ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 319, 5 October 1908, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

4 THE BLAND HOLT SEASON. " A GREAT MILLIONAIRE." "A Great Millionaire," a melodrama in four acts, by Cecil Raleigh. Cast:— Kate Cagney .', iliss Ilarrie Ireland. Nancv Dames ....'. ills. Bland Holt. Muriel Otterburne Miss Jenne Pollock. Sarah Dames Missßessie Minor. Mrs. Cagney Miss Violet Guilty. .Daphne Medomo Miss Daisy Ireland. Joseph Lascelles Canip'o>ll.. Mr Ar. ftvem. Reginald Peyton Mr. Max Maxwell Gregory Middlethorp ...... Mr. Chas. Broivu. Deuby Grant Mr. Godfrey Cuss. Julius Trent Mr. A. liarferd Solomon Dames Mr. M. P.,Kemp. ■Isaac Dailies Mr. A. Scarlett. air John Otterburne ... Mr. ('arleton Stuart." AY alter Caguey Mr. Clins. Whceicr. Joshua Cagney Ur -VliY»ds Bill Balwyn Mr. Bland Holt. Tho re-appearence in Wellington of the Bland Holts in melodrama after an absence ot nine years from New Zealand almost' marks an epoch in the history of local matters theatrical, and it was no matter for surprise to find the Opera House taxed to its capacity on Saturday evening and to note the enthusiastic .reception accorded to Mr. and Mrs. Holt, whose advent meant-the suspension of the action of tho play for quite a time to enable tho auuionco to demonstrate its exuberant feelings, of joy at the return of the favourite mummers. "A Great Millionaire" -is a line healthy typo of drama. It is conceived 011 broad linos, tells an admirable story well, and never diverges from the possible in the heights of its sane sensationalism. The play introduces tho audience to Joseph Lascelles Campbell, an American, who, having made a fortune, has leased the estates of young Lord Deerwood, then on service in South Africa. Campbell has had one romance in his life apart from that connected with building up and losing fortunes. There is a Dolores in the background of his life, who years, before had borne him 'a child. On one occasion ho had desired to break the frail bond between them to marry a title, when Dolores, refusing his proffered gold, disappeared out of his life, taking the child with her. Now in his advanced days, the man, harsh and domineering in his affluence, hungers'for his child. He will pay any sum to find her, and old Gregory Middletiiorpe, the lawyer, is doing his best to do so, with small success. He has, however, discovered a clue. A Mexican lady had arrived in England with a child some years before, and had met with an accident and died, leaving the child, Daphne, with a Mr. and Mrs. Cagney, near whoso place the accident occurred. They are poor, proud, and particular, these Cagneys. It seems that when the accident occurred Mrs.. Cagney found a large sirm of money on tho dying woman, which she annexed without mentioning the fact, but when it transpires that Lord Deerwood and, his brother have been killed in South Africa, and that Reggy Peyton, the next of r? 1 a f r ' nn d of the family, is "spoons" 011 Daphne, now grown into a beautiful girl, in, preference to her own daughter, Kate a d amo makes tilings so"' unbearably disagreeable that Daphne runs away with Nancy Dames and* her good-hearted Gipsy folk. Young Peyton having lost his love, squanders his newly-acquired wealth ai\ ay in riotous , living. After gambling away the family jewels, he, iu a fit of reck-lessness,-bids the servants (at 5 a.m.) ask the ji rst dozen people they see in the street to stop 111 and partake of, his last supper. ■ ey come—a policeman, coster, chimneysweep, milkman, Nance Dames, and Daphne (who have lit upon bad times),. and lastly Campbell, the millionaire. Peyton, now Lord Deerwood, is overjoyed to see his Daphne once more, but whilst ho is talking to Campbell, tho girls slip out into the street again, and are once moro lost. The millionaire, hearing Lord Deerwood's story, takes a fancy to the young man, and makes him his confidential friend and business mani This obvious preference for Lord Deerwood' increases the evil mind of Denbv Grant, Campbell's secretary, who, finding himself cold-shouldered,, looks about for. means of retaliation. This opportunity occurs when who has been made a .'''Lieutenant of tho City," withdraws from a bogus company, tho collapse of which involves amongst others Julius Trent, a financial magnate op-posed-to Campbell.' Trent, in conjunctionwith the false secretary,--arranges that- for his action in connection with tho bogus company Campbell shall be publicly disgraced at Guildhall on the occasion of a visit of the Kiug and Queen. This makes occasion for a very fine pageant with a highly-dramatic finale, Campbell being dragged out shouting imprecations on all concerned and declaring his intention to be revenged. To effect this the power of his great wealth is brought to bear upon the wheat market, and he makes a "corner." Up and up goes the wheat until bread is os. a loaf; Campbell is deputationised by magnates and prelates to loosen his grip; and there arc bread riots in London. In the middle of it all lie learns that the lost Daphne is really his daughter, and finds her dying ' of starvation. This makes Campbell a nervous, trembling,^-dis-trait wreck, open to the wiles of Grant, who secures tho millionaire's secret cable code, steals moneys and securities of great value from the safe, and makes a bolt in a motorcar to connect with a yacht in waiting at a coastal fishing village; but Deerwood and the faithful Bill Balwyn follow in a faster car, arriving in time, to see Trent's car plunge over a cliff at a sharp turn in the road. Trent is killed, and the papers that secure Campbell's fortune are procured. The final scene shows Daphne convalescent amidst her friends, pledged to be the future Lady Deerwood, Campbell broken but satisfied, Nancy Dames in the embrace of- the lively Bill Balwyn, and everyone concerned solidly happy. . Mr. Arthur Styan threw the weight of his art and strong personality into the part of the millionaire to some extent. Tho good lines he is given throughout are ejected as though fired with a ' chargo of gunpowder, and the fine air of reserve gives the character the solid strength it demands. Impressive throughout Mr.- Styan was vividly dramatic in the Guildhall scene, and later, when pitiably broken' and distraught by his daughter's illness lid showed his sterling qualities as a character actor. Mr.- Holt,, as Bill Balayn (from the Barcoo), is tho same effervescent comedian of other days, and 110 scenes went with greater vim or were better appreciated than those between him and Mrs. Holt, as Nancy Dames, the merry-hearted Gipsy girl, wliom Bill, in his native language, cottons on to as his "bit 0' skirt." Mrs. Holt's apparent enjoyment of the part she plays in infectious, and she is admired not so much for her art as for her jolly artlessness. Miss Daisy Ireland, a young, lady yet in her teens, was admirably suited to the part of Daphne Nedome. Her youthful grace, simple manner, and freedom from the least suspicion of staginess invested the character with a particular charm. Miss Harrio Ireland did all justice to the unsympathetic part of Kate Cagney, and as Mrs. Cagney, Miss Violet Canty,made an artistic effort to disguise her youth, and bo quite disagreeable at tho same time. Miss Jennie Pollock, as Muriel Otterburne, looked very handsome, and acted nicely, and that old favourite, Miss Bessie' Major, did well all that was required of her as blind Sarah Dames. Mr. Max Maxwell was a little overweighted as Reginald Peyton (afterwards Lord Deerwood) in the heavier scenes, but 011 tho' whole was satisfactory. Mr. Godfrey Cass, as.Denby Grant, tho nearest approach to the villain of the play, was hard of speech, and malevolent in his general behaviour. His course of stage crime must have been a long one.. Mr. Charles Brown made a nice, clean, respectablo Middletiiorpe, who was not afaraid of rapping out sound truths to his millionaire client. Mr. Kemp, as Solomon Dames, and subsequently as Sir Martin Froome, M.D., did good character work, and Mr. A. Harford, as Julius Trent, was satisfactory. All the minor parts were jilnycd well, and tho supornumarics were capitally trained with an idea to general effect. One of the features of tho. production is Mr. John Brunton's scenery. Mr. Holt objures what are commonly known as'"front scones" (the lowering of a cloth well up to the footlights in front of which a scene is acted whilst another is being set behind). All the scenes are "extents," and in their conception and arrangement, Mr. Brunton has shown that his cunning still remains. Especially good is tho sccno ill Deerwood

Park, the ■ cottage of Solomon Dames, witK the well-painted vista of country laue extending into the distance, and the great Guildhall sccno. Another line effort is the Cliffs of Paignton, along which "can he seen the light of a motor car approaching the fishing village in the middle distance wrapped in the shades of evening. It is in this scene that the car leaps from the cliff road and explodes in mid-air, as motor cars are apt to do under such treatment. There aro horses and traps, gipsy vans, and motor cars galore to give realism to incident. The orchestra, under Mr. Percy Kehoe, performed acceptably. ; "A Great Millionaire" will be -repeated until further notice. FULLER'S PICTURES. The largo and rjppreciaiive audience that attondeil the 'Theatre Royal on Saturdaynight again gave evidence of the high favour'-' with which Messrs. Puller's excellent picture entertainments are regarded by the public. Tho films were as usual extremely varied, 1 ranging from the instructive and educative to tho irresistibly comio. The first series represented life and scenes in "sunny Maderia," in which perhaps tho magnificent Atlantic surf, exquisitely tinted, breaking upon the rocks was the finest picture. "For an Heir" carried the audience to the days of feudalism, when it was not uncommon if a famous lineage was threatened with extinction to steal an heir, often the child, as in this catc, of peasant people. Tho audience attentively watched the flight of the knightserrant through the wood to the home of the peasants and back with their trophy to' tho castle. "The Avail's Revenge" is a story of Indian life, in which a discharged ayah in. revenge steals the sahib's child, but is pursued on a beautiful black • charger by tho mother, who, in a struggle, wounds the ayah and recovers her infant unharmed. "StillWorthy of tho Name'-' is the "moral" story- ■ of the The prodigal son of- wealthy parents, having spent all, is saved from suicide by a policeman, who after taking him. to his home and giving him food and friendly shelter introduces him to the recruiting sergeant. The prodigal enlists: afterwards wins distinction on the battlefield, and is decorated in the presence of his regiment in the barrack square. Ho then returns home to his overjoyed parents, wearing the medalfor bravery . and proved "still worthy of the name." This fine picture-narrative merited the enthusiastic applause. . "A Luckless Idyll".' illustrated, to the immense enjoyment of th'e~ audience, • the misfortunes that followed a love-sick pair who, with more zeal than discretion, chose trysting . places that invariably' got tliem into all sorts of trouble. "Borrowing a Stepladder" and "A Ticket for Two" were of such exaggerated drollery that the audience gave way to a storm of laughter. Altogether the selection of films was of the high- • est order, many superb country scenes being represented, and. with a clearness "and-.free-., dom from mechanical effects that imparted a, wonderful realism.. This week's programme should draw very large houses of those who • wish to an evening crowded with' pror * fit and pleasure.. , • . THE ROYAL PICTURES; • ' > ; It is now close upon ten months since'the ; Royal Picture Syndicate opened the doors, of " His Majesty's Theatre, as a moving, picture house, and the entertainment provided, has, grown in popularity •every month,' until now it has a regular following of patrons who fill . tho theatre nightly. This result has,- been accomplished through the excellent nature of the pictures, presonted,: the programmes. being selected with care, with the object of not only amusing but instructing the audiences. The pictures shown are air new, and the latest procurable from tlie best makers, • whilst the projecting machine is the "latest Pathe model obtainable. On Saturday night the building was packed, and the audience greatly enjoyed itself. The programme 'will only be repeated this ovening and to-morrow, a complete change being made. as usual on Wednesday. • THE SCARLET TROUBADOURS.. The Concert, Chamber, of. the Town Hall was too small to hold tho >• numbers who sought to seei and hear the Scarlet Troubadours on Saturday night. .Standing' room both upstairs and down was'unobtainable a few minutes .after- eight, and a- good, many .'■ people had .to turn aivay_ disappointed. ,Thoso" who found admission enjoyed thoroughly the wholesome entertainment. V. The' -'programme was changed' entirely from the-preceding . evening's. A feature, of tho concert from one point of viow was the number of encores demanded. Scarcely a contribution- was air lowed to pass without a demand for, a second item, and in some a-third. -.'.ln the first portion of the programme the company appeared again as troubadours, and-'-in the second a hunting scena replaced the nautical representation of the previous 1 evening. .... The. programme opened 'with .a.". pretty, • negro melody "The Watermelon Viiie,!,'i. Mr. Cunningham taking tho solo part ; and Miss Maude Fane and Mr. Sydney Mannering. followed with "A Song of the" Umbrella.'--Mr. Ford Walham. had the house laughing'. merrily with his comic contributions, i tho. first of which, was "My : Old Shako." Miss ■_ Gertrude Parker introduced a pretty little song and chorus "My, Living- lvirefly," ttha'j chorus being given- some quaint effects ; by the obliteration of the lights and the ,fia,sl|-. ing on the 'stage of little electric glimmer§. v This item was repeated. The "jester"-'Mr,- : Edgar Warwick gave the old number, "Waltis_ Me Round Again"; his first encore "All tjieT, Days of the Week" was one better,",arid liisft third piece (for the audience appreciated the- s "jester" very much) "Nothing In It" ; best of the three items. A Swedish Fois _ song, ' "Spin, Spin," was sung as' a malOf quartet, arid its greatest charm lay. in "tlia;.. pretty finale. Mr. Percival Mackenzie's, banjo, solo was "The Victory March," composed byV himself, and a piece well named. Following,? came Mr. Sydney Mannering's very accept-.: able tenor contribution "Makoline," which • was sung, with' much taste and for an en--core "Drowsy Woods" was substituted, with . vocal accompaniment. Miss Maude Fans gave a lightsome little ditty "The Frog's - Wooing"; and the first part of tho pro- i gramme ended with an eccentric invention"Tho Smile of tho Crocodile," in which", all. - the performers took part, a touch ,of - ( reality being given by the manipulation by , one of the performers of. a hideous green crocodile tail. The curtain fell to much * laughter. In the second part some old fav- "• ourito hunting songs were introduced by the ms.le <troubadours, and Miss Parker and Miss Fane also contributed items. Tho last nuiu- ; . ber was an amusing version by the company of old nursery rhymes. In this portion of - the programme, too, Mr. Mackenzie delivered his usual discourse on art, and reduced the time-limit of his lightning sketches from 60 to 30 seconds. Tho programme will be submitted to the audience again this evening, and an evening's : first-class entertainment is assured. The Petono Citizens' Band gave an-open- : air performance on the Pet-one -Recreation Ground yesterday afternoon. The weather was fine,' and the band played well, but there was only a moderate attendance of the public.