ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 119, 16 November 1909, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

"A LIFE'S REVENGE." Villainy, rather than vice, intrigue, misdirected passion, and the general sweetmeats of the melodramatists, make a strong frame on which Walter Howard has built > his excitement entitled "A Life's Revenge," which was staged and played by the Anderson Dramatic Company at the Opera House last evening. The locale of the play is Russia, and therein, for the purposes of the story, are gathered together a prince, a princess, two English painters, the "red angel," and a sprinkling of Englanders (of the comedy type) and serfs ad lib. The most important painter, Paul Staravitch, has the Princess Vanda Ivyala a* a model and a ma cherie, the red woman, Marcia Vittoria, as a hopeless -lover and a ruthless enemy ; and, inter alia, has in Prince Boris Strogoroff " a vindictive rival. After -this, it can well be said that .the "red angel" rushes through the scene's shedding a crimson reflection round her path, while Strogoroff plays what is popularly known as "the deuce" with the princess', her painter husband, and their sympathisers. "The deuce" is a winning throw-up to certain stages 'in the proceedings, until the exigencies of the piece demand that villainy shall rush on its own sword, so to speak. So the hero throws, at the last hazard, better than the- previous best, and there is much rejoicing in his camp. An intermediary, but hardly relative, item is a duel with foils between the trailing Marcia Vittoria and the Princess, in which, after a few quaint passes, the former is disarmed. The old tale is then resumed of torture and knouting for the painter and his friend, and mental infliction for the princess. Take the programme for the penultimate clewing-up scene. The Red Chamber (at the Palace Gardens, Marischla, the country seat of Strogoroff, op whose environment all the parties have converged) : The princess a prisoner — arrival of the Cossack (the hero 'in disguise) — the rebellious serf (who promises to burn the princess while scorning gold for the deed) — condemned — the fire — for love and life ! The dramatist persists in another aqt wherein the serfs rebel, Strogoroff meets with a chance shot\ and there is no Siberia for the painter and his devoted princess, or anyone else, for the malignant villain has himself gone a long journey. There is comedy in various places. The roles are well taken, and the piece is appropriately staged. Messrs. V. Edwards, Herbert Linden, John De Lacey, Frank Eeis, and Charles W. Throsby perform sufficiently, while Miss May Granville makes a picturesque villainess and Miss Kate Gair a clinging and, if needs be, a fighting heroine. Other roles are pleasing. The piece will be played again tonight. i . THEATRE EOYaL. "A Eoyal Marriage in India" is the chief film amongst an excellent, series now on view at the Theatre .uoyal. 1 "The Duke's Jester" and a tale of love and jealousy, depicted under the title of "Conchita," are othei pictures of meritorious nature which are included in the current programme. . HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Those* patrons of His Majesty's Theatre who have not seen the programme of pictures which was first exhibited on Wednesday last will have only tonight in which to do so, a new series bein^ announced for Wednesday even- ! ing. ' "In the Iron Kingdom" is the i description of an interesting set of pictures which will b& shown this everi» ing. SHACKLETON'S PICTURES AT THE TOWN HALL. The second exhibition of the moving pictures depicting Sir Ernest Shackleton's dash for the South Pole was enthusiastically received by a large audience at the Town Hall last evening. The explorer's departure from and return to New Zealand makes the picture^ doubly interesting. Another fine film which was taken by C Spencer shows a winter carnival on Mount Kosciusko in Australia. The tourists are shown departing for the sports in motor-cars, and during the trip up the mountain some beautiful scenery is witnessed. There are many other pictures in the programme, some quite as interesting as these. "Panther Hunting," for instance, shows the method adopted for trapping the animal. Dramatic subjects are well represented by ''The Lover's Token" (a Spanish love story), and "Her Lover"s Honour.' 1 Included in the eccentric studies are "The Race for Inheritances," "The Detective's Bag," and '"The Invisible Dog." The programme will be repeated to-night, and on Wednesday, when the large hall is otherwise engag- ' ed, the pictures will be shown in the Concert Chamber. ST. THOMAS'S HALL. ' The Star Pictures are being exhibited, at St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown. "Scenes in Japan" are amongst the best of the present series of pictures, which are meeting with the hearty approbation of the public. MR. HORACE HUNT'S RECITAL. This evening Mr. Horace Hunt, the Wellington pianist, will give a recital in the Concert Chamber of. the Town Hall. Lady I'iunket has signified her intention of being present at the concert. Mr. Hunt's numbers include the "Funeral March" sonata (Beethoven), Rachmaninoff's "Prelude" in 0 sharp minor, the adagio from Schubert's "The Wanderer," and "Liehestraum* (Liszt). Assisting Mr. Hunt are Mrs. D. C. Bates, who will recite "Together" (Oxenham), and "Women and the Weed" (Andrew Lang) ; Mr. John Carter, vocalist; and Mr. Stuart M'Lean, 'cellist! The box plan is at the Dresden. . THE JULIUS KNIGHT SEASON. "The Breed of the Treshams," the new play to be produced by J. C. William&op on Monday next, is said to be a stirring play dealing with the turbulent era which prefaced the dominance of Oliver Cromwell. The plot rests upon the treachery of certain officers of the King's army, who finding that Charles' power is weakening treasonably negotiate with the Roundhead leaders with the object of permitting the fortified town of Faversham to be captured by the rebels. The chief conspirator in this treasonable plot is Colonel Sir Clement Hungerford, acting in co-operation with some of hi 6 junior officers, including Lieutenant Reresby, nicknamed the Rat. Before their plans are really ripe the plot is discovered and revealed to John Hungerford (Viscount Dorsington), Colonel Sir Henry Curwen, and Colonel Bagshaw, but owing to the intercepted message being written in cypher and figures being used in place of names, the identity of the traitors remained unrevealed. Lieutenant Reresby who rode into the rebel ranks to receive instructions, and in whose boot the message was found, is put to torture to force him to disclose the names of those who were his companions in treason. Because of his love for the young sister of Sir Clement Hungerford, he remains silent and attempts to take his own life so that he may escape further torture. Finally the names of the traitors are disclosed by other means, and the closing scene hhows "the Rat" deprived of his commission and dismissed from his regiment, cheerfully setting out feS begin life again as a, ragl&r in the

North. Mr. Julius Knight is said to give a splendid performance of Reresby "the Rat." The box plans for the entire sixteen nights will be opened at the Dresden on Thursday. A party consisting of members of the Wesleyap Literary and Debalings Society and their friend visited the Home for the Aged Needy, last evening, and entertained the inmates. Mr. W. E. Fuller was chairman, and songs were given by Misses Harvey, Baker, V. Mueller, and Messrs. B. F. Digby and F. Riddehougfc; recitations by Misses May Harvey, Bessie Luke, M. Dix, and Messrs E. Cumming, E. C. Kemsley, and G. S. Gapper ; pianoforte solo by Miss Fitzmaurice ; and flute solo by Mr. C. J. Hill. The Misses Benge, MyraHill, Tomlinson, and Ward played the accompaniments. Refreshments were provided by the visitors. The entertainment was much enjoyed by the inmates. At the floso of the entertainment the party was heartily thanked ' by the superintendent of the Home. Members of the physical drill team of the Zealandia Rifles were entertained by their company last night, as a mark of appreciation of the team's successes at • the Palmerston Military Tournament. Captain Corrigan was in the chair, and there were many past and present .members of the company 'in attendance.