AT THE THEATRE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1825, 12 November 1886, Page 31

AT THE THEATRE.

The play " Saints and Sinners " opened the season of Mallaby's company to a moderate house on Tuesday, the 2nd.

The story is touching and simple. A gentle, loving father, who is minister of a country flock, a pretty, charming daughter, a handsome villain, and a rustic lover. The villain entraps the minister's daughter, and on false pretences takes her to London, from whence she is ultimately rescued by her father and her faithful lover. It is a natural domestic history in the development of which the sympathies of the audience are won for the minister and his daughter. The opening scene between them is very pretty. Mr Alleyne, as Jacob Fletcher, is a kind, cheerful, good old man, whose life's greatest sunshine is in his daughter's smile, which at this period is very bright indeed. Miss Wade, as Lettie Fletcher, is charming. Every movement is full of grace, her voice sweet and her face expressive, and in the wood scene, where she wears a daintily simple costume of muslin over pink, trimmed with pink ribbons, and a rustic hat. She looks a little beauty. Further on in the drawing room of Captain Fanshawe, when her innocence and happiness are gone, she is again most natural in her acting. She is Lettie, shamed, repentant, sorrowing, and one loses sight of the fact that it is only a play. In this scene she looks handsome in a fawn costume with long train, the front of the dress being of fawn plush of a rich and beautiful shade.

It is a great pity that the rustic lover has not a better conception of his part. He should be a blunt, hearty, generous-hearted country gentlemaD, instead of which he is something so funny that I am sure every lady forgave Lettie her preference for the gallant, handsome captain. It must be very annoying to an actress of Miss Wade's ability to feel that some of her best scenes are marred in this way. For my part, I liked the old father. His gentle dignity and quiet pride in Lettie were very nice to see. Mr Beaumont as the junior deacon looked as solemn as the occasion demanded. His black broadcloth trousers, partaking of the piety of theirwearer, did not deign to touch this wicked earth by a good many inches. He looked so funny, so dismal grave, that he should be a caution to all those whose religion is but a cover for uncharitableness, especially if they keep a " store," for customers certainly won't go who like their groceries wrapped up with a little cheerfulness.

The circle presented a somewhat bright appearance. Among the prettiest of the dresses were : — Pale pink oostume. Black satin and lace. Black, velvet and pink trirnrnjiigs. White tafee skirt', black silk boxlice.

Coffee coloured lace, trimmed with cardinal. Pale blue costume. A cream costume with blue spots, and trimmed with cream lace ; black gloves. Cream silk, olive green bows. White, trimmed with black velvet. White nun's veiling, trimmed with white lace.

Black lace, elbow sleeves, square cut neck, white flowers. Cream, cream lace, elbow sleeves, square cut neck, white flowers.