ENTERTAINMENTS AND MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12400, 13 October 1903, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS AND MEETINGS.

THE WOODS-WILLIAMSON COMPANY. The Woods-Williamson Company kept the most remarkable play in their strong repertoire until the close of the season. Last night 1% the Opera House they produced for the first time on any stage " In old Madrid," a romantio historical drama of the rime cf Phillip 11. of Spain. The house was crowded in the more popular parts and comfortably filled in the more expensive. Frc-.n the outset the piece gripped the big audience, and interest in the story grew in intensity right up to the powerful denou.jmmt at the conclusion of the last act. As a first performance "In Old Madrid" proved a remarkable success. It is not over-steppiug the bounds of frank criticism to say ttat it would have created a sensation at a London theatre, • and was worthy of being tlfo first of 0110 of those record "consecutive nigfif.s" that the Australasian playgoei reads of w:rh mingled envy and amazement. Not .'ess 10mantic than Under the lied Robe,"' "if I were King," "Prisoner of Zenda," cr pay other recent production of the kind, 'jne wonders that Mr. F. Marion Crawford's brilliaut work, "In the Palace of the Ki.ig," has not been dramatised before. However, better late than never, and to-day, '.hanks to Miss Maud Williamson, the stage is enriched by a very clever adaptation of that fictional success in the gorgeous panorama of tender love scenes, fierce brawling?, romantic outpourings and striking poses which make up the lour acts of "In Old Madrid." The dresses are gorgeous in kind, and, as nearly .as one can wish, historically accurate, whilst the scenic effects leave nothing to be desired. Stage pictures, satisfying to the eye of the most discriminating firstnighter," follow one another in rapid succession. There id a briskness about the play, too, that commends it. The dialogue never drags; the action never becomes tiresome. At the close of each act the curtain was lifted again and again in response to the enthusiastic plaudits from the auditorium, and each time upon a scene at once beautiful and strikingly dramatic. It is, in short, a real live play, and had it been put on earlier in the season would in all probability have been honoured with an extensive run. Wo have already indicated the character, cf the play. It now behoves us to say something about the plot. To commence: The first' act opens in the courtyard of Phillip 11. of Spain. His Majesty's half-brother, Don John of Austria (Mr. Alf. Wood's), the hero of the play, has just returned from the war. Crowned with the laurels of victory he is the idol of the populace. To one among them, a woman, he is a veritable demi-god. The lady is Dolores (Maud Williamson), sweet and trustful daughter of General de iViendoza (Mr. A. W. Boothman). For State reasons the general and the king (Mr. Hugh Buckler) oppose the marriage.. The discovery of clandestine messages between the lovers causes the father of Dolores to decide upop giving the wilful maiden a taste of convent life, and as a preliminary he orders her arrest in the house. Her blind sister, Inez, de Mendoza (Miss Emily Lambton) considerately takes Dolores' place in. the strongroom. As usual where love reigns supreme lock, bolts, and bars all fly asunder, and a pretty meeting takes place between the sweethearts. An urgent refuge is required for the flown bird, and it is found in Don John's apartments. Hardly has the ruse been successfully carried out ere Inez is discovered, and the curtain is rung down amid general consternation._ The second act introduces us to the interior of Don John's apartments. Thither comes Dona, Ana de La Cerda (Miss May Carleon) with a letter offering to give Don John the reversion of the. throne of Spain if ho will give up Dolores. -Of course Dolores, weighed in the balance against such a trifle as an empire, sits firm. General de Mendoza follows and provokes a stormy interview. The king comes to his aid, and between them they make things lively. His Royal Highness is so ill-advised'as to hint that Dolores is no better than she ought to be, and in a frenzy of passion apparently slays Don John. General de Mendoza takes upon himself the blame for the murder. In the third act Dolores, no less generous than her sire, comes forward to save the general from the ill-effects of his rashness and makes a false statement. The second scene of this act is concerned with the trial of General do Mendoza. The third scene, the throneroom, is the strongest in the play. Here Dolores beards royalty in his chamber and threatens him. with sundry pains and penalties if he does not release her father. She succeeds, and Don Gomez (Mr. George Hassell) is sent with the necessary order. ■ In the last act Don John, who has been carefully nursed back to life by the Court Jester (Mr. Harry Beaumont) and the fair Inez, appears before the king and confounds all the enemies of himself and Dolores. There is general reconciliation, and more than a suspicion in the Spanish atmosphere of the joyous sound of bow bells. Thanks to the all-round soundness of the company the play was consistently well acted. There were no weak spots in the caste to mar the happy effect of a generally meritorious performance. Mr. Alf. Woods in the heroic part of Don John was always a fascinating personality, and at times superb. That he had splendid support from the leading lady goes without saying. Miss Maud Williamson is an ■ actress of acknowledged excellence, and in the role of Dolores she has magnificent chances for a display of her talents. To say that she jkivo the audience of. her best is in it.self the, highest praise we can offer. Mr. Hugh Buckler, who invariably rises far above the average, gave a powerful portrayal of the passionate Phillip of Castille. Mr. A. W. Boothman did the heavy father business as General de Mendoza consistently well. Mr. Harry Beaumont was responsible for a singularly fine character study as the King's Jester. . Of the ladies, next to the heroine, -Miss May Carleon (Dona Ava) deserves mention for a graceful and most artistic performance. Miss Olive Emery (Queen of Spain) and Miss Emily Lambton (Inez) show an intimate acquaintance with their art, and the other characters are, without exception, efficiently taken. "In Old Madrid" will be repeated to-night and to-morrow, the latter being the company's farewell to Auckland after a season of eight weeks' duration.

THE DANIEL FRAWLEY COMPANY. Owing to the non-arrival of the Westralia yesterday with the members of the Daniel Frawley Company on board, this organisation's opening night at His Majesty's Theatre was unavoidably postponed until to-night. A very large number of playgoers assembled at the doors of the theatre last night in anticipation of the-, performance as advertised. Earlier in the day the Westralia was fully expected to arrive in good time to enable the company to fulfil their engagement, otherwise the public would have received due notification of the postponement. "Arizona" will, however, be positively produced to-night . for the first time in- New Zealand. After a recent season in India the Indian Daily News said of this company:—"Mr. Frawley can legitimately claim to have engineered the most remarkable season in the dramatic annals of Calcutta. The surprise of it lies, not in the number of new plays he staged, not in the admirable character of the performances, but in the fact that, though he arrived in Calcutta at the fag-end of. a season, the most exacting ■ the people have passed through in recent years, at a time when the attrition of private purses had been completed by the durbar at Delhi, the local coronation festivities and the farewell visit of the Broughs, he has still been able to fill his house and make the visit a financial success. No higher mark of public estimation than thi? is possible, and we have only to say that the company thoroughly deserved it, for their splendid all-round ability. Their talent, their readiness, their adaptability to new environment, and their conscientious, endeavour have edified a public keen to appreciate good work cheerfully done." During the Auckland season a succession of the latest American successes in drajna will be staged. The management announce that all tickets taken for the performance intended to have taken place last night will be changed at tho box office for to-night's performance, or the money paid for the same will be refunded.

FULLER'S ENTERTAINERS. The attendance at the City Hall last evening was again large, and the now programme was repeated to the evident satisfaction of the audience. Master McDonald, the boy alto, was trebly encored for his song in the first part, awl the song and dance of the Clare Sisters was also encored. In the second part Watts and Lucas and the Driscoll Boys were singled out for special applause, and had to respond with extra turns. A special matinee will be given on Labour Day, commencing at a-quarter to throe, when in addition to a change of programme Miss Tillie Dunbar will make her first appearance. • . INDUSTRIAL UNION OF KAURI GUM DEALERS. A representative meeting of kauri gum merchants and shippers of Auckland was held yesterday in the Provincial Employers' Association's Rooms, Legal Chambers. It whs unanimously decided to form an iudus-

trial union o«h grim dealers for thtf * I province cf A»«> and that the, ,un on 1 when formed, ■mo affiliated witd tha 1 Auckland Pro viß Employers' AssoeiitJoir I A draft cop* rules was submitted ; ': n | and adopted, I the following offi. "•• "I cers were elefr-President, Hon. f ,'*''' 1 Mitchelson; viwsident, Mr. "W. ft g Lyon: commit! Messrs. L. A. B«* I chelder, 11. I'lrton and G. W. {j/ ' '•■'-J Patterson; anf l treasurer, M r " i Chas. Grosvoncrlitor, Mr. A. Edmonds-' ' ' -,' | bankers, the Nlpl Bank of New Zeal r land. It was alsßcided to make riplica. ■- \ tion to the regis industrial unions for ; the registration dp union under the pro. **; , visions of the Iptrial Conciliation and %\ Arbitration ActJjOO, and amendments 5 thereof. ? I , 3 JERVOIB roa Abating society: j The weekly mop of the Jervois Road ' Literary and Dob*; Society was held lust 1 night, vr'iHin there ■ a large attendance of ',) members \nd frierl The subject i'or.the evening \*us " A filamentary Election," the candicbtes beiAlessrs. A. H. Bell, W H. Graham,.! Gitl W. McMath. C. Baa! nail, R. H. Bayly,! G. Brady, V. dittos, and J. Johnson, la result of a poll taken at the close if tholceting Messrs. Bayly V. Gittos, an Bell Ire declared elected. ' DEVONPOR" LAIN TENNIS CLUB I The annual Vaeetil of the Devonport Lawn Tennis ad Crlnet Club was held ia ] the Borough C%ncillhambor.<, Devonpori, 1 on. Monday evfyngllr. T. B. Howartb) j the president, ii%he lair, and there was a, I good attendance u* tl members. The report and balance.j, o ;4showe<l the club to be in a sound p»jtkl and anticipated % successful season. \lrlr. B. Howa:rth ws,j re-elected president jl the other offices were filled as foll< vs L-Secretary, Mr. •J, ' Ledtnan; treasurer," >. S. H. Macky ground superintended, M r Thos. Macky; committee, the prjs-Jrft, secretary, trea- ] surer, and Messrs. 'i Ulky, Best and War- j ner; Ladies' Com; Mrs. l'o:rd and Misses Harvey, M»rJßush, Alison and ! Macindoe. Twentflijew members were ' nominated. 1 1 THBtIpHY. ■ 1 The third of MilEdger's lectures on . ! '" Theosophy" was gil last evening at the ' I Federal clubroom, tlfcubject being: "Oo " J eultism: True and Ft." Miss Edger ex- j plained the precise si si cation of the term " occultism," and poill out the essential 1, difference between its Wire Ileal aid prac- ■:■■■•■ : tical aspects. What U called wcult-.to. day might to-morrow tome common pro-' perty. The Theosophil Society had three functionsto revivify (ladent religion, to unify and harmonise diVenees of opinion, -, and to promote the say of the psychic' : powers latent in man. lere was a lii'tklea side to all religions. l the Egyptian, - Greek, and Hebrew sc.hlls worthy .candidates were trained in thtnysterics of religion. In reference toWchio development of to-day it must be itt»d that the phy. sical consciousness must beu's aeti re if the inner consciousness was UYbecome main-' -"' fest. Psychic developm\ might be brought about in two objetonable ways. Firstly, by hypnotism, andlccondly by "» ' , method of self-hypnotism bright about bj emptying the mind of all thou It, when clair- - \ voyant faculties might becol; developed. The lecturer was listened to th attention throughout. An elocutionary contest in ex neei;ion witk the Mount Albert Young Men Mutual Improvement Association was held iu the Methodist Sunday-school on 'rid ay. I tt the absence of the president Mr. *A. C. Caughey occupied _ the chair. Prize? for competition, were kindly donat 1 by the. president, Mr. Wesley Spragg. he" mentors ■ were divided into three grad<, tit a vriuier . of the first grade being Mr. i. T. Ast'ay, .second, Mr. E. V. Law, and ne tfts-d, ll r H. Finlay, The Rev. 0. H.(Garland pre-. ', sided as judge. During th/ evening inpromptu readings were givp by variocj - members. / Great interest is being- dyplayed in the concert to be given at Abbotos Opera House on Friday next by Miss Beatfcce Vs.rtha and her company. The programme is one, of great mdrit, and tli?. talentel young artiste will _ doubtless be accorded la spltndid 'reß|!| ception. I \i