly lent by—but the name of the generous fellow will be revealed to you in your programme when you go.
M.
"'Paphnutius' was given its first public performance in London recently. Miss Ellen Terry appeared in it as an abbcess."
Hong Kong Telegraph.
Our impersonation of a nasty sore throat "off" is still the talk of China.