THE OPERA HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 20, 25 January 1897, Page 2

THE OPERA HOUSE.

•'THE QUEEN OF COOLGARDIE."

The Opera House was opened again on Saturday evening after a few days ol quietness and darkness by Mr Geo. Darrell, The piece chosen for the opening nighb was the four acb drama, " The Queen of Coolardio," which proved a groat success when produced in Australia. Strong drama of bhe description of the "Queen of Cool*, gardie " always proves a good attraction. There was a largo audience to witness Saturday night's production, and the, performance was wry warmly received, the main character.- being recalled at tho close of each act. The drama, which deals with the Melbourne land boom and ibe coilap3e, if nob fouuded on any actual facts, is at all events a truthful reflex of whab one might expect to have taken place in that city some few years ago. Carl Caradoc (a bank manager),-who had indulged heavily in betting on horse-racing, came out of it some few thousands ot pounds to the good ; but notwithstanding his determination to " give the game up while on the right side," the pencillers eventually gob even wibh him, in a bar-room, by tha aid of loaded or falsely - marked dice. Caradoc, whose wife was in socieby, and had expensive tastes, was thus ruined, be haviug been depending on the £5,000 he had won to square up the large sums owing by him. He embezzled from the institution he was managing, was arrested, and served four years, during which time hia wife (Alice Caradoc) lived with Richard Marsden, an adventurer. Ab the e»d ofi four years Caradoc comes out of gaol, and the two men meeb. A big row ensues. Marsden says that Alice was only Caradoc'a mistress, and his wife. He (Marsden) then draws a pistol, and in the struggle he. shoots himself in the leg. After 12 months the parties aro found ab the new rush aft Coolgardie, where it comes oub bhab Alice ia really Caradoc's wife, and so bhe plot ends happily, Alice receiving bhe name of Queen of Coolgardie for a generous gifts bo the poor and suffering. Ib can be easily understood from the meagre outline of tbe plob given that there is ample room for strong situations bhroughoub the piece, and these are baken advantage of bo the full. As Curl Caradoc Mr Darrell is well suited and bhe part, which is one requiring soma powerful acting, is done full justice to by him. Throughout, his interpretation of the character of the man who through the want of a home life seeks dissipation abroad, bub feeling all the time the unsatisfied longing for v different existence, is painstaking and realistic. In tbe part of Alice Caradoc (Carl's wife) Miss Gladys Leigh has a difficult role to sustain. In the earlier parb of the piay she is the woman of socieby in a large town, clinging to her petty triumphs and unable to give up tlia luxuries, which, togebher wibh berhusband'a follies, are bringing aboub their ruin. Laber, she is the woman fighting down her love for Caradoc, and enduring existence with the man Marsden, whom she believes herself married to, and whom she thought dead before she married Caradoc ; and last of all, she is the womau radiantly happy in fulfilled love of her husband. Tbe part is certainly one of many emotions, but Miss Gladys Leigh is strong in all ibs situations. The parb of bhe villain is well sustained by Mr Johnson Weir, and Mr A. Cochrane makes a really good Percy Wyndham, a new chum wibh foppish manners, bub a thoroughly true heart a* bottom. Mr Fred Camboume creates n greab amount of amusement as Bill Mop Bus, a young man with strong sportiug proclivities, and he is ably soconded by Miss Marie Dalton as Dorcas O'Dowd. Miss Daltoo had to take this part ac a very law hours' notice, owing to bhe iv disposition of Miss Mario Langfeon, and she acquitted herself remarkably well. Miss Lang ton was seriously ill on tho brip from Sydney. Misses Madge Corcoran, Ada Wood bill, Letfcv Graham, and Ruby Waters, Mess-*** Charles Blake, H. Ashton, J. Vincent, Charles Weeton, C. McKonzie, and Roy Cushing ably fill the minor parts. The scenery and staging of the piscfl form one of ibs chief attractions, particularly good being the scene on tho banks ol the Yarra and the final scene of fehe Coolgardie field. The music incidental to tbe piece receives a correct rendering from tba orchestra, under the leadership of M* Charles Waud. The "Queen of Coolgardie " will be repeated again this l» T'*n,' ing. A change of programme ia annouafi-W for to-morrow.