THE OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10595, 9 November 1897, Page 5

THE OPERA HOUSE.

' " —— ■ ,- i ; The drama entitled " The Wellesley-streeb Murder" will be produced ab the Opera House to-nighb by the Collett-Dobson Company. The plot of the drama, which it is claimed is founded on-fact, is as. follows:—Miss Nellie • Cantley, a young Auckland lady residing at the North Shore,' is on' the eve of',' being : wedded to . Wilfred - Hilton. The ; marriage is, however, prevented through {the machinations of: one ; Arthur Palmer, who induces a French girl, Lola Navarro, (to.'whom Hilton Was once engaged) to say thab she' is Hilton's wife. f. In time this girl's better nature prevails, and .she confesses. to Hilton - that she was urged to the course she took by Palmer, to revenge herself on Hilton for her supposed illtreatment. ' This confession is made outside the Public Library.Lola having ab that, time in her possession her written acknowledgment that her tale was fals'o, and also, the forged marriage certificate. Hilton asks her to go with him at once to Cantley's house, and during his short'absence to fetch a cab, Palmer, in ; order to get - possession ot . the papers, murders ■ her . and escapes . through Albert Park, not, however, without haviue been >| first .f seen %by his. sister-in-law, he being secretly married. On Hilton's return with - the cab, he is discovered by the" police, and circumstantial J". evidence telling strongly againsb. him, he < is. cpn-' demned 'bo . death. 1 v He, -however,'succeeds' in escaping from Mount Eden Gaol with the assistance .Jack'l Shearer, an old schoolmate of his, who, though once a- drunkard, lias now. reformed and become a prominent member of < the / Salvation Army. tjf Palmer quarrels with bis sisteivin-law and she denounces > him, and Nelly and Wilfred 1 are reunited;; New scenery has been specially painted ? for ■ the ; production, and . includes views of Auckland from the North Shore at sunset and jby \ moonlight, v Queen-street illuminated, the Public Library, the* Albert Park, and many others. Tho piece will be'; interspersed with'imany 'songs and i much brighb music. Tonson Garlick are selling everything at " Sale" prices for cash at time of purchase, till their now premises are started building.