ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 843, 15 June 1910, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HAMILTON-MAXWELL DRAMATIC COMPANY. "A WOMAN'S HATE." "A Woman's Hate," a melodrama in four acts, by Henry Pettitt. Cast:— Frank Drummond Max Maxwell. Jcpiha Orimwado Godfrey Uass. Dick Chilton Charles lirown. Robert Overstone Klclurd lielluirs. Mr John Blaeklock, K.O. ...Sydney Uc Vine. John Overstone : s. A. Fitzgerald. Jlr. Justice Karle John iiruco. Wary Lonsdale lieatriee iiolloway. Mabel Wontwortll Vera ltciuce. Lottie Uroinley Muriel Dale. Maggie Westwood Nellie .Strong. Alary Drunimond Quceuic Williams. When Mr. G. K. Chesterton was asked tho reason of the popularity oi' the melodrama, he replied m his characteristic way that it was because of it profound truth; because it went on repeating tho things which humanity had really found to. be central facts. One assumes that the critic meant good melodrama well played, not bad melodrama butchered. Ills remarks apply to "A Woman's Hate" tho melodrama produced by the Allan Hamilton-Max Maxwell Dramatic Company last evening at the Opera House. It certainly deals with the same, world-old emotions that sway t'ho lives of so many, and do so in a vory sound ami workmanlike manner. Further than that, the playis well written, and its construction bears the stamp of one skilled in writing for the stage. "A Woman's Hate" tells a moving story of what misery and crime may develop from tho .viperish nets of a jealous woman. Mabel Wentworth, an adventuress, has played at love rath Frank. Drummoncf, but finding hii.i poor, throws him over. Fortune, however, turns, and almost at once he finds himself independent ami in love with sweet little Mary Lonsdalo. Hor guardian, old John Overstone, desires a marriage between his son Robert and his ward, but Mary, on coming of age, follows her own dictates and marries Frank Drummond. It. appears that Robert Overstone had been outrunning the constable, hoping to retrieve with Mary's money on marrying her, and tlio rejection of . his suit converts him to villainy undisguised. With the aid of Mabel Wentworth (who has tried to win back tho love of the artist now that he is rich, and whose advances arc repelled) and a scheming old lawyer, Jeptha Grimwade, tho .downfall of the Drummonds is This is managed by implanting distrust in tho young wife's'mind of her husband's fidelity, aided cunningly with some of Frank's old love-letters to Mabel Wentworth. _ Mary, with her child, leaves home and hides her sorrow remote from the world, but is followed and harassed by the odious' attentions of young Overstone, by whoso wiles Drummond has bc«n well-nigh ruined financially. Tho latter is embittered against his wifo by tho lying tales that have connected her name with that of Overstone. Matters arrive at a climax when Mary, in self-protection, threntens to shoot Overstone, but, instead of .that, leaves the house with her child. Then enters' from tho stormwracked night.-Jeptha' Grimwade, who has also been tricked financially by Overstone. There aro reprisals and demands j Grimwade must have money—Overstone will not listen to reason) a struggle ensues, in which Overstone. is shot. Mary is arrested for the crime, and things are , goiug hard for her, when hor husband (who is a barrister as well as an artist) takes the place of an ailing counsel, and produces evidence which throws the guilt on Grimwade. The court sceno was played with commendable seriousness, holding the audience intensely interested, and quite a sigh of relief could be heard, when, after tho counsel's fulsome addresses, ' the jury bring in a verdict of "Not Guilty." The play was admirably suited to the company, the individual members of which wero seen at their best. Miss Beatrice Holloway made a- pathetic little figure as tho shuttlecock of an unkind fate. She acted sweetly and naturally in the bright first act, where all is ■ t sunshine and kisses, and was. quite.'convincing in the days of, shadow. Miss Holloway frocked tho character in tho best of "good taste. Mr. Max Maxwell, apart from his inherent monotone, made a very presentablo Frank Drummond, and nas particularly good in the court scene" Artistically there was no better performance in the play than that of tiny Queenie Williams as Mary Drummond. She acts sweetly and naturally, without a sign of th'e precociousness so common in tho average children of the melodrama. If it was for her acting alone, tho trial sceno was the most notable ono in tho play. Mr. Godfrey Cass stepped out of himself into tho grey clothes and misdeeds of Jeptha Grimwade—a strongly-conceived and consistent bit of acting. Miss Vera Remeo was well suited as the dashing Mabel Wentworth, and Miss Nellio Strong was in the picture as Maggie Westwood. Mr. Charles Brown had a part after his own heart in Dick Chilton, the grocer's clerk, who fancies ho is marrying money in Lottio Bromlev - (Miss Muriel Dale) and finds she is just as poor as he. The good-hearted comedy the pair provided was. most acceptable. Mr. Richard Bellairs refrained from "piling on tho agony" too much as Robert Overstone, and for his rationalism in crime deserves credit. "A Woman's Hate" is gladdened by , tho artistic scenery of. the late Mr. John Bruntou, whose back-cloths might pass for oil-paintings under the microscope, so, sure is the draughtmanship and colour sense, in combination with the natural atmosphere with which, he veiled his clever work. "A Woman's Hate" deserves big houses. FULLERS' VAUDEVILLE COMPANY. An entertainment of all-round merit is provided this week at the Theatre Royal by Fullers' Vaudeville Company. The "starred" item is the clog dancing of the - American dno, Brown and Wilrnot, whose feet engage in a harmonious riot such as is seldom witnessed on the vaudeville stage. Miss Beryl Gilman, soprano, made a first appearance last evening, as did also the Kelso Boys, platcspinners and jugglers, who havo clever hands and heads. Ward Lear still makes amusement, and the other people who add brightness in various ways are Athos (a trick skater), the Martin Sisters, Scott Brothers, Ivy Leslie, Fred Harcourt, and the Musical Shirleys. Tho company will appear again this evening. THE KING'S THEATRE. 'A crowded house at the King's Theatre last evening spoke in eloquent terms of the attractive matinee uf the West's and Royal Pictures entertainment. An excellent new programmo has been compiled for this evening, and will include Messrs. Patho Freres' great art subject, "The Life, of Christ." This beautiful Biblical subject will be screened in five parts— namely. His Birth, His 'Childhood, His Life, His Death, and tho Resurrection. The second part of the performance will consist of tho following special items — "The Fence on Bnr Z Ranch," "The Smoker," "A Liwson by the Sea," "Fishing in the South Sea Islands," and' "His Hundredth Birthday." HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Among many excellent films in the new programme to be submitted at His Majesty's to-night will bo ono enlitled "Tommy Atkins." This is an adaptation of Arthur Shirleys popular play, delineating the course of true lovo as between the "fighting parson," Hugh Wilson, and tho sweet Ruth, the squire's daughter, and the machinations of Captain Maitland, the villain of the piece. Thrilling war scenes on the Indian frontier helu to lead up to the final denouement, in which villainy is frustrated' and love is triumphant. A now- cowlioy story of a type which has been very popular will also' he presented. "The Fenca on the Bar Z Ranch" is tho title. There was a large attendance at the theatre last night. STAR PICTURES. Tho Star Pictures at St. Thomns's Hall continue to act as a magnet to (he public of Wellington South. This week's programme, a good one, includes some excellent views of the scene of the recent disaster at the Otira Tunnel! PIANO AND VIOLIN RECITAL. Those who attend the Hunt and Blny recital to-morrow evening will have a programme offered them which will be full of hii-'h-clnss aud attractive music, wuilo

tho proved capacity of tho performers is a guarantee ot an adequate rendering of each item. Mr. Horaco Hunt will play Beethoven's Sonata inO Minor, the Prelude in C Sharp Minor, by Rachmaninoff, Schumann's "In Der Niicht," Chopin's Ballade in A Flat, and the "Caprice Espagnot" by Moszliowski. Mr. Herbert Bloy's numbers will be the Andante and Finale from the Mendelssohn Concerto, the celebrated "Devil's Trill" by Tartini, Wieniawski's "Legende," and the "Fantasia Appassionala" by Vieuxtemps. Tho vocalist of tho evening, Miss Agnes M. Segrief, will contribute • Morcadanle's "Ah Sestinto Ancor Mi Vuoi," and "The Spirit's Song" by Haydn. The plan for tho concert is open n't tho Dresden. MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT. The musical entertainment arranged by the Misses Pees at St. John's Schoolroom last evening in aid of the funds of tho Presbyterian Orphanage at Brooklyn was attended by a fairly large audience. Dr. Uibb presided, anil ill the course of a brief prefatory address expressed the indebtedness of the institution to tho organisers of the entertainment. Tho programme of items was 'artistically arranged, and was thoroughly enjoyed by tho audience.