ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6488, 7 April 1908, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. Mr Herbert Flemming’s now English. Dramatic Company has only been with us for a very little while, and during their brief stage existence at the Opera House they have succeeded ill proving that us a company of capable artiste they rank with the foremost expononteof dramatic art that come our way. Tho plays they have hitherto produced have been cn what may be spoken of as tho serious side of comedy and as strongly distinguished from the melodrama’which, 1 has nowadays almost become a vogue. Lust evening the company appeared in a drama produced for the first time in. Wellington, “The Red Lamp.” It proved to bo on interesting admixture of many varieties of stage representations. It is at once a drama with tragic incidents and- historical reminiscences, with mclodramat'c situations, occasionally, and with a small spice of rather clumsily-workod-ont comedy. As a literary effort it carries little weight. Its dialogue cannot bo spoken of as bright; its situations are not startling when tho scheme of tho dramatist is fairly considered. A Nihilistic plot carried on under the eyes of the Czar—through tho spectacles of his secret police—is not a now suggestion for the playwright, but of necessity it affords opportunity for development in many directions. la this case the dramatist has built this story upon i cssible and perhaps not improbable happenings within the immediate surroundings of tho Emperor of All the R-ossias. A princess is devoted to the loyal service of tho Czar, but her brother, who shares her exalted rank, nas become ornbuod with the rovolutionary taint. This, to her, lamentable fact becomes known, and she, in hor sisterly love for the misguided young man, risks all that life is worth li- ing for to save him from the secret police. In the end she succeeds in her endeavours, only to find her brother killed in her presence, not by any of the emissaries of the Czar, but by one of .icr brother’s Nihilistic brethren, who, of course, i« the villain of the play. Playing ■as Princess Claudia Morakoff, Miss Beatrice Day gave her audience another proof of her capability of assuming a character in which, pathos is intimately associated with lively interludes. Her acting was throughout natural, and ■ wherever there was opportunity of relieving the generally serious character of the piece she made the most cf it. So also with Miss Elsie Clarens, who appeared os Olga Morakoff. This young lady is always bright and vivacious, and last evening she made a great deal of a comparatively small part. The part of Felice, a French lady o-maid, was capitally pourtrayed by Miss' Guildford-Quin; Miss Nellie Mortyno and Miss Joan. Blair played admirably as Madame Dannonburg a: d the Countess Voelckor respectively, Mr Herbert Flemming was not seen quite at his best in the character of , Paul 'Demetrius, the head of the Russian Secret Service. The character, as laid down by the author of the play, is too artificial for even so versatile an. actor as Mr Flemming to make’ stand out as one of his best impersonations. It is, however, doubtful, whether, anyone could make more of it than hA did. Mr Allan Villiers's representation, of the impossible American journalist was a good study of an impossible part. Mr H. W. Varna as. Ivan Zazrtilio, a Bus, sian journalist, whose doings and say* ings are not—in, view of recent occur renoee—entirely melodramatic, gave satis faction. The remaining characters in a fairly long cast were well filled. Tlx staging of tho piece was excellent, and the dresses almost elaborate. "The Bed Lamp" \rill bp repeated tbii evening. TO-NIGHT’S ORGAN RECITAL, Mr Maughan Barnett’ will give the weekly municipal organ recital in the Town Hall at 8 o'clock this evening. A varied, programme has .been arranged, including standard organ, works by Mondelssohm ' and ' 1 Bcellraauh, end lighter pieces by Lemare, Hollins, and Massenet. THEATRE ROYAL. All available seating accommodation .was occupied at the 'theatre Royal last evening. Mr Hugo. ITioyd, who was cordially received on his reappearance after having been incapacitated through ill-health, performed, .his remarkable feats upon the slack-rope with astonishing ease. The net evoked prolonged applause. Eva Lee's tiny twin piccaninnies boxed a lively couple of rounds ;■ and gained a double recall. The Harmonious Huxhams’ trio vocalisations ore t el. oomo features of the programme.. Tonight Bonotta and Williams, comedy double, will make their reappearance, HIS MAJESTY'S. A bumper attendance was recorded at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening. Tho ’ result of last. week's Limerick competition was announced os folIow»:-rJ. W, Cowlishaw, 17, Barker street,, and J. J. Gallagher, Hopper street, 1; N, Austin, Tinakori road, 2: A. Argylo, Taranaki street, 3. A change of programme is announced lor to-morrow night. . "FACING THE MUSIC.Performances of "Facing the Music* have been arranged for by the Gymnasium Committee of Victoria College for to-morrow and Thursday evemngp. His Excellency the Governor has intimated his intention of being present at the opening performance.