AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13836, 25 February 1907, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

MacMAHOX'S DRAMATIC COMPANY. ! The MaeMahon Dramatic Company brought its Dunedin season to a close on Saturday night with " The Executioner's Daughter," wbicli, like p'.ays of a similar class, does not lack the element of sensational incident. Tho scene of the events which are dealt with is_in Paris, and the plot hinges round tho machinations of a card-sharper and .murderer 'named Felix Marius (Mr Alfred Boothman), who marries ■tho daughter of Monsieur Roche (a French gentleman of means, who is not genoral'y known to be tho public executioner of tho city), iMurius, while' robbing the safe of hia iather-in-law, disoovers tho secret of Monsieur Roche, and makes use of it to savo himself from the consequences of his- crime, and also to destroy the happiness, of his wife's household. Ultimately, when ho has sunk doeper into the aby«s of crime, he commit murder and fastens tho crime, upon his wife, who is tried -and condemned to death. At the guillotine the father of Marius's wife rr cognises his daughter and refuses to execute her, and in the. final denouement Marius is accused, on the evidence of . his own child, of the murder, and' is taken into custody. There is not much scope' for scenic display in the drama, which deals principally with acts of violence and -attempted robberies and mnrdcrß, but the dramatic effect of numerous exciting situations is well worked up. Mr A.'fred Boothman had a difficult'- task, in the part of Felix'"Marius, which he did fuil justice to, 'and Miss May .Granville played the character of Annette, the- executioner's daughter, with care and judgment. Monsieur llccho (the executioner) was portrayed by Mr E, B, Russell, who'made all that was to be mads of tho part;: and -Miss H. Fergus p'ayed Felice (a designing and unscrupulous accomplice of Marius) in a way which enabled her to ( share in his unpopularity with the audience. All the other characters in the drama were well sustained. Tho company will open at Invercargill to-night, and will play a. return season in Dunedin in July. ALHA.MBRA THEATRE. Despite the counter attractions on Saturday nighffthe Alhambra Theatre was crowded by an 'audience which received tho Tay.lorCarrington's latest dramatic attraction mostenthusiastically.. "Home Rule "..is a threeact- drania, brimful of comedy and sensation, and the interest is sustained'throughout by reason Of the threads of adventure and humour taing very deftly interwoven. Contrary to what one would \think. judging by •the title, the matter of ]»litics is kept rigidly in tho background; indeed, the moral preached to Irish enthusiasts all the way through i 3 that the -redemption of Ireland must, be (lie work of honest hearts and tongues—nevt of secret, societies and bloodthirsty reprisals.' Briefly put, it may be stated that' Phil. Ireland, a true patriot, is beset by tho agents of the " Glen -Vhoig Boys," an: Irish secret society; and, failing to induce him to join their organisation, they endeavour by. false statements and wicked stratagems to get him embroiled by tho' English authorities. In this they are unsuccessful. for, no'.matter how much they endeavour to entrap and compromise *,iie hero, they are consistently foiled by a most amusing character named Willy Reilly, who always turns up at- the right, moment to assist virtuoi and punish vice. The sihuv tions of the play are many; and they arc alternately humorous, pathetic, and dramatic; gaining much, 100, in effectiveness by the cclcrity with which they are presented. Tho staging of the play was beautiful, the "Glen Vhoig by Moonlight," ".Murderers' Cave and Devil's Gorge." "Black Lake," and "Ruins of St. Kevin" scenes being remarkably realistic.' Mr Charlie Taylor, as Willy Reilly, made himself a strong favourite with the audience by his quiet, droll, unforced style of acting, and the songs introduced by him were enthusiastically applauded, Miss Ella Cnrrington, as the heroine Mary Kenny, played the part naturally, but 'powerfully, and took advantogo of the emotional scenes to invest the character with a pathos that carried convict-ion with itlTor a- consistentlyplayed part that of Whysce Doyle, taken by Mr C. M. Keegan, would he difficult ■ fo excel, and he was well supported in his villainy by Mr Ward Lyons as Pat M'Malion. Mt' 11. Nightingale, as Phil Ireland, played with earnestness, -as did Mr T. E. Tilton, who, as tha kind-hearted Lieutenant England, looked very handsome and soldier-like. Mr J. A. Eraser, as tho inspector of police, acted with care; nnd a very clever Irish sketch was given by Mr G. Konroy as Jim O'Brien. 'Miss M. Willis did tho little required of iier in the oharactcr of Mrs Ireland very well, and Miss M. Lancaster did justice to tho part 'of Annie Ireland. The otlidr characters were carefully represented, and 1 ..the performance passed off with the usual ease and smoothness 'characteristic ' of tho Tayior-Carrington productions. "Homo Rule - ' will bo repeated for two more nights, and on Wednesday the company will enter upon tile la ft three nights of their season, producing mi entirely new sensational and emotional play entitled-"London Life." ■WEST'S PICTURES AND THE BRESCIANS. Another complete change of programme was presented at Hia. Majesty's Thcatro on Saturday by the West-Brescians combination, ono performance being given in the afternoon and another in tho evening. The selection of pictures included'a further instalment of : films of exceptional interest, depicting scenes at tho New Zealand International Exhibition. Tho Fijians, with their fantastic arid animated dances and their fire-walking, provided excellent scope for tho camera, and the series secured by Mr West and reproduced last evening was a capital one. The stalwart figures of tho Fijians, in their picturesque garb, wero very distinct, and their rhythmic movements wero presented in a very competo manner. The section showing- the fire-walking ceremony, although unavoidably obscured in parts by steam, provided a very satisfying repro- . (taction of. lbat, sensational feat. A lengthy film, entitled "Tho Romancc of the Railway," furnished a complete illustration of the making of railway carriages, engines, and. rails, and was a revelation of tho stupendous weights supported and manipulated by tho overhead tramways in the large ironworks of Aircrica. "A Day in a Menagerie in Paris" and a- display of sagacity by a liorso " Black Beauty" were .attractive numbers, and tlio comical element was, as usual, 'prominent/The Brescians reverted to the concert programme, and again cTiarmed the audience'with their varied and popular muaioad efforts. "Home to our mountains," as sung by Miss Domenica Martinongo and Mr Clienowetli, was warmly appreciated, a repetition being demanded and accorded. JLiss Antonia Mwtinengo was sutf-essful -with her humorous solo " Do as yon are told," and Miss Adelina Martinengo's violin solo. " Scotch airs," introducing a clever imitation of the bagpipes, had to bo supplemented. Miss Domenica Martinengo sang " Aftoii water," Mr Rudall Hay Ward " Rocked in the cradle of the deep," and Mr Chenoweth "Mary of Argyle," and Mr Mills was, as usual, irresistible with his comic songs. 11l Uldition, the orchestra contributed a fantasia for instruments and voices. Tho programme will be repeated this evening. THE BROUGH-FLEMMING COMPANY. At the Princes Theatre to-iiight the BroughFlemming Company will open its Dunedin season. Tho initial production will be a comedy-drama,, in four'.acts, by W. GayerMackuy and Robert Ord, entitled " Dr Wake's Patient," which has already secured a great success at the hands of the present combination. Love stories and inequalities of rank are not now in any class of dramatic work, but tho authors have invested their story with " an atmosphere as fresh as the countryscenes, in which many of tho incidents take place, as fragrant as tfle hay of the fields." They have ttold a simple tale with charm and brightness, and. the Brough-Fiemming Company is reported to have entered into its unsophisticated spirit with singular success. Tho ?copo of the piece is considerable, and, though the motif is romantic, there is room fo-. a wide play of sentimental and filial devotion as'well as of. lover's' passion. Mr Herberl Flemming will.be seen in the strong pari of tho piece—that of the old farmer, Andrew Wake. "This'ia declared by the press to be one of. Mr Herbert Flemming's best impersonations; .Mrs ' trough wil] alscmaic her taking het orighral

character, the Countess of St. Olbyn. 'Miss 3, Beatrice Day plays the part of Lady Gerania and Mr Carter Pickford that of Dr Wake.' There are a number of other good though comparative subordinate parts in the piece. The booking has been everything tl|at could be desired, and everything joints to a most successful season. "Dr Wake's Patient" will be produced for two nights only.