ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13097, 9 February 1906, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S.

"A ROYAL DIVORCE."

Auckland playgoers gave a warm welcome to Miss Maw? Jeffries and Mr. Julius Knight on their reappearance at His Majesty's Theatre last evening in "A Royal Divorce." Since the company last played "A Royal Divorce" in Auckland an opportunity was afforded of seeing that other great Napoleonic play, " L'Aiglon," and although neither of them may adhere rigidly to historical accuracy, yet both afford some interesting glimpses into periods which were full of issues of great concern not only to Europe generally, but to England especially This fact seems to animate both Miss Jeffries and Mr. Knight, in throwing themselves back, as it were, into the times of the play and endeavouring to act, to speak, to think, and feel as Napoleon and the ill-starred Josephine might have done, or at any rate as at this distance of time one may imagine them to have done. As a consequence the reproduction was wholly satisfactory, for the principals inspired the less conspicuous characters to play to the high standard set up. Talleyrand was a magnificent interpretation by Mr. Herbert Leigh, and Miss Florence Hamer made a most admirable Marie Louise. Miss Unie Russell was delightful as Stephanie Beauharnais, and Miss Gwennie Walshc as the King of Rome showed herself to be a child of much capacity for dramatic training, keeping youthful precocity well under control —not an easy task for most children to accomplish. The rest of the cast was most capably supported. The scenery was very beautiful, and the tableaux—those of the retreat from Moscow, the rout at Waterloo, and Napoleon crushed and in solitude at St. Helena —were most thrilling. The house was packed, and notwithstanding the closeness of the night the audience followed the play from beginning to end with rapt attention, frequently calling for the curtain to be raised again and again. *"A Royal Divorce" will be repeated this and to-morrow evenings, and will give place to "David Garrick " on Monday next. OPERA HOUSE. Next Tuesday evening, at the Opera House, Mr. Charles Holloway's Dramatic Company, under the direction of Mr. Edwin Geach. will initiate their Auckland season and New Zealand tour, by the production of "Two Little Vagabonds," written by George R. Sims and Arthur Shirley. Miss Beatrice Hollo way will play Dick, and Miss Mabel R. Wally, the two little vagabonds, the other characters being sustained by Messrs. Robert Jnman, Godfrey Cass. John P. O'Neill, John Resford, W. Take, Wilton Welch, Crosbie Ward, and the Misses Ethel Appleton, Cora Clavering, Pattie Gouriay, Hilda Eraser, and Alice Dcorwyn. All the original scenic effects will be brought from Sydney. "Two Little Vagabonds" will be followed in succession by Rogues of the Turf" and " Shall we Forgive Her?" The box plans are now open at Messrs. Wildman and Arey's, whilst day tickets can be obtained at Messrs. Carter and Groves'. LECTURE AT THE TABERNACLE. At the Baptist Tabernacle schoolroom last night Mr. and Mrs. Bradley, missionaries from Egypt, delivered their farewell lecture on "The Scenes in the Land of the Pharaohs." There was a very large attendance, and the lecture, which was illustrated, was a most interesting one. The educational advantages provided by the mission were described, and an idea given of the progress of Christianity among the Mahommedans. The medical side of the work was especially dealt with by Mrs. Bradley. During the evening a duet was rendered by Misses Ellingham and Hall, and was much appreciated. The missionaries leave for Napier and Wellington to-morrow,, and afterwards visit Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill.