AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 24, 27 January 1906, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

"THE DAKJLLNG OF Tillfl GODS.

Play-goers keen for a new and absorbingly interesting sensation —one that will take them out of themselves — will find it in the stirring tale of love and bravery displayed in the story of old Japan, "The Darling or the Gods. , * 'I*hat is what the .Melbourne "Argus" wrote after the first production in that city, and it will probably apply with equal appropriateness to local play-goers, who will have the opportunity of witnessing it at His Majesty's Theatre on Monday next, and a few following evenings. Miss Maud Jeffries and Mr Julius Knight are always a sufficient drawing power to fill the theatre, no matter what may be the bill. But when they are to make their re-appearance—as on this occasion—both in purely Japanese characters, the interest becomes quite exceptional. In the "Darling of the Gods" the audience is brought Into touch with a new world, a new people, a new code of honour; also in the scenic and other effects, it is said that no detail has been spared to assure the perfect illusiveness of the views in the land of the pretty mousme, and dainty Geisha. Beauty of form, beauty of colour and of thought are the distinguishing notes of the play. Added to these are the magnificent pictures of Japanese gardens, State bails, shrines, moonlit IJjriests, palaces, sword-irooms,' lurid, scenes of terror, and sweet passages of dainty loveliness. Amongst these surroundings amble Ministers of State, Princes, .Nobles, acrobats, carp-fishers, hired assassins, dumb slaves, of manners and torturers. All tee peculiar and quaint customs of the Japanese from tea-drinking and self-depre-ciation down to "hari-kari" are depicted with a rigid adherence to strange and elaborate ceremonial. Altogether, "The Darling of the Gods" must be a dramatic novelty of the first water.

THE OPERA HOUSE. The illusionist Czerny, -who has been appearing at the Opera House during the past week, succeeded last night in mystifying another large audience. This evening the magician will work new wonders, Miss Minnie Topping contributes illustrated songs, and°a fresh series of animated pictures will be given by the tableauscope.