THEATRE ROYAL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8337, 13 April 1889, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

Tonight the Viviau Dramatic comlany open their season at the Theatre lioj al with the serisatioual drama " Curent Cash." The company is a strong me. The drama, which will be most iffectively staged, comprises a prologue md four acts. The action of the play ipena at a fort in Afghanistan, where the liero of the piece, Captain Milton, owing lo some misunderstanding, is condemned lo lie shot. Just previously he had become heir to a large fortune; which he ilesires to bequeath to his wife. By a clever piece of trickery Major Gordon Challis (his comrade iv the army), who drafts the will, at the same time draws up a second one, the latter of which bequeaths the fortune to the Major — the villain of the piece. The condemned captain is duped into signing the forged will, believing it to be the genuine document, and the Major lights his pipe with the latter, and throws the partially burned paper on the floor. Two Boldiers on duty detect the act, and carefully secure the oiiginal document, which is still in a sufficient state of preservation to show its purport. The captain is duly shot at, and the Major,- by virtue of the forged will, comes into possession of the estate, and lives up to his income, meanwhile persecuting and attempting to hunt to death the unfortunate widow of Captain Milton and her daughter, who are reduced to a state of poverty. He tries in every way to drive them from the country, and at last resorts to the trick of placing his purse in the widow's pocket, and then having her arrested for theft. During the trial an unexpected witness makes his appearance, in the person of Captain Milton, believed to be dead. He explains how, when he was shot, he fell supposed to be dead, but was only wounded. Immediately after his being wounded the enemy surprised the camp, and he was taken prisoner, and, after being healed was sent to slavery tor nine years. H< made his escape and repaired to England where he fell in with Private Bowles, om of the soldiers present when the will wa drafted and signed. By means of disguisi and manoeuvre he obtained from Bowie the genuine will, inherits the estate, am receives free pardon from the sentenc ot death previously passed on him. Majc Gordon Challis receives his deserts in th shape of a sentence of ten years for f oreerj ana is afterwards shot dead in attemptin to escape, and the husband, wife, an child are again brought to a position < happiness and wealth.