HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17039, 25 June 1917, Page 3

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE

The Brandon-Cremcr Draniatio Company opened a season of melodrama at popular prices at Hia Majesty's Theatre on Saturday night. It is now some tinio eincot a dramatio company appeared in Dunedin, but that melodrama has a novw-failing attraction for a largo number of people wa3 demonstrated by tho big crowd which was present to witness tho initial play, " Hor Koad to Ruin," by Frederick Melville. Gno writer hae given it as hie opinion that melodramas are generally romantic and extravagant. No one could find fault with tho description of extravagance so far as ''Her Road to Ruin" is concerned, though it could hardly bo conceded that the romantio element waa largely in evidence Making full allowance for tho extravagance, however, tho. melodrama fully answered tho purpose of providing a healthy entertainment Tho audience was permitted to view tho work of as despicable a villain as ever ruined a trusting heart—this villian ruins two girls, and tlireatens a third, that she will soon be glad to be his —and follow with loathing tho seeming success of his efforts to cover up his villainy and proceed with further deeds of evil. But in the end tho plot, of course, straightens out. Right triumphs over wrong. All the misunderstandings brought about by lying tongues between tho hero and heroine—so impetuous a hero as to propose to tho heroine and bo accepted within a. few minutes after their introduction —are cleared away, and tho audionco heaves a sigh of satisfaction as the man in blue —a rather unimposing man in blue, be it said, —lays his hand on tho villain and walks him off, what time tho curtain falls on three pairs of lovers clasped in each other's arms. The molodrama is given in four acts, and tho staging is excellently arranged. An orchestra sm> plies the incidental ,musio

Mr Maurice Tuohy had a difficult part to interpret as the Rev. Frank Tenrolo, a young curate, but made tho most "of his opportunities, • and in the role of the hero quite held the sympathies of the audience throughout'. Mr Edgar Kenna played the villain, Phillip Hardy ("one of the worst," ho is justifiably referred to in the programme) sufficiently well to be rewarded at times with the hearty hisses of the audience, and Mr Frank Nell, as Billy Boots, timo and again received applause for his comedy work. Mr W. J. Coulter looked an imposing; bishop, but otherwise his performance was rather colourless. Mr Robert Le Roy as Charles Cholmondeley, a man who lives on his wits, deserves mention for a sound interpretation. Tho poor journalist slave pictured by Mr George Henderson was not at all impressive. Miss Mabel Hardingo had a heavy night's work in interpreting tho character of Jess Brooklyn (or Willoughby as.tho programme had it) on her road to ruin. Miss Harding©, too, if a tendency to be ever-forlorn at times be excluded, gave an excellent sbudy. Miss Alice Rede appeared as Mary Dawson, a country girl, who has also had fcho misfortune to come under tho fatal wiles of tho villain. Miss Rode has a good stage presence, she spoke her lines well, and made quite a favourable impression. Miss Kathleen Arnold gave a fairly satisfactory performance as the heroine, and Miss Beddie Hawthorne assisted Mr Neil m the comedy work, in which tho duo made quite a hit in a laughable rehearsal seance. " Her Road to Ruin " will be repeated this evening. The audience were invited to throw pennies on to the stage at the conclusion of the performance m aid of the children sufferers in the air raids on London. A sum of £3 was subscribed by this means.