ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14116, 19 July 1909, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"QUEEN OF THE NIGHT.'* It. speaks, well for the capability of Hie Allan Hamilton Br atie Company that -they should have commanded, not only the unflagging interest, but frequently the whole-hearted -, enthusiasm of Saturday night's audience at His Majesty's Theatre in "Queen, of the Night." In the faee of the genuinely c* rdial reception aceoulcd to this piece it is perhaps beating the wind to ■•lament the fact thnt suchlike faro continues to be hct before the public. Sensationalism is 'excusable,- but the persistent, habit that some writers of melodrama cultivate of using debased" hand debauched womanhood for their.principal motive i« to he deplored. According to the programme it took two :gentkmen to concoct the exceedingly mellow drama ."Queen of the Night." Their combined efforts in connection villi the title role have resulted in the evolution of an unnatural and immoral woman. This depraved creation of the collaborators' brain-) belongs to the same old type of sordid *' adventuress," tha very parading of whose lack of virtue, and tho daunting of whose crimiuiil instincts, always must, always will, be baneful- in its influence. If the' people" will not see it 'for themselves that is no ronton why those who realise this fact should remain silent. The sooitor the stage is cleansed of its qtieens of the nigh tr-t tie whole sisterhood of them-—the better. The melodrama under notice would be harmless! enough without the- unsavoury element lefcned to. liven the murderous :propensities of the villain, and his glaringly evil machinations, could well enough be classed under the general heading of sensational. The situations are strong, the .humour reasonably amusing, and the ; chances for stage effects of a. startling description quite numerous. These latter are well availed of, indeed few better worked sensations than the. railway train scene and the rescue from the waves have been put on locally. By such means, as well as by excellent, acting, is the success of the piece achieved. ■' It k highly' probable that it will draw ..large, houses. .'-,. In the present production there is mora than one good characterisation. Miss Ada Guildford attacks the task of portraying the title role with veal nitislie drill. She • abandons herself to the depiction of the ignoble phases of the character, sparing I .herself nothing in what is, after all, a I study in exaggerated realism. In the end there is feeling and hinceriiy in her " repentance" scene and death/ so that ultimately <she gains the sympathy of her audience. , In direct contract, is the role of Maud Sylvester, , which is delightfully played by Miss Rosemary Bees. ■ Here we have a true, instead of an artificial, type of womanhood; one, moreover, infinitely more natural than many another heroine of melodrama. There is' a certain quiet force' in Mies Rees' acting that enables her to be . convincing, ■'• satisfying, human. ■ Her work somehow seems to reveal latent' gifts that will in time come: la maturity. " Mr. Geo. Cross has little m V to do than falls to the lot of most "heroes," but he is always in the picture, and at times not a- little impressive. Miss Maud Ghetwynd is a particularly bright tpot in a piece that fairly reeks with unhappy people. She has a. "singing soubrctfc" part, ::\ which she gives two dainty song and dance interiudesof a very pleasing description. The vivacious little lady is deseivedly very popular in the role. 'Miss Beatrice Usher's refined, style is well I suited in the. *' second heroine'.' part. Mr. | Wilton Power is a strikingly good "villain." and Mr. Wilton Welch is a funny " comic man." The remaining roles are all more or less well .sustained..and the mounting of the piece is admirable in all respects.; .-"Queen of the Night" will be repeated | to-night and to-morrow night. "The King of Crime" will follow; for three nights, and on Saturday next the company's season will close with a revival, by request, of "A Message from Mars." "THE HE4RT OF A HERO." . The Geach-Marlow Dramatic Company entered upon the last six nights of their season, by staging "The Heart of a Hero," at the Opera House on Saturday night. There was a fair house, and the piece v. as well received. The plot is one of scheming villainy and sanguinary 'deeds, which give the piece an unusually pronounced tinge of the melodramatic. Jem Resdale (a Lancashire lad) has a sister (Nell Resdale), whose blinding jealousy has goaded her an to using a revolver with ft-":, result*! to one Mark Marie, while the latter was in the act of declaring his love for another (May Ryder). A word let fall by Marie with' hie dying breath caused suspicion to fall upon May Ryder. She was arrested, but only to escape "with the aid of friends. Wilfred Marie, who had witnessed the murder of his brother, in his infatuation for.May Rider, vows that unless she marries him he will give her up to the police. The crisis of the story arrives when Jem Resdale proves his possession of " the heart of a hero," by taking upon himself the blame of the murder, in ordpr to shield his guilty sister, and to prevent a miscarriage of' justice against his former benefactor (May Ryder). In the end Wilfred Marie shoots 'Nell Resdale, and before her death the true facts of. the former shooting affair are mad© known, and the hero faces the world once more as a free man. Mr. Robert Inman, as Jem Resdale, gave the strongest impersonation in the play, while Mr. Kenneth Hunter, as .Wilfred Marie, earned applause on frequent occasions for the villain. Mr. Albert Lucas sustained a detective's part creditably, and Mr. J. P. O'Neill had a monopoly of the comic business in the part of Timothy Heighno, a ne'er-do-well, who was invariably in trouble. Miss Ethel Buckley, as May Ryder, and Miss Maud Appleton, as Nell Resdale, were entrusted with ! difficult roles. The piece will be staged again to-night. ; "■•';;

'JHE NELLIE STEWART SEASON. The box plans will be opened at Wildmari I and Arev'g on Thursday morning nest, at eight o'clock, for the whole of the "Nellie "Stewart" season, -which common' at His Majesty's Theatre on Monday night next. The season is limited to 12 nights, but during that period" Sweet Kittv Bellairs," } "Sweet Nell of Old Drttry," arid "As You j Like It" will be staged. 'the first named i for six nights, " Sweet Nell" for three per- \ formances, and " As You Like It" for three } representations. It is claimed that " Sweet Kitty .Bellairs" is the best of all Belasco's works. He adapted it from Egerton I Castle's romance. A Bath' Comedy." The period "of the play, George lII.', lends; itself to magnificent' costumes, elaborate mountings, and superb springs, of which it is, said Mr. Williamson has taken full advantage. 'Therevival of "' Sweet Nell" is'. always, welcomed by pb .-./ goers, and the forthcoming representation of Paul Kester's .famous ■'•'ijlay will be noteworthy i'fronr the fact that a|l the leading characteis will be portrayed by- artists entirely new to AuckIstfd. The last three nights of the season are to be devoted to a production of :tlie immortal Shakespere's celebrated 'comedy, " As You Like It," in which Miss Stewart, as Rosalind, created quite a furore ih Sydney last week. Although the prices for the dress circle and reserved stalls were raised to 7s 6d*for the opening representa•ftion of " Kitty Bellairs" in Sydney, this will not be the case here, as the prices to be charged for admission will be as usjal— ss, 3s, and Is. The whole of the scenery and effects for the opening production arrived here by the Mokoia yesterday in charge of Mr. 0. Bellew and a staff of mechanics, and. there will be a. full scene and lighting rehearsal during the week,, ■ HAYDN BECK. ~ 'To-night 1. the' nine-year-old violinist, Haydn Beck, makes his first Auckland appearance - at the Choral Hall. After the 'young prodigy's appearance, in Wellington the D/•ni'm'on said : "He , plays, entirely .from ; '" y,- ■ compositions.' .making great demtin-. t ~ a player's technique' and intellect. Hi's bowing is good, a full vibrant tone being ■''produced'; sense of-pitch is' really most acute, and fingering and general technique is remarkable.'' The New Zealand Times reports that " the applause folio wing the young artist's , playing thoroughly -exhibited the astonishment of the audience at the depth of musical senti-

men); and of artistic temperament which the boy possesses." The seats are being reserved very rapidly, and no doubt' today's bookings will be numerous, so that early application at the box office is advisable*. - I ROYAL ALBERT HALL. The usual Saturday audiences crowded the Pa tho Picture entertainment twice on Saturday, and the programme wan received with delight from the opening scenes in snowy Lapland until the closing antics of the Human Squib. Mr. Hayward has .secured a line film of the "King's Derby," ■and this latest picture Of His! Majesty'■•the' King, and his winning horse should prove most interesting. .-■■.,. TTYOLI THEATRK. A large, audience greeted the production of pietuics at the Tivoli Theatre on Saturday iv'gh!. v. hen the hist performance of the- present piogramme was given. Tonight it new sol of films, which arrived from Sydney yesterday, will be screened.. '• PEOPLE'S POPS." The opening performance of the "Peoples Pops." by the Manteu Noirs -Company'of siitgersaild players took place in Federal Hall oh' Saturday night, there being a fair attendance. "Madame Blanche Carelli Veti-\ .tiered s&vernl items from her"repertoire in. pleasing style. Mr. Laurie Abrahams contributed several humorous songs, lor which 'lie was encored. "Come Into the Garden, Maud,". Wits also well sung, by Mr. B. Noton. The remaining of the .company attempted various songs,' but did -hot meet ■with much success. - ; > AUCKLAND STIAIvESPKUE SOCIETY. To-morrow evening in the > Y.M.C.A. Hall, the Auckland Shakespere Society will give its second reading of the present season, when Bernard Shaw's remarkable comedy, "Captain .BrassbourtdV (Conversion,"'will be presented by what is described as a specially tine cast. y.M.d.A. CAMERA CLUB. A creditable show of members' work was held by the'■ Y.M.C.A. Camera Club, in thfe.social room At the Y.M.C.A., on Saturday evening. The collection included some' fine specimens; of work/amongst which were several very good enlargements. A ■ musical programme was rendered' during the evening, to which -the following members 1 and friends contributed -items :— Messrs. W. J. 'England, J* Faw-cet-t. Len. Heath, Bradbury. % J. Baskett, Hahtier, F. E. "Cory, and Master Hoy Clemens. , ... ,