THEATRE ROYAL.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 19391, 17 August 1928, Page 6

THEATRE ROYAL.

INTRIGUING MELODRAMA. "THE TRIAL OF MARY DUGAN." Tho mpet remarkable attraction yet presented to Christchurch theatregoers }« tho 3. O, Williameon, Dramatic Company, headed by Leon Gordon,! of "White Cwrgo" who appears here nt tlw Theatre Royal (or ft flhflrt eeasps openiflg 9« August Sffith,

4 Sydney critic says: "Novelty aoenis to have been strained, orter by Bayard Yeiller, the author of 'The Trial of JViary I>ugan,' aeeing that he eeta about creating iua atmosphere the moment the doors of the theatre are opened. The curtain .is up, and a busy charwoman is Seen scrubbing the floor of the court-room, and for an hour, between rests, the tidy old soul goes on dusting and brushing and making things look ehipshape. In the vernacular, it may be described as real melodrama —with the lid off. "We have a woman charged with the murder of a riph man, who has so befriended her—for the inevitable consideration—that ehe is Bb}e to educate her brother *t fte best schools, and make a lawyer of him; a prcsecnting attorney, who researches tie witnesses with, a torrent of Questipna designed to,entrap: the wife of the murdered man, who also has a secret Jove affair; an attorney for tho defence, who ia the actual murderer, and a number of witnessear-E'pltteP titter their way through their testimony, and inform the judge that they have oars, because you can't expect ft girt to drive to hell in a wheelbarrow. "Leon Gordon played the part of the w* trict Attorney convincingly, His address at the opening of the casp was cleverly given. Frank Bradley did excellently as the attorr ney oypoeed to him, and particularly in tw final scene, when ha caught in hie left band the rnnrdoter'a thrown to Uim by the lawyer for the defence. . ""Leyl&nd godson (Jimmy), a new juvenile lead, was a great success. John Fernsides study of James Maddisop, a lift-driver; was a : fine piece of characterisation- Equally well placed was Eliw Willing (Pauline), Njnejr Atkins (JTeyne), Kvadne Boyle aa May tfarris, and Daphne Bairn aa Mrs Rice. "May Collins suited the part of Mary Pngan to the letter, While sho was feeiflg interrogated.on the witnessTstand, one showed an intelligent grip of a delicate part. Miss Collins played in this ecene with admirable restraint." _ , . Bos plans open on Wednesday next ati The Bristol.