ENTERTAINMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 110, 11 May 1909, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. "A MINER'S TRUST." There is only one thing wrong about the new Meynell and Gunn pioduction at the Opera House, and that U — the title, ''A Miner's Trust." The name suggests all the attributes of the Australian mining drama it is said on the progiamine to be, but is not. It is something far and away better than a melodrama of the goldlields. however Stirling;- 'thrilling, and bloodcurdling that might be. Only the .prologue is laid in the goldfields. The play itself has its scene in England. Apart even from that simple fact, the conventional title belies the ' genuine merit of the play. To call such, a- piece, one of the pleasant plays that tas graced a Wellington stage for some time, by such a name, is like stultifying a brilliant, original newspaper article with a trite, commonplace heading. Really, Mr. Jo Smith, the playwright, ought to be told about it. | Alan Trengrove and Jack Howard are mates, who have made their respective piles on the diggings. Howard, while on the way to Melbourne to catch the boat Home to marry the blind girl, Alice Medway, his old sweetheart, is murdered by an escaped French convict, Gaspard Le Rouge. Before he dies, he makes Trengrove promise to take his place and name and marry Alice. That is the prologue, a singularly effective pair of .scenes, with' one supremely dramatic moment. The play proper opens in England with Trengrove passing as Howard and carrying out his compact with his dead mate to make sweet Alice happy even, in her blindness. But he falls in love with Ida Medway instead, and she with him, while Alice" cannot feel the same alfection for him that she felt for the real Jack Howard in days of yore. Enter the villain, Arthur Trengrove, Alan's cousin, with more complication, 1 -, chiefly financial this time. Meanwhile there is much excellent by-play of purest comedy among the subsidiary characters, Aunt Hypatia, type of old maids, Bill Bpbstay, a grogblo.=som of a sailor, and Algernon Fairbaiin and Florrie Medway, charming pair of juvenile philanderers. Then comes the turning point of the action in a brilliant f hip wreck scene. Gaspard Le Rouge, is saved by Trengrove, alias Hotvard, and then the seciet is soon out, to the discomfiture of the villain. It is impossible in such a bald sketch to do full justice to what is really a rare phenomenon, a drama that should please everybody. There is nothing un reasonable in the plot or extravagant and bizarre in the action, yet there is not a dull moment in the play from the prologue to the curtain, a credit to the author, and in its presentation on the stage an even higher credit to the Meynell and Gunn Dramatic Company. As the hero, Alan Trengrove, Mr. Herbert Bentley suipassed even his performance in "Two Little Sailor Boys," which won , him favourable mention at the time. His mate, Jack Howard, was Mr. F. Coape / who was quite good in the prologue, especially in the death scene. Mr. A. Neville made as convincing a villain, of Arthur Trengrove, as he did in "Two Little Sailor Boys," as Redstone. In the character of Algernon Fairburn, a young man at the awkward age, Mr. JLance Vance showed much promise. The Medway girls, Alice (Miss Beatrice Holloway), Ida (Miss Lilian Meyers), and Florne (Miss Mabel Russell) were fully equal to their vis-a-vis. The play gives several opportunities to the two cousins, Alice and Ida, for the presentation of passion. The opportunities were not missed or marred. Miss Alice Deorwyn iplayed Aunt Hypatia, the fussy old fnaid, delightfully, and Miss Mabel Russell was a fascinating pert miss in her spooning with Algernon Fairbairn. And then there was the finished actor, Mr. J. B. Atholwood, as Gaspard Le Rouge, as clever and as skilfully made-up as he was in the part of . the burglar in the first play of the season. Mr. Gordon Thomas did his minor part as Duratit, the French detective, with commendable snap. ,The rest of the company acted up to their leaders. "A Miner's Trust" will be repeated to-night. THEATRE ROYAL. The pictures now being shown at the Theatre Royal are undoubtedly of more than average merit. Included in the programme are some high-class edit; cational pictures, such as views of Naples and its industries, and a film 1 showing natives in Central Africa. Hiimour and pathos are also well supplied by some of Pa,the Freres latest studies. Harry Lauder, the great comedian, is shown behind the scenes, prior to giving an exhibition of his latest songs. The cinephone records fire also a pleasant feature in the entertainment. The programme will be repeated to-night. ROYAL PICTURES. This week's programme at His Majesty's Theatre is proving as great a draw as usual. The pictures include the latest films in the world of kinematography. The Nick Cartel- series are much appreciated, as is tho very well -presented story "Claudius and Virginius." Of the scenic class, "Winter Scenes in Stockholm" is much admired. To-night will be the last of the present programme, and the weekly change \pll be made to-morrow evening. CRICKET CLUB "SOCIAL." The Templars' Cricket Club wound up their season last night by holding a very enjr>yable "social" and, dance, which proved to be a distinct success. Between fifty and sixty couples attended: The proceedings were in the hands of an energetic committee, of which Mr. A. Dryden was secretary. During the evening dances and games were indulged in, and musical items were contributed by Messrs. Nolan, J. ilienry, and Cresswell and Mrs. Girlevey. Mr. Pearce gave a recitation. Trophies were presented by Mr. P. Laurenson, a vice-president of the club, as follow : — Best batting average, i.ir. E. R. Dooley ; best bowling average, Mr. B. Pooiey ; best fieldsman, Mr. F. W. Wright.; best all-round player, Mr. H. S. Wright ; most improved player, Mr. R. W. Blenkinsop ; highest individual score, Mr. G. Lambert. Messrs. Frank and B. Wright acted' as M.C.'s, and Mr. A. Timmings was pianist. OLYMPIA HINK. All of yesterday's sessions afc the Skating Rink were well attended, the evening session particularly so. The improved condition of the floor, and the large stock of firstf-class skates, are greatly appreciated by patrons. A ]slap race last evening was won by A. M'Cleary, after' a good content. The link is open for three ordinary sessions every clay, and in addition a special session for beginners- is held from 6 to 7.15 p.m. On Thursday night ,a polo match between two teams from H.M.S. Challenger wil! be played.

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