THRILLING MYSTERY DRAMA

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 159, 7 June 1937, Page 2

THRILLING MYSTERY DRAMA

“WHAT HAPPENED THEN ?” During a period of over twenty years the Pa.inersum North .Amateur opera.it and Dramatic Sccicy has acquired an enviable reputation lor ns excellent productions in both comedy and drama, and extra special care has betn taken which will mark the celebration of the society's attainment oi us majeniy For this important ana historical date, the thrce-ac melodrama, “VVliat Happened Then?” (Lilian Trimble) the play that, has, within the three years since its first production, been acclaimed every where as outstanding as a invstoiy, has been chosen. 'J lie play, which isdlivided into three acts, contains the ill evitable story of the. love of a young man for a young woman, hut, unfortunately, although love is requitted, the comp icutions commence when the young man’s eccentric and wealthy uncle withholds his consent, and quarrels with the hero over a £SOOO bill which the hero had. hacked for a friend, and which the'bank had called on him to honour. The story scene between unc-lc and nephew is very well acted, and in the next scene, where the nephew is arraignd on a murder charge before a full Court, is realistic in its atmosphere. '1 lie ~,ry is swung from one side to the other in ‘clever appeals by the Crown Prosecutor and the solicitor for the defendant, but, finally, the jury returned will) a verdict of “guilty.” The faith of the heroine iii the Innocence of her beloved, of course, remains unshaken despite the jury’s finding, and die friends of the condemned mail exhaust all. possible avenues of trying to prove them urdcr was committed by some other person. They are eventually able to convince the patrons that the hero was much maligned, but the secret as to who was the murderer is not revealed until (he Inst minute before,the fall of the final curlal producfion nights are-Thursday,-.Friday and Saturday, June 10, 11 and 12.