HAMILTON DRAMATIC CO.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1122, 9 May 1911, Page 6

HAMILTON DRAMATIC CO.

"WHY MEN LOVE WOMEN." "Why Men Love Women," a melodrama in four acts, by Walter Howard. Cast: Gerald Fielding Conway TVingfield Orlando Figgins Fred Cambourne Captain Staniloff Milliard Vox Ackbar Mohammed Khan Ronald YV. Itiley Tommy Fitzherbert Frederick Kcade Chundra, Singh : Charles Wheeler J!cv. Arthur Grey Arthur Cowley Muriel Zoluski ; Muriel Dale BaJ>y Ncltio Dimdahl Birdie Agnes Keogh Matilda Figgins Clara, Stephenson Violet Livingstone Frances Ross.

Tho Allan Hamilton Dramatic Company dropped into Wellington last evening, and deposited its burden .of melodrama at the feet of local playgoers. When the pack was opened, quite a promising array of interesting material was displayed, stuff of goad texture and fast dyes bestrew the top. On dipping deeper, there was much that was shoddy, but even shoddy has its uses, and some even prefer it to the finer textiles. On the whole, tho stuffs. were fair average quality, and the manner in which they were displayed was admirable. For his story, which opens really well, Walter Howard takps his audience to' the sunny suburbs, of Simla, where a very nice heiress, beloved by everyone, is rusticating picturesquely in a pretty bungalow. Among her admirers arc a fierce Russian officer, in a gorgeous uniform, Captain Staniloff, Lieutenant Tommy Fitzhorbort, and a "Graphic" artist, Gerald Fielding. Right' at the outset there is a ftno dramatic clash between tho Russian and tho quixotic artist, whjch removes, even from tho dullest mind, once and for all any doubt as to their respective places in the drama, and so the elementary la\T of melodramatic construction ie preserved in all its beautiful simplicity. Fielding had seen Staniloff "spoof a Russian youth of all his wealth, and drive him to suicide in a St. Petersburg cafe, and tells him so with British bluntness; Staniloff squirms under tho insult, and breathes vengeance, on the artist, and tho situation is accentuated by tho knowledge that Fielding is the preferred of the beauty of the bungalow, Violet Livingstone. Into this scene of cross purposes casually wanders tho sister of the suicide. She" hears Fielding mention her brother's name, and questions him as to bow ho came by his death. He recounts the story, but does not; disclose the name of the man responsible for the deed. Staniloff sets about his vengeance by telling the girl (Muriel Zoluski) that her brother's imdoer was an Englishman, who has her picture'in his possession. This is Fielding. Tho latter has, in tho meantime, declared his love, and, after saying farewell to hisadored, is violently attacked by tho Russian girl. In tho struggle which ensues the girl is stabbed with a poisoned dagger, and falls apparently dead. Staniloff rushes in, and accuses Fielding of tho murder of his countryman, and poor Gerald is incarcerated in prison. Then things move briskly. Staniloff persecutes Violet under tho conveniently open bars of her lover's cell, and tells her that the truth she must speak at the trial as a witness of the struggle will condemn her lover. This seems inevitable, but there comes the intervention of a priest, who suggests that tho only way out is marriage—an eventuality which will dispose of the necessity of her giving evidence at all. Marriage takes place there and then, to the intense chagrin of the snarling Russian. The next sensation is Gerald's escape to the mountains, on top of which an aged Hindu doctor declares that Muriel Zoluski is not deadshe is only in a franco from which he can restore her. Staniloff, hearing- this, stabs tho Hindu, who crawls off to a cave where he imparts the information to tho much distressed wife of the accused. She is about to rush off to apply the antidolo to the dagger's poison, when Staniloff appears, and will not permit her !o depart until she consents to embrace him. As she does so, her husband—now an cscapeo —appears, and curses her as an ugly dream. Nevertheless, she rushes away lo succour the girl, to do which she has to stop the funeral cortege. The dead being restored to life, Gerald is free. Ho skips to England, paints a wonderful picture, which brings ,£!0,000, and at once returns to Simla to effect a reconciliation with the wife whom he has deserted. Staniloff is accounted for by Muriel, who shcots him on learning that he was really her brother's destroyer. The plot also embraces a certain amount of riotous comedy.

Miss Frances Ross, whom local playgoers have not seen for some years, returns as Violet Livingstone, a role to which she adds a grace, and refinement which -o well with the sympathy which her troubles induce. Her old rigidity of pose has disappeared. She is more softly feminine in appearance than heretofore, and the change _is is in better accord with the roles which she.is called upon to assume. Mr. Coiiwav Winsneld is a likeable acior. As Gerald Fielding ho acts almost naturally, and has that restraint which checks a passion from being torn to ineffectiva tatters. The theatrical sense is in him, and it is backed by intelligence and_ a piecing personality. Mr. Hilhard Vox made Captain Staniloff a very violent person with an accent, and a hiss. Ho received the heartv execrations of the gallon- Vhich is evidence of a certain effectiveness. Mr. Ronald Riley was ouiet and dieninrd as ; ,\kbnr Mohammed Khan, a wealthy MahaTaiah. and Mr. F : Read* made Lieutenant Fitzherbert a n;co af-ternoon-tea" style of "lomray. Mr. Fred Cambourno disoersed bread comedy with'unction as Orlando Figgins. and Miss Clara Stephenson was excellent as his frowv spouse. Miss Muriel Dale plaved the Russian gii') without force n, character, but looked onitc charming. In one scene Figgins' "Umtidoodle" girls enpear in harem skirts—a concession, no doubt to public curiosity—nothing more. \ feitnre of the play is IV scenery. The onening picture is decidedly good-a bungalow nestling under the majestic Himalayas—a fine bit. of work bv Mr. AVhaite! The palace seen" is also an attvaetiv stage selling. Iho "ostumes and' "make-up" of the Hindu "bara-tcrs were also admirable. "Why Men Lm-o Women" will he played throughout the week.