"THE PRISONER OF ZEN DA."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10697, 10 March 1898, Page 5

"THE PRISONER OF ZEN DA."

The English Company, who have now occupied the boards at the Auckland Opera House for over a fortnight, staged (heir last play, "The Prisoner of Zenda," last night. The house was well filled, and those who hoped for a stirring stage version of Anthony Hope's romantic story had no reason to be disappointed with the production. "The Prisoner of Zenda" differs widely from the two pieces which have preceded it during the run of the ng ™ Com an y- It, has neither the novelty of " The Sign of the Cross" nor the historic attraction of "A Royal Divorce;" but to those i, O love the drama for the drama's sake, and who arc drawn theatre-wards only DV a desire to SCO a good play well acted, it wilt doubtless prove the most welcome of the three. The dramatisation of the popular novel is, as everybody knows, a comparatively new art, and opinions aro divided as to how tar the man who has devoured the novel is capable of enjoying the play. But with regard to the piece staged by Messrs. Williamson and Musgrove last night, there can be little room for discussion on this point. " The 1 risoner of Zenda," whether the author intended it so or not, was evidently written for the stage. The incidents lend themselves more to histrionic than to literary represents. : tion, and those who have only read tho story l have not enjoyed to the full Mr. Hope's bold,: it Somewhat impossible, romance,, It will not be necessary to outline the story of rue Prisoner of Zenda." The heir-ap-pnrent to the Uirone .if Ruritania was unable to attend his coronation. The state of the kingdom compelled his friends to find a substitute and chance threw in their way a blood relation of the King's whoso remarkable like- I ness to Hi« Majesty deceived even his betrothed. Hie stirring incidents and ludicrous situations which resulted from this necessary deception can bo best seen at the Opera House. It will be sufficient to say hero that they furnish a play of unfailing interest and rive wide scope for the abilities of the capable company in whoso hands it has been placed. Tho dramatist-Mr. Edward Rose-has followed closely on the lines of the novel. The curtain rises on a prologue which gives the key to the succeeding plot and if one feels a little inclined to fret at the prominence given to what the novelist dismisses in a page there is a sufficient recompense in the brilliance of the last century costumes which are necessary for this part of the production. The first act introduces the audience to the forest of Zenda. The staging is remarkably good here and Mr. (Julius Knight, who has been the prime favourlie of the past fortnight, is seen in a .somewhat lighter part than he has yet adopted . more an Auckland audience. In the second act the chief feature is tho dazzling brilliance of die costumes worn for the coronation of tho King of Ruritania. It might be expected that the coronation scene which did so much to upset Mack Michael, the villain of the piece, would have given an opportunity for effective tableau but the interior of the cathedral at Strclsan is left wholly to the imagination, and the whole effort of the stage manager centred in a magnificent reception within the castle. Fortunately the dramatist has thoroughly caught the ludicrous sido of the situation in which the pseudo king finds himself, and Mr. Knight was exceedingly tickling in his professed ignorance of the etiquette of the Court. The interest in tho play, whetted by the prologue and the first two acts, is thoroughly aroused when the curtain rises on the third act, Hero a touching situation has been introduced in tho meeting between Miss Ada Ferrar as Princess Flavia and Miss Elliot Page as Antionette de Mauban— departure from the linos of the story which could find no more complete justification than the ringing applause awarded to the actresses for a splendid piece of emotional acting. In this act also Princess Flavia is brought to the discovery that she loves not the King of Ruritania, as circumstances had led her to believe, but the harum-scarum Englishman who did so much for the afflicted king, and whose loyalty and self-denial proved the ultimate downfall of the King's enemy, Black Michael. The meetings between the play-actor King and the Princess are exceedingly touching, particularly tho closing scene of 'all, outside the King's prison cell, when the Princess chooses tho path of duty, and decides to sacrifice her own inclinations; and the adventurous young Englishman, who had played the King, and played it well, for a short three months. I leaves the prizo he coveted for another, and j passes out of the history of Ruritania. The story may be a somewhat impossible one, but it thrills with interest, and is full of laughable situations from first to last; and, after all, 1 there is much in Mr. Anthony Hope's theory I that, granted the physical likeness, it is easier ; to impersonate a king than to impersonate j one « next-door neighbour. i

"The Prisoner of Zcnda" will be particularly welcome to playgoers, for the fact that its success depends largely on tho all-round l ability of the company. Mr. Julius Knight i and Miss Ada Ferrar are certainly the central figures of the play, hut, to a much greater extent than in either of the pieces formerly produced under the present engagement, the honours fall to be divided among the other leading members of the company. Mr. Knight, as Rudolph Rassendyll, proved his versatility as an actor. He was as much at homo in the light part of the witty English' man pitchforked on to a throne as he was in his interpretation of the adventurous and touching incidents which mark the latter part of the play. Hiss Fcrr.tr has found no part more suited to her talents than that of the Princess Plavia, and she earned repeated rounds of applause at her frequent appearances last night. It must be said, however, that one of the features of the production was the excellent acting of Miss Elliot Page as Antoinette de Mauban —an exceedingly difficult part, played with much skill and appreciation. Mr. W, F. Hawtrey as Colonel Sa.pt was also exceedingly good, and a3 a thorough-going villain Mr. Gaston Mervale as Michael, Duke of Stielsau, would be hard to beat. The piece will run during this week only, the engagement of the-prcsent company closing on Saturday.