ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIII, Issue XVIII, 3 August 1912, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE.

TO-NIGHT.

"Tom Butler," described as a rattling detective story, full of vivid incidents and exciting situations, will be the prime attraction at the Opera House tonight. The piece concerns Miss Hampton, a rising young actress, who, while rehearsing, receives a note to the effect that Tom Butler, her husband, whom she had been instrumental in sending to prison, has escaped and intends having revenge on her. Butler makes an unsuccessful attempt on her life and follows this up with mysterious warnings. Her fear& drive her nearly distracted, and with a blind hope «?f escaping she climbs through a window and falls to the pavement below. Picked tip unconscious, she is carried to a wellknown sculptor's near by, and receives attention. A visitor (who in reality is Tom Butler in disguise) calls and later leaves the premises again in company with Miss Hampton, whom he has kid-' napped. The police pursue, and in a wood find the unfortunate actress hanging suspended by her hands. Butler and his accomplice escape. Rescued once more Miss Hampton is again kidnapped, and is rescued at the eleventh hour after lfaving been bricked up in a secret niche. Tom Butler is accidentally killed through jumping out of a window on to the pavement below. The supporting films in the programme are a fine and diversified collection. Mr Charles Moody will make his farewell appearance this evening.

THE MAGGIE MOORE COMPANY

The Opera House was very well filled in all parts on Friday evening, when' the Maggie Moore Company presented for the first time in Hawera "Mrs McSweenev;" a musical farcical comedy, adapted from Thomas E. Spencer's popular work. "The Surprising; Adventures of Bridget MoSweeney." The fact that Miss Maggie Moore is'at the head of the company is sufficient guarantee that the public received good vaine for their money, and that the audience were thoroughly satisfied wjth th<> hill of fare provided Mas exemplified by the enthusiastic manner iv which they received the piece. The play is very much on the lines of the book, and nearly all the surprising adventures in the -luthor'g work were faithfully reproduced. The audience were kept in a continual ripple of laughter throughout the "three acts and a bit," with the rich and abundant Irish rmmor which permeated the play. Miss Maggie Moore, who placed the name part, was an entertainment in herself, * and has not lost any of her old charm as an actrpss. She had the able r distance of Mr E. B. Russell as Mr McSweeney. Hera and there throughout the Diece musical numbers were given by the individual members of the company, withgoo.] chorus effects. They were all excellently received. The .principals were supported J>y a strong caste, and each member of the company acted his or her role admirably. The play Avas effectively mounted. and Hnwera theatre-goe-s would i^o doubt welcomea return visit from the company hv-and-bv.