THE HOWE-SPONG SEASON. "HARBOUR LIGHTS."

Evening Post, Volume XLVII, Issue 83, 9 April 1894, Page 2

THE HOWE-SPONG SEASON. " HARBOUR LIGHTS."

The audienoe whioh greeted the production of George R. Sims' drama at the Opera Houso on Saturday evening was quite an exceptionally large one for a Saturday night in New Zealand, every pert of the house but tho dress circle being crowded, and that also contained a fair number. The company appeared to great advantage in the very successful melodrama, the applause and laughter being loud and continuous throughout, while the performers were roEeatedly called. As the young and beautiful eroine, Miss Spong hod a part which suited her exactly, and in which there was opportunity for full display of personal charm. Aa Dora Vane, the betrothed of the hero, Lieut. Kingsley, of H M.S. Britannic, she acted with great intelligence, womanly sensibility, and freßh, bright, and natural method, thoroughly earning the enthusiastic calls which she received. Mr. Walter Howe, as David Kingsley, played in the manner which has become traditional in this class of melodrama, tho robust naval officer who wears all the virtues as a mantle, and who has sopped up all tho courage and honesty and the like that is going round. He was rapturously applauded in every act by a delighted house. Mr. Chas. Fabert had the comedy part of Tom Dossiter, the Britannio's rollicking quartermaster, and played it to general satisfaction, being well supported by Miss Barrow as his sweetheart, Peggy Chudleigh, and the amusing acting of Mias Anatead as his mother -in • law, the village innkeeper. Mr. Scot Inglis, as Frank Morland, tho squi c of Radcliff who had " gone the pace," and was prepared to encompass any villainy by which be could gain a new lease of his rackety life, had a part which suited him exactly. His fine voice, good stage presence, and excellent method, all went to make np an artistic whole. He was also good in the double of Captain Hardy. Mr. Cathcart had a congenial part in Captain Nelson, and Mr. Greenaway was al*o well fitted as the disgraced lieutenant and scheming land steward, Nioholaa Morland. Altogether, it was an exoellent cast, in which the less meritorious performances were those of Mr. Owen as Mark Helstone, and Miss Gill as the wronged Lena Nelson. Miss Gill's somewhat hard and apparently not folly controlled voice is against her in any character whioh demands the sympathy of the audience. There were a number of minor parts. It is unnecesnary to give the plot of the drama, as it iB well known to New Zealand play-goers from its production by the MaoSlahon-Lcitcb. Company some years ago, when Ida Norton was the heroine and H. C. Sydney (now dead) tho hero, Leiteh taking the part of Tom Dossiter. Suffice it to Bay that it abounds in sensation and mystery, and murder and naval drill, and that it smaoks of the sea throughout. Naturally it affords great scope for the scenic artist, and this is, as might be expected, fully taken advantage of by Mr. Spong. The first act opens with a handsome scene representing Radoliff-on-the-Sea, the second scene being "The Old Hall." This was an exceedingly fine interior, tastefully, furnished and artistically lighted, and its exposure was followed by round after round of applause. The back oloth in a street scene in the third act iB like a beautiful oil study by some great landscape artist. It is an admirable bit of work, both as to its artistao conception and its execution. The great soene of this aot is a very fine built-up set showing the deck of v, man-of-war, on which the Wellington NavaJs are drilled. Act 4 concludes with the great sensation act of the play— the cliffs and sea in storm, and a rescue. In act 5, Radoliffe Bay* is another very beautiful scene. " Harbour Lights " will be played again to-night, and should result in another bumper houße.