PRINCESS THEATRE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2320, 18 August 1898, Page 39

PRINCESS THEATRE.

" HELD BY THE ENEMY."

The first change of programme by the LvesisHardie Dramatic Company was made on tho 10th, when Mr W. G-illette's military drama "field by the Enemy" was produced. As will bo remembered by those who saw this piece on the occasion of its production in Dunedin by other companies its action passes in one of the Southern States during the civil war in America. It is a melodrama without a villain, and when first performed in London some 10 or 11 years ago was warmly commended as being the best play of its kind of the season. Miss Constance Hardie, whose acting is always marked by delicacy and good taste, filled the part of Rachel M'Creery, a young lady who is engaged to an officer in the Confederate arm/, but has given her heart to one of the weareis of the Federal uniform, and who is placed by the force of circumstances in a position of painful embarrassment in having to choose between love and duty in a crisis when the life of the man she is betrothed to and the veracity and honour of the suitor she has rejected hang trembling in the balance. In this scene Miss Hardie acted with a good deal of emotional power, and the whole character was sympathetically rendered by her. The part assumed by Mr Lucas was that of Thomas Bean, a special war correspondent, which :s a comedy character. Mr Lucas's vein is hardly light enough for such a part, but there were many good points in his impersonation of it, and it met with general favour. Miss Irene Carlyon has rarely done better than in the part of Susan M'Creery, the saucy piquancy of which was ably illustrated by her. Mr Phillips did good service as Colonel Prescott, and Mr Marschel was a successful representative of Gordon Hayne, his performance in the courtmartial scene being a distinctly fine effort. Messrs Gilbert, Bruce, Hill, and Harpur all appeared to advantage in their respective parts. Prior to the production of the play, Mr Lucas gave ait intensely dramatic recital of " Eugen.a Aram's Dream," with limelight and musical effects.