ENTERTAINMENTS.

ANDERSON DRAMATIC COMPANY. Having amongst its concomitants a very fair share of sensationalism, " Honour Thy Father," which was first produced by the Anderson Dramatic Company on Saturday night' at His Majesty's Theatre, nevertheless possesses in addition much human ' atmosphere. Its domestic interest, written in by a pen capable of treating a pathetic subject with touching- gentleness, saves the piece from being merely melodrama. Foi this reason the stretches of imagination demanded to accept what are purely incidents woven in to "pno on the agony" may readily be conceded. There is a clover enough blending of materials on the part of the joint authors (Messrs. Gims. A. Clark and H. It. iiilva), and their construction of the piece is well thought out. (Jno regrets that the- central character should bo the young person who falls a victim to the deceit of the villain—the type is so worn, so unnecessary, that dramatists should really cease to inflict it upon —but, since- the guileless girl who is led astray does form the central character, it is at least thing that die moral is well pointed, and that the dire effects upon hoi parents and herself of her fan are treated delicately, and made to result in strongly emotional scenes. One or two of the characters indulge in the use of too frequent condemnatory epithets, but as a set-off the comedy element is delightfully free from risky sayings or doings. On the melodramatic side the villain meets the terrible doom of blindness in the midst of his atrocities, this unusually early retribution being most refreshing. There is a sensational rescue from drowning in the second act, a hair-raising scene in a madhouse in the next, and plenty of stirring incidents throughout. And in the midst of all the turmoil there walk hand in hand a lovable Darby and Joan, the parents of the villain's victim, who give the piece the best of its humanity. These characters are so sympathetically drawn that they deserve to bo taken seriously. The piece gives scope for effective stage scenes, and it. is thoroughly well put on. The opening farm scene, and the haymaker's revels therein, forms an attractive picture. The house-boat scene is handsome in colour, effect, and dc tail, the Thames Embankment, and the final scene of the play, in which there is a. prettily, arranged tableau, are also good sets. Miss Ada Guildford plays the role of Lilian Garth, the girl who allows- herself to be lured away from home by the villain, with sympathetic delicacy. .She has several emotional scenes, in which she is forceful and impressive. Mr. Harry Douglas puts a world of pathos into a really moving impersonation of Gabriel Garth., Lilian's farmer father. He is very fine in a dramatic scene that ends the first act. In his tender solicitude for Lilian's mother Mr. Douglas touches the true pathetic vein of his conception, which is decidedly good throughout. Miss Clara Stephenson has equal opportunities as Mrs. Garth, but her impersonation seems to lack sincerity. She is frequently theatrical in gesture and declamatory in speech, whereas tenderness and emotion would better do justice t« the role, which is essentially one of heart. Miss Nellie Ogden acts brightly and by turns with feeling as Mercy Merry, the hero's betrothed. Mr. Geo. Cross gives an acceptable portrayal in the hero's role (Jack Halyard) Sir. Walter Dalgleish makes a capable study of the villainous Duncan Bly, in the earlier stages of the play, but overdoes the part after the Mephistophelean gentleman goes blind. Mr. Temple Harrison, as a. faithful farm hand, gives a droll characterisation, and induces a lot of laughter. •uf, Chas. Stanford presents a vivid study of a madman that is cleverly sustained. Miss Huda Fraser, the clever soubrotte of the company, is admirably suited in a maid-ser-vant role, as is Mr. Frank Hois as a humorous accomplice of the villain''!. Mr. Horace Denton irives a good conception of a selfmade man. The piece was enthusiastically received on Saturday night. The work of the orchestra was anything but satisfactory, the entre net© and incidental music being performed in a most desultory fashion. For soms reason or other there was no cohesion in their playing, and discords were a long way too frequent. At one stage the audience loudly protested against an inharmonious effort that was persisted in. " Honour Thy Father" will be repeated to-night, and untn Saturday next, when "The Ladder of Life" will be revived.

OPERA HOUSE. "THE GROWING OF THE RATA.'' The first production in this city of a play dealing effectively with New Zealand life in the clays of the early settlers is a dramatic; event of some importance, and it was not surprising, therefore, to find tho Opera House well rilled on Saturday evening, when the Dampier Dramatic Company staged "The Growing of the Rata." The piece, which is keenly imbued with the spirit of the romance of colonisation, has been constructed out of the soundest and most proven elements of adventurous and sensational drama, in which love encounters hatred, poverty contends against cupidity, and innate justice against brute, strength and cunning. It is the work of a young. Now Zealauder, Air. Charles Owen, in collaboration with Mr. Alfred Dampier. The symbolical title refers to a noted native tree, which, germinating from a seed blown into the fork of another tree, sends its roots downwards to the earth and ultimately strangles its host. Tho "rata" of tho play is a young half-caste, who endeaviurs to attain, success and prosperity at the expense, of his father and others. Ruth Egmont has been persuaded, out of pity for her brother, Elliott Egmont (Mr. Alfred Dampier), who is floundering in the quagmire of debt, into marrying Martin Fairman (Mr. Augustus Neville), a wealthy settler and her brother's principal creditor. After her marriage she. learns that Fairman'a past life has not been irreproachable, and /she- feels an intense repugnance at being compelled to receive as her stepson Wiremu (Mr. Alfred Dampier, jun.), a Maori halfcaste, of whoso very existence she had oceit previously unaware. In her perplexity .'aid disgust she seeks and obtains the protection of her brother. Her husband thereupon becomes her deadly enemy, and by giving runs to his evil propensities succeeds in well-nigh ruining both Elliott and Ruth. Wiremu and an unscrupulous pakeha Maori named Peter Eyelot (Mr. Harry Beaumont) lend a hand in this, to them, congenial tusk, but the former, when Fairman punishes him for extravagance, turns upon his white father and in tho end destroys him. There is any amount of incident in the work, and a strong love current runs through it. A powerfully emotional play, "The Crowing of the Rata" ends happily, much to the satisfaction of the audience. Mi. Dampiei has been at some pains to give the play a realistic setting. One scene, a fern bower, is certainly typical of Maoriland, and of other scenes a gorge neai Otomoa Run and a settlement on the, Wanganui River are worth special mention. The work is, in short, capitally mounted, and, what is, of course, of vital importance, it is excellently acted. Mr. Alfred Dampier is a hot-tempered but essentially honest and manly Elliott Egmont, winning hearty applause and carrying conviction in every lino of an onerous part. Miss Lily Dampier was tho sorely-tried heroine, and as such made a great impression, the audience following with the utmost' interest all her doings from the rupture with her husband to the end of Iter troubles in (he happy finale. Mr. Alfred Rolle as Andrew Graham had a fine, manly role, which ho filled in a highly satisfactory manner. Mr. Neville's interpretation of Martin Fairman was an exceedingly sound hit of acting. Mr. Alfred Dampier, jun,, who has given us so many pleasing studios in black and brown human nature, has added Wiremu to his list of successes. Mr, Grattan Coughlan (Aceordeon Tom) is seen to great advantage, Mr. John Bruce is a strong disciplinarian as Colonel Monk, and Mr. 'Sydney Everett is a self-sacrificing and faithful .Emmy Neil. Mr. Harry Beaumont makes tho best of his all too scanty opportunities as the pakeha Maori Pete, whilst Mr. Edmond Holloway makes up faithfully as Tauri, a Maori chief. Miss Lily Dampier receives adequate support from the Misses Rose Dampier, Emily Lambton am' Marie Bruce. The, minor parts are in good hands. A number of horses are used with effect in some of the up-country scenes, and the entire play is such as to commend itself to all lovers of emotional and spectacular drama. The Growing of the Rata" will be repeated to night. ,

GEO. ABBOTT'S MUSICAL COMEDY COMPANY. Pretty dresses, picturesque scenery, light and tuneful music with catchy airs, and enchanting ballets, are introduced in the production of " In Town," which will he staged by Mr. Geo. Abbott's company at the Opera House on Saturday evening next. Some of the members of the company are well known here, notably Mr. Fred. H. Graham. Miss Celia Mavis, Miss Aggie .Thome, and Miss Alice Mitchell. Of the newcomers Miss Nellie Dont is said to be an exceedingly clover and charming actress, and Mr. S. Grainger, who is a recent, arrival, comes with a golden reputation. Ilorr Gustavo Slapoffski is responsible for the- orchestral and choral work. The box plan opens at Wildman, Lyoll and Arey's fib ton o'clock to-morrow morning.