AT THE THEATRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2150, 9 May 1895, Page 36

AT THE THEATRES.

PRINCKSS. A second play from the pen of Mr Albert Lucas (one having been produced in Dunedin some few weeks ago) was prevented, for the first time on any stage, in the Princess Theatre on Saturday night. It was witnessed by a large audience, which was so very appreciative that,. if its verdict is to ba relied upon, " A Slave's Ransom "—that being the name of the piece— is to be account? d a success. Every new play when first pro'tuced is found to require aouie writing up, and it may by poioted out, without desiring to be captious, that fn " The Slave's Raniom " the absence of a single character that can command respect— of a hero or a heroine — undoubtedly looks like a blemish on the play at present, for there is no character in it which is not that of either a criminal or else a stupid person. Mr Lucas may, however, supply this defect-rif it be admitted by him as a defectby making the character of Father Derwent, who ia certainly alleged to be "a fine old English gentleman," that of a man of some breadth of mind and of some decision of purpose, and by strengthening the charact-r of violet, which is at present that of a rather languid, sentimental girl in whom one cannot arouse much interest. The story of the pUy is forcibly enough told, but it tuight ba compressed with advantage into three acts instead of extending over four acts and occupying three hours of time. The " slave "is a foundling named Geoffrey, who in his infancy was discovered by Fathor Derwent in the tTunk of a tree, where, doubtless on account of the hunch on his back, he had been left by his mother. Derwent took charge of the boy, and had him brought up in companionship with his twin daughters Mary aud Violet, whoec devoted attendant the hunchback became. Mary, being taken to France, fell in with a lover who betrayed and deserted her, and from that time she was cast off also by her father. At the time at which the play opens Violet is betrothed, a'ter a few weeks'acquaintanceship, to a visitor to the Uerwent's country villagt— a visitor who gives himself out as being of the nobility, but, representing tbat it is necessary for awhile that he should Keep his rank and title a secret, goes under the name of Henry Woodstock. The huuehback is not slow to divina that this stranger who has gained love for which he himself can never hope is an impostor, and he denounces Woodstock to Violet, but she imposes upon him an oath requiring him to keep from crossing her fianefs path, and to protect him, if need be, even with his life. Wbat Woodstock really is we readily learn, because two associates of hia— one a blundering fellow, and the other a craven coward— reveal the fact that he is a notorious highwayman named Falconer, for whose arrest there is a high reward offered. Woodstock md his companions plan the robbery of a nobleman's coach as it will be passing at night along the road in the vicinity of the village, aud they successfully accomplish it, but at the coit of bloodth e d, Woodstock shooting the coachman. The hunchba-k is a witness of tho outrage, and into his hands some of the booty falto. The news of the robbery is quickly bruited about the vil'age, where, amongst other thiugs, the rumour cets wind that WoodstocK is Falconer. While Woodstock is being taxed on the point by Derweut, an officer of the law appears on the scene aimed with a warrant for his arrest and accompanied by Marmaduke one of the high waj man's accomplices, who has turned traitor on him, and as the latter is about to point Woodstock out, Geoffrey, in pursuance of his oath, rushes in, minenders himself up as Falconer, an* pro < uoes the booty he had serured. Why Marmaduke should permit the real culprit to escape is not explained, but the fact is that the innocent hunchback is suffered to endure punishment ana imprisonment for a crime he did not commit

SVrango, too, when Woodstock's true character Is exposed— for he confesses his guilt to Derwonfc »nd Violet— his engagement with the latter is still continued. He leaves her, however, for twelvo month?, and in the meanwhile Mary, the outcast Eister, now apparently a half crazy woman, returns to her home and craves her father's forgivenesß, but this is donied her until she can declare herself to be "an honest woman." It needs no prophet t3 know that the man who betrayed her is none other than Woodstock, but she losolately declines to divulge his name. Woodetock returns at the expiry of twelve months to wed Violet, but at the ceremony the bridal Teil coDceala tho features of Mary, who— it is impossible to believe with Violet's consent— take 3 her sifttei'B place and is thus en.tblcd to claim her father's pardon. To end up, the hunchback, who has served his term of iinpr'sonm^nt, violates his oath by stabbing and killing the viiLun and commits buicide. Violet Im3 taul she conld not live without Woodstock, but what actually becomes of her ia not explained. The play was received with enthusiasm, and at the close there was an emphatic call for the author, Mr Lucas played with considerable power iv the jjarfc of the hunchback— a man whose nature was embittered by the knowledge that his deformity rendered him disagreeable to other people, and whose habit of lurking about and eavesdropping was not calculated to win him sympathy. Mr Greenaway gave an exceedingly good representation of Woo'tetock, an outwardly polished but heartless villain ; Mr Montgomery lendered efficient service as Marmaduke ; Mr Moss evoked plenty of amusement iv the part of Farthingale, the meanest possible specimen of highwjyman ; and Mr Saville was cast as Father Derwcnt. Miss Lilla Wilde appeared with a good deal of success in the impersonation of the twin sisters, herbsst work being undoubtedly in her representation of tbe wretched repentant outcast. Mips Lnurence filled the part of a maid, and with Mr Mots provided the element of comedy. THE TIYOLI COMPANY. The City Hall was crowded to excess on Saturday night, whon the Tivoli Specialty Company gave a change of programme. The first pait consisted of negro niiuatr«.lsy by member j of the original company, strengthened hy the addition of the Misses Cunard, Miss Helen Gordon, Mr Canard, and Mr Nicol Andrew. Mies Millic^nt Mowbray made a charming conversationalist, and tho wit and repartee between the songs was unusually blight and sparkling. BENEFIT ''O HISS ROSS. The appearance of the dress circle in the Princess Theatre on. Fiiday evening, on tho occasion of the , complimentary dranutic recital tendered to Miss ■ Frances Ross, reminded one of the better times, ' when money was more plentiful than it is at preecat, and when it was not such an uncommon I occurrence that tho highest pi iced seats should be filled to overflowing. Not only was the circle crowded to exce:s by a fashionable assembly, but the BtaJlß also were completely filled, and tho dimensions of tha audiencs as a whole afforded what to Miss Ross must have been a moat , giatifying projf of the appreciation in which, a3 an actress, as an elocutionist, and as a woman, she ia entertained in the community. Miss Ros3 has been, comparatively speaking, a shoxt period amongst us, but during that time Bhe has, by her graceful, congruous, and intelligent acting, by her undoubtedly great elocutionary powers, and by her refined method, gained a distinct bold— a personal hold— upon the public. Her acting ability has been fairly well tested, and the result of the test has been so successful as to create the belief that with enlarged opportunities greater successes lie before her. However that may be, seeing that Miss Rosa has be n for suchabrief period beforetheDunedincommunity and that she entered it almost a stranger, a high complin' ent to her was implied in the fact that the occasion of her bent-fit should have attracted such a large and representative audience as was gathered in the theatre on Friday night. The programme was quite worthy of the occasion. It was admirably arranged, aud it was admirably presented. It commenced with what was its most charming feature — the performance of a i portion of tho scene in the forest of Arden from "As You Like It." Miss Ross appeared as Rosalind and Mr Greenaway as Orlando, nnd both performers employed a true artistic touch in their representations of their respective characters. There was an enthusiastic recall on the fall of the curtain, but there was nothing jn the whole of the programme which did not elicit, as it deserved, a recall. Opinions, doubtless, differ as to what, after tho nbove-incntioned scene, was most enjoyable in the programme, but Miss Ross's recital of "The May Queon" — an exceedingly fine elocutionary performance, particularly in respect of the pathetic verses— was probably that which found most favour with the bulk of the audience. Miss Ros3 alfio recited a "A man's a man for a' that" effectively, and created considerable auuiaemcnt by her clever character sketch entitled "Aunt Abigail's Adveuture." Miss Ross and Mr Greenaway took part in a short scene from "Tho •Tftming of the Shrew," iv which both performers did justice to the characters and to themselves. Mis« Roan was warmly applauded on each appearance she made in the course of the entertainment, and received several floral tributes of admiration. Signora Veuosta so delighted th" audience with her admirable Einging of Arditi's vocal waltz " II Baeio " that an encore was insisted upon, and she subsequently save " In Old Madrid " with, capital effect. Mr Burns- Walker achieved a signal buccess in his interpretation of the recitative and aria "Sei vendicata assai," from "Dinorah" (Meyerbeer), and his singing of "O promise me" also afforded much enjoyment; while the duef'T'el ramnienti," by Signora Venosta and Mr BurnsWalker, was gcnsrally recognised as beinc an excellent performance. Mr Albert Lucaa brought down the house with bis spirited !*nd stirring recitation, "Kissing Cup's Race." The concluding item of the programme was a scene from W. S. Gilbert's comedy "Pygmalion and Galatea," iv which Mr Greenaway, whose efforts throughout the entertainment contributed in great measure to ita bucccbb, played with discrimination as the sculptor ana spoke his lines with effective force, and Miss tna Laurence, appearing as Galatea, showed that she had a capital conception of the part, and played it with intelligence and with not too much animation. Like Mies Roes, Signora Venosta and Miss Laurence were the recipients of handsome bouquets from members of the audience. The Princess orchestra played several selections in good 6tyle. DuriDg the evening Mr W. J. MacLaughlin, on behnlf of Misa Ross, returned thanks for the generous patronage accorded to her, and atated that a compauy, of which Mr Greenaway would be stage manager, had been organised to support Mies Ross iv a lengihcncd tour.