"THE SILVER KING."

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 183, 4 August 1919, Page 7

"THE SILVER KING."

There Is always a ready market for honest straightforward melodrama, in which each character stands out undisguised as a puppet champion, either of vice or of virtue, and in which the noble-hearted hero and the endearing heroine wade through rivers of trouble to n happy issue of all their sneaking affection for the sentimentalities In vicarious dressing, the only difference In appeal being In the peculiar quality of the sentiment and its expression, just as some folk like a thick soup, and others like it thin and clear. The fow thnt don't like | any at all are a negllgribie quantity. "Tho llgible quantity, nor for the dramatic palates of those who like their sentiment fancifully dressed. It is honest and msaty. and robust with thickening—melodrama of that sterling blend of love and pathos and scheming hate that fills a theatre with emotional humanity, and holds everr nerve athrill with galloping suspense. it is a long while since an Auckland audience has responded to the call of Wilfred and Nellie Denver, and thp opening of the Allan Wilkie season at His Majesty's on Saturday night, with this well-seasoned old favourite, was evidently a popuhvr choice, judging from t>;? overflowing audience. The house was literally packed some time before the enrtain rose, and the progress of the piece was punctuated by entlmslastic applause am', frennent curtain calls. Mr. Allan Wilkie made a striking looking Wilfred Wcnver. both as the broken and despairing gambler, and afterwards as the prosperons lint conscience-tortured silver king. ITis work was well restrained though expressive In the more vigorous situations, but in the quieter passages the study tended occasionally to become a trifle monotonous. The portrayal as n whole, was. however, one that attracted the symnathetie approval , of the house entirely, and he shared with ■ Miss Fredlswyd* Hunter-Watts the major favours of the evening. Miss Huntex-Watts possesses a stage presence which admirably harmonises with the role of Nollie Denver, while her talent for emotional acting In low ' lights was amply demonstrated. The, pathetic figure of the heroine in this piece i 5« one that demands a long sustained minor nuaver of appeal, and the actress clearly satisfied her audience with the manner In which she interpreted the triumph of wifely loyalty and devoted motherhood under the direst stress. As the faithful Jaikes Mr. Vincent Scully gavo a painstaking and effective character study, and Mr. Guy Hastings was convincing as '•The Spider." th« polished but heartless scoundrel and chief > of the bnrghir gang. Mr. Fred Patey w.-is an amusing foil to the heavy villainy with which the piny abonmls, in the unlovely yet droll part of "The Ancient Briton." maintaining a. callous atmosphere amid the jocosities of his infamons old character with much snecess. Of the other players in the lengthy cast "Mr. Kingston Hewitt appeared as Geoffrey Ware, Mr. .Henri Bore' as the <H«honest clerk. Henry Corkett, .Miss l.orna Forbes as Olive Skinner, and Miss Helen ,Fergns as Tabltha Burden, while ' little Ally .Deacon made a pretty Clssie Den- ! ver. her acting and enunciation winning tb« ■ hrarts of the audience. The play is well j mounted, and the various details that help ■. so much to spell success for- a production ; are carefully considered. "The. Silver King" will continue to run this week till Friday.