"HARBOUR LIGHTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8076, 11 January 1888, Page 3

"HARBOUR LIGHTS.

Mr George Leitch anil his dramatic combination have just concluded a successful season in Christchurch, and arrive here to dny by the s.B. Te Annu. The season opens to-morrow evening at the Princess Theatre with the nautical dramn " Harbour Lights." Tho plot of the drama is as follows:—At Kadcliffe, on the sea. Captain Nelson (Mr Clitheroe). a retired naval officer, resides with one daughter, Lina (Miss B. Bevan), and adopted one Dora Vane (Miss Alioo Norton), heroine of the piece. The former has been seduced by the squire or the village, Frank Morland, and abandoned. He is a ruined gamester and villain, desirous to retrieve his fortune by marrying Dora Vane, who, he has heard, will receive £20,000 when coming of nee. Her heart is given to Lieut. David Kingsley (Mr 11. C. Sidney), and she refuses to listen to him.' By an artfully written letter he induces her to come to the hall, where lie endeavours to effect her ruin, but is prevented by Lieut. Kingsley, who lias followed Dora, believing she Is about to become tho victim of some plot. Dora has heard of her foster sister, Linn Nelson, having been ut the hall that night, and goes there to save her if possible. An old sweetheart of Linn's. Mark Helston, has tracked her to tho liall, and recognising Frank Morland as het' seducer, shoots him dead upon tho spot. A cousin of Frank Morland's, a morlern lagn of the deepest dye. one Nicholas Morland (Mr Stanmaur) hates David Kingsley for having given evidence against him while in the navy, proving him guiltr of cowardice, and causing his dismissal from her Majesty's service. He discovers that Kinpslcy was at the'hall the night that the squire was found dead, a?id endeavo'irs to have him accused of the murder, Kingsley hie just married Dora, but on the day of his wedding Ills ship is ordered to sea. Nicholas Morland goes on board the Britannic just as she is about to sail, and accuses Kingsley of the murder: Kingsley at this moment receives an appointment from the admiralty which enables him to remain at home and protect his wife, and for a time the villain is foiled. The next act opeii6 with Helston's cottage, whither Lina lias been conveyed while, delirious on the night of the murder, lielston's mother (Misa Medway) denounces her as the murderer of the squire, and Lina Hies ironi the house. She rushes to the beach and is rescued from a watery grave by Kinesley. The lirima lms been most successful hi England, America, Australia, and tlie northern towns of Australia find New Zealand, and should prove an attraction hero. Mr H. C. Sydney and Miss Alice Norton with Mr Leitch take'he leading rales, the two formerbeing entirely new to the JDunedin stage.