AMUSEMENTS.

NZ Truth, Issue 117, 14 September 1907, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE.

"Mr, Hopkinson."

Tliere was a great roll-up at- the Opera House on Thursday might to greet the re-appearance of the Ward-Will-ougWl;|y Company including the : graceful and ever popular Grace Palotta, each of whom on .their entrance were accorded a most hearty welcome. Apart from the company a big attraction was the production for the first time m New Zealand of Mr R. C. Carton's clever comedy "Mr Hopkinson." Although "Hbppy'' is a screaming farce it never goes beyond the bounds of probability a*id is neven. of the vulgar burlesque order. The plot is, of course, than, such lvigih comedy couldn't be otherwise, but it is interesting and very, smartly, written and the . situations are at times most hilariously funny. The play is a satire upon what is called the "smart set." "Hoppy" is a gentleman who suddenly comes • from behind a grocer's counter to a large fortune and decides to enter into society. Of course, Hopkinson is a cad and an ass. He makes wild efforts to marry a lady of aristocratic birth and gets bumped out, and finally Ims t 0 marry a girl who was his lover as a grocer's assistant. He paid this girl a lump sum to get out of a breach of promise action when he jumped into Ms fortune, but she beats him m the end and he has to" m.arry her. Of course, everybody is pleased to see the cad fall m, but he is s 0 intensely funny with it all that no- • body can be .angry enough with him to- -stop laughing. 1 Possibly. Mr Hugh ■Ward never hadi a character that fitted him better. -Her has the audience with him all the Way and seems to revel m ''Hqppy's" -incongruities. The Earl of Addleton has plenty of chance to introduce real. -genuine lnimor and Mr George Willoug'hby 'm the part makes the most ' of it. Miss Grace Palotta • made a great hit as the "bored." aristocrat, who has to endure the-. slangy and objectionable attentions of the atrociously comical Hopkinson. Her dresses brought the admiration and envy of the ladies., and .tho tremendous applause that greeted her appearance proves liow popular the 1 lady is with thea-tre-goers. Miss Gillian Scaife as'' the cast, off Eliza Dibfys and Miss Olive Wilton as Lady Eggle&by, daughter of a hard-up lord, were both very excellent in-. -their parts. All the minor parts were well filled. The staging was of tho best, and no doubt "Hoppy" is m for a good season.