ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 145, 13 March 1908, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

PREMIER DRAMATIC COMPANY. "A 'MODERN ADVENTURESS." . Melodramas of the class of " A Modern Adventuress," produced at the Opera House last evening by Mr. Edwin Geaeh's Dramatic Company, find favour with a large-section of the play-going community, for-melodrama.is-one of tlie most curious commodities offered to the public, as any experienced theatrical, manager will testify. Plays which havo gone a-begging for a producer have eventually been taken up arid have proved veritablo gold mines, while others, possessing what

has been judged to be the proper constituents ] to qnsuro popularity, hare* failed ignomin- : iously, so that, from a purely commercial i standpoint, tho drama is one of the mo3t f fascinating gambles on, earth, in which f opinion we have the good word 1 of so eminent ] an author - and producer. -as 'Mr. David ( Belasco, of New l'ork. The authors of tlio ; "Awful Woman"'' series of melodrama, 1 whose fearful and wonderful creations wo i made the acquaintance of in " The-Worst Woman in London," " A Beautiful Fiend," etc., are not troubled with any mawkish i ideas as to the probability, or even -possi- \ bility, of what they rake together and pros-cut i under the guiso of melodrama, but rather • cling.to the belief that the more outrageously. .; astounding, tho sonsationalism the better it is •: appreciated, and the moro frankly devilish the red woman 13 depicted tho greater will ,■ be tho appreciation of tho morbid public. Another class of playgoer patronises' crude melodrama for the laughter no extracts-irom its daring crudities—what is raw red tragedy to 0110 is ridiculous farce "to anothor. The • degree of intellect, education, and imagination , counts for tho manner of its reception, but it staggers along, flaunting its crudo colour-ing-'avul glaring errors amidst laughter and tears, and will go on long after the reader has shuffled away from "the .tanglo of things.'-'' ' "A Modern Adventuress " is a woman who with love for an excuse saunters through tho play hacking her way to' her lovo with''a dagger that'sho carries as naturally as the .ordinary femalo .does.,lira purse. She loves a banker's son, and t<) win him she allows him to bo accused of a baso ..forgery, and stabs his' very white father through his dress shirt. Tlie banker's, scorning tho orimsan lady, marries an Italian. (Vivette), . and in doing so incurs tho hate of the ono : picturesque personage in tho' picco—Pietro Donelli,-a thin, grey, .super-intense sculptor. Tho'. latter follows 'his lost love', to London,. and falls in with tho adventuress, who proposes that Donelli, should bo discovered in a coni'proinisiiig'situation with Vivette,-so that tho lattor's,husband, thinking his wife falsa, will fly. into hor-' reeking arms.. Tlio plot succeeds.- Tlio banker's son divorcos v Vivotto, and everything and everybody is dolightfully miserable until Donelli, who turns out to-be. a real good .fellow, gets stabbed by, tho fiend, and in dying convinces : the husband that Vivotto was as pure'as the driven snow, as tho fiend is marched off.'to. justice on a capital charge. . ■. ;-. . " Tlio one . outstanding performance in tho jilay is the Donelli of ;Mr.>- Horry • Direr. It is a • finished, ,clear-cut portrait •of ,'a passionate Italian, absorbed to the point of .distraction by lovo for the woman he has jest," ,Ho rose to great heights in . the studio scene,- where in fancy he hears Vivetto, calling for . his help, ancl also in his scene'; with the husband who will not be convinced of his'wifo's innocence. .It" seemed a, pity that, guch a, good .performance should be wasted on so . poor, a play. : Miss Helen Burdett was' farcically : flippant iii ' hprr villaifiy, and .in >'mariy ' pases' i,raised laughter instead of Her dresses were a feature. ."Sir'. Kemioth' Hunter as Harry" Dolby, (tho.' banker's son) was quit© acceptable, but JUr. R. H. Longford, as the'fiend's; accomplice, was stodgy to a degree.' Mr. Edwin Green gavo a strong sketch as Steve Mer.o'ditli, and ,bis lightning-struck, comploxiqn was as sliudde'rsome as ■ Gabbett's .teeth in "His Natural. Lifo." Mis 3 Rosa Brownrigg was colourless as Vivette, and Miss Mabel" Xynrio as Sally was spry enough as. a smudfcy-faced maid, who . secures; wealth and ,a husband 'iri John Crompton, a Yorkshire.man, played; 011. conventional lines by Mr. Wilton Welch. "A Modern Adventuress" will be. repeated until further notice. , ' TnEATItE lIOYAL. '7 ; . , Last llight every seat had its occupant at Fuller's. The programme was 'much the same -.is on the preceding evenings. : This evening will'seo several important: alterations. Fred. Graham and, Nellie Dent\;have had a great run 'with their, neat little ' comedy,' l " A Bachelor's -Dream," and. the public will be interested after such good faro to see whatis .to follow;' Other artists will also havo something" 1 new arid good to submit. HIS MA^STY'S. 1. The motion picturos at His Majesty's .Theatre are as full of interest for tho''.people as evor. A new; supply coming to hand by each mail enables something fresh to bo placed boforo patrons at short intervals,' and tho piublio appear to have had their appetites properly whetted. To-morrow afternoon, thero will bo a children's matinee at snecial prices, and in the evening ovory child will receive a : prize. To-morrow night also thero will be a complete, change.

, ; ; WONDERLAND. .. ..: For Saturday?s special, attraction at Wonderland, a poster carnival has been arranged, tlio grounds being opened at 2 p.m. All persons ill fancy costurnes will bo admitted frco. A grand march will bo held at 8.45 p.m., the music for which will bo provided by tho Tramway Brass Band. A naval "battle" has also been arranged for 9.45 o'clock. ST. PATRICK'S CONCERT. . In coiir.ection v.-ith tho ; Irish national concert, to bo held in tho-Town Hall,;urider the iiuspices of the Catholic Club arid Hibernian Society, on the night of- St.'. Patrick's • Day (Tuesday next),-a number of leading local vocalists, will appear. Popular prices are- an-' ■nouiiced. / '