ENTERTAINMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 123, 25 May 1908, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL." A SUCCESSFUL PLAY. The popularity of "The Scarlet Pimpernel" in most places where it has been played was Mr. J. C. Williamson's justification for believing that it would take in Wellington. He was not disappointed on Saturday night, for the Opera House was crowded in every part by an audience that had laid itself out to be pleased — and was pleased, if the frequent, ardent applause be taken into account. That "The Scarlet Pimpernel" (as a play) was a trustworthy presentment of the French and English and their manners ot the time of the play — the end of the 18th century — is of but little importance. What the audience expected on Saturday was a more than passable play, with some reasonably good acting, a great display of beautiful dresses, an exhibition of graceful dancing, some remarkably pretty scenery, and a judicious blend of dramatic incident with interludes of a comic sort. All this, ■with one exception, was furnished in lavish manner and no expense spared. The. one thing that' was lacking, or at any rate was very 'scarce, was food for laughter. Everyone is supposed to have read the book from , : which the play takes its name, but there may be an odd person here and there who has not. For his or her benefit it may be stated that a band of twenty gallant Englishmen engage to facilitate the safe passage of French emigres to England, home, and safety. Naturally the .Republic, one and indivisible, resents •. this interference with its affairs, even by Englishmen, and it will be well understood that the French Government (so-called) is anxious to lay hands upon the leader of these Quixotic Englishmen, whose clan-name ,is the "Scarlet Pimpernel." Therefore they employ one Chauvelin to "smell him out," and, if possible, bring him to France, where ho will be given a ride in a tumbril, and so finish his pestilent mission. ' Now the audience knows from the beginning that the Scarlet Pimpernel is Sir Percy ' Blakeney, but no one else, apart from the nineteen other members of the band, knows this, not even Lady Marguerite Blakeney, Sir Percy's wife, a French woman herself, and of strong Republican convictions, "One jolly Englishman," as is generally admitted, is equivalent to three Frenchnien, ■which explains the extraordinary facility with which ' Sir Percy deludes nearly everybody even his wife, into believing that he is no more than a sporting, pot-valor-ous, roystering, bibulous English gentleman, all of the olden time. In these circumstances it is not to be wondered^ at that Lady , Marguerite feels a little disappointed with her foreign spouse ; that she, a thoroughgoing Frenchwoman at heari, should lend her countenance to Chauvelin's scheme for catching the "Scarlet 'Pimpernel" in return- for a 'document Written by her brother, and which, if .produced to the Committee of Public Safety, would certainly condemn him to death. To save her brother, then, she does not mind engaging in a little private detective work. She does not repel even the title of citoyenne, for she is herself Republican at heart ; has, indeed, been instrumental in the execution of a certain Marquis de St. Cyr and all his house. Whejri' ste discovers that the Scarlet one ,is her own husband she naturally falters, and on learning that he is known and tracked, (having first obtained possession of her brother's in/criminating letter), she flees to, France after her husband and stands by him in a way that any British wife might be proud of, and the Frenchman Chauvelin loses Kis quarry after all. Mr< Julius Jinight was cast for the name part, and to him also was entrusted the dispensing of the niggardly comedy of the play. This he did through the medium of frequent simulated intoxication and the use of explicatives such as "Lud, lud," and "zounds." He was rarely ever really amusing — not that he cannot be, but for lack of fitting opportunity. He might have acted the buffoon. There is always scope fdr that ; but not for men of Mr. Knight's ability. He always ' behaved as a gentleman of the Georgian 'era is expected to behave. It was difficult to. refrain from recalling Mr. Knight's fine interpretation of Monsieur Beaucaire," a part immeasurably superior to that allotted to him on Saturday. His frequent calls before the curtain, however, proved clearly enough that Mr. ' Knight's performance was an (extremely popular one. To Miss Ola Humphrey was given the part of Lady Marguerite Blakeney. Her great scene was in the garden where she. learned who' the, Scarlet Pimpernel was. Here she towered above all else she did, before or afterwards. The rapidity of her utterance was such, however, as made her rather difficult to follow. Otherwise this scene was the best in the play._ - Mr. Leslie Victor's study of Chauvelin was' as sound a piece of melodramatic acting as one may hope to see. He knew to a nicety how far to go, and his presence 1 of mihd never left him. His make up ' was suggestive of "the sea green, incorruptible" Robespierre ; but he never forgot' that he had to pouftray a character of a conventional, approved type, and he d^d His duty' faithfully and well. Mr.' Harry Plitnmer, as the Prince • of Wales, was delightful — generous, deferential j cordial, and superbly dressed. He was much more likeable than any real Prince could hope to be. The other performers Had, but .little to do beyond looking their .parts, so scant were the opportunities for speech or action; but the sweetness imparted to the character of Suzanne de Tournai by Miss Elwyn Harvey -was- a-, most refreshing feature in the studies q£ minor parts. The costumes in "The Scarlet Pimpernel V provided a fine entertainment of a visual sort in themselves. They constitute a strong element in tho play, being costly andj beautiful, and generally gracefully worn. The scenery was generally good ; but the- best "set" was that of the gardens of Sir PWcy Blakeney, a work of- art of. its kind that it would be difficult to surpass. The production, taken as a whole or in part, was excellent,, and furnished ample material for prophecy of .',a very successful season. ' The Scarlet Pimpernel" will be produced flgain..this evening and until further notice. THE ROYAL PICTURES. Despite' the boisterous weather prevailing on. Saturday, His Majesty's The■atre was, well filled with appreciative audiences at both the afternoon and evening performances. The current programme is well up to. the high standard set by the proprietary. A feature of special interest is the attendance of the little ones at the Saturday afternoon matinees, which are designed especially for their amusement and instruction. If one may judge from the applause, they are much enjoyed by children. THEATRE ROYAL. The Theatre Royal ,was filled in all parts on Saturday night, when Fullers' Company presented a change of programme. The "Harmonious Huxhams" were again heard in several enjoyable vocal trios. In the second part of the programmo they gave "Fun in the Farmyard," a musical sketch of odds and ends and amusing situations which pleased the s audience greatly. Harry Edwurds sang "Love me and the World is Mine.'- fov which eStufc lia yraa en,.

cored. Kodamo, the little Jap., gave some good exhibitions of balancing, and the Banvards flew through the air in the course of their daring acrobatic feats. Denis Carney was quaint and humorous in his Yorkshire specialties. The Marlowe sisters contributed a couple of items in a way that elicited generous approval, and Miss Jtuby Franklin was heartily applauded for her serio. 'songß. The biograph pictures now being shown are decidedly interesting. The same programmo will be repeated to-night. OLYMPIA SKATING, RINK. ' This skating rink in Vivian-street "continues to draw large attendances. On Saturday at both sessions the floor was crowded. In the morning there was a children's matinee, during which a race for boys was run off. In the evening an eight-lap race was' contested. There were five starters, and P. Killeen won after a close finish. The rink will be open as usual to-day, and the management has arranged a hockey match for Wednesday evening next. Ono of tne needs of Wellington is a better art collection in the public gallery. The Empire City's display is greatly suiv passed by other centres. To help remedy this state of things, sixty of the students of the Technical School, trained by Miss Sybil Johnson, have arranged to give Walter Crane's allegorical masque "Queen Summer," a beautiful and poetical allegory of the passing of the seasons 1 also three stories in music. The masque is to take place at Si. Peter's Schoolroom about the middle ot next month under the auspices of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, to whose funds the proceeds will b» given.