"A MESSAGE FROM MARS."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11870, 23 January 1902, Page 5

"A MESSAGE FROM MARS."

Tub Hawtrey Comedy Company, who open at the Opera House to-night in a season of 10 nights, arrived from New Plymouth yesterday by the Ilotoiti. The opening play is Ganthony's "A Message from Mars," which has been a great success wherevci produced. A contemporary says of it:—'-The piece is aptly described as a comedy-drama, and in the originality of his conception -the author discounts the axiom that ' there is nothing new under the sun,' by presenting to the public a work that is entirely differed from any other play. This breaking away from the beaten track has, without doubt, contributed to the phenomenal success achieved W A Message from Mars," but there is also an adroit blending of pathos and humour ■~-an inculcation of a- moral lesson as powerful as any sermon preached from a pulpit, and the listener never feels oppressed by a realisation of his shortcomings, but is made, figuratively, to laugh and cry simultaneously. •Hie plot is based on a dream, and, though 1: *« the slenderest nature, it possesses an absorbing interest, and is throughout bright and amusing." Tho dialogue is described as • crisp and witty, and the whole play one of absorbing interest. The -staging and mechanical effects are features of the performance, : Amongst the latter are the appear- :■■;'• ance and disappearance of " the messenger," accompanied by lightning flashes and a blaze of liwht. The box-plan is now open at Wild''l man's, .'. ~-■ . .'...: