ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 510, 18 May 1909, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

.-.- |.-..v:.»THE ; ~•"; j. !•;';■ ■'.;," The , . Stepmother," a' melodrama, in' four acts -by/Artliur" Shirley. Cast:—;';'.', : .'- !./.-.' Bob Bristow ...,; ...,..... ! i....;..; A. No'villo;' ' Abraham , Wiggins ...i........ J. 8. , Atholwood . Mr. Blaka ..: F. Coapo s Sorgoant Yapp Leo.do Chateau"" 'Luke Trixell ..: C. E. Stanford- , ; Anna Vickers Lillian Meyers - Clara (Anna's Child) Ifaggio l)ickinson Amy '.:. Mabel liussell. ' Johanna Jones ~....„.„.. Alice Deorwyn:. Danuy : ; Beatrice Holloway. Another revival took plaoo at the Opera House last evening,' when the Moynelland Gunn Dramatic Company, appeared in Arthur Shirley's plaj , , "The '■ Stcpmothei'." Tliere is. ono quality .in melodrama that has -re- , ceived.attention by, the company now playing at the Opera House, and that is untramelled disiugenuousDcss. The dramatist, wiUimuch.: consideration for tho average tired man, neither lays artful traps nor indulges in delicate subtleties to, tickle the susceptibilities or , waylay the imagination. Ho un- , compromisingly calls a spado a spado, sweep- , ing away, in, broad black, strokes, all doubt as to. the.-moral.-standing; of his puppets. Having conveyed a proper appreciation of the merits or demerits of all concerned, he launches them boldly on the only two courses which exist, for folk in melodrama—tho broad and slippery {track of vico,~ and the narrow, rough way of a virtue idyllic in. all respecte except the treatment it meets. In "The Stepmother " there is the usual adventuress; married to a very foolish sea captain, who leaves ;on a two-years' cruise to China on tho day of his wedding, and who iU-treats his son most shamefully. Then as she and her accomplice (a very dastardly comiquo) are about to make a clean swoop of the captain's homo and property, hack comes the nautical one. With tho aid of a , convenient defective, he proves the woman to be all that tlio audience knows lier to be, and more. she is also proved to bo a bigamist, having been married to a philosophic wastrel whpn, she espoused the, captain. This moralising nondescript) receives a mountain of sympathy right through as, in a active moment, he ie said to have rescued the Captain's boy from under tho wheels of a motor-car. Ho wanders in and out of every scene with delightful nonchalance until, shot by the comic villain, who, by the way/, has his tragic moments also. . . , . '■'.'•,■ The part i wiis delightfully played by Mr. C. R. who does a lot of good work in a quiet, unostentatious, but always con-scic-ntious mancor. Miss Lillian Meyers" is ; Anna Tickers—the lady of plots and pleasure.. Her black, looks'-sear, and her hissed imprecations aro something-to ho rememhered, but, liko. Bill Squires, she has "lost her punch." It is a pity, as her scenes with the boy Danny suffer sadly through that "missing loft." Miss Beatrice Holloway, a .dainty figure in knickers, is over-Beiitimon-tal.and attkjntinises pvermuch as "Danny. Her scene, with, her dead mother,^)wyover ; Araa'affcctingj and commanded a fair.display of cifaibric among tJie more impressionable of the audience. Mr. Jae. B. Atholwood gurgled cheerfully thraugti,thf" humourous villainy of , 'Abraham AVigjrins, and lightened the gloom' of many a drab situation with tho' Aminidab Sleek" wit that companied bis gross atrocities, '': Mr. Atholwood is always interesting,' if not; audiblo.' , Aii excellent comedy study was submitted by Mr. Leo do Chateau as Strgtl Yapp ( a' yokel polio3vnan, who excites the admiration of Johanna Jones, a sprightly lady with/, a bucolio wit. 'Mr' A. Neville was ae bruff and manly as Captain Bob. Bristow would allow him to , be. . Miss Maggie -Dickinson, gave' clover omphasis to tho repellent trials of Claira, , and ' Miss Mabel -Russell's • pleasing personality hardly .accorded with the farting rosp-bush theory,' so pucticallv propounded by Danny; Mr. F. Coape was quite satisfactory as ■ the ever-rerdv Detective Dlalce. The: inelodrama was woill staged, and Mr. Dyson's orchestri contributed- to the..plcasnro of the evening. ,-. -, '- « . i_ i"The.Stepmother" \vill be produced again this.Evening, v.hen.thc. season closes. , ; V': ; ;vTHEATRE.ROYAL. ' ; ; ■".. All the : piptures.which co"mpriso the enrront series at'.tno Theatre-Royal are of a Very high standard. .Tliey were watohed vwith , delight last night by a largo asscmbbgd. .■ "Niagara Falls in' Winter"'is a film which is worthy of special mention; Others-.which created a good deal of ■ interest' werej - "Hunting Big Gamo : in Africaj" '^fireiflo,' , and the "Biscnit Industry. "■ v ■ Tho programme will bo repeatedtnis evening. ; ...,.,,': .. , ; ~ ■■..'''■ '■, ; : '.- HIS MAJESTY'S ' v'.)\ Extremely popular is the current- series of Royal Pictures. Last' night's audience was both numerous and appreciative. The "star" . item, "The Grand lof is one 'of this best films ever shown here: From, be/ ginning .to end the various incidents which it depicts excite very keen interest. There aro a number: of other. excellent pictures in the series, which covers a wide .variety: of subjects. To-morrow evening there will bo a comploto change'of programme :'■ -. . . '■ .: '~ the' cinqtjevalli season. ■ ;.,. ': The unbroken record of success, of Mr.: Harry Rickards's yaudivjlle : company, opcn- : ing a season , of eight nights at the. Opora House to-morxow evening,.has followed them to Wanganui,; whero they'performed - last night to a crowded and .enthusiastic audience To-night they will appear in Palmorston North, and proceed to Wellington on Wednesdav by tho first train. A special 1 matinoo will.be given oii Saturday at 2,30, when special prices will bo charged- for children. Seats can bo booked at tho Dresden, and early door tickets "will be obtainable to-morrow at, Abel's.': ■ -■; ! ■ ;";■;,;.. : ''/'/''':^ : '[' '•' ILLUSTRATED RECITAL^; , ,. V An exceedingly entertaining and well-illus-trated recital, entitled "The Humour and Pathos of Modern.MaorijLife,"'is to bo given by the Rev. A. J. "Seatior. in the Oddfellows' Hall; Potono.. to-morrow, evening. Mr; Soamer has. a first-hand and: up-to-date knowledge of his. subject, and the recital is said to be an excellent ono, being brimful yof Interesting facts and humorous , and: pathetic' .sketches. Too views to', bo shown are very fine ones. , Henare Tawhia, a young chief of the. Ngapuhi tribe,. will' assist in tlie- pro-' g-rammo. Tho proceeds will bo devoted to the Petone Methodist Church 'funds. '. ' .