MACMAHON'S DRAMATIC COMPANY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2762, 20 February 1907, Page 61

MACMAHON'S DRAMATIC COMPANY.

The New Zealand public are giving undeniable testimony of their faith in tbe MacMahon Dramatic Company. In tbe north the company received most flattering receptions, and their brief season in Dunedin, which wa3 opened at the Princess Thetrtre on the 18th. promises to be quite in keeping with their successful tour through the northern provinces. It is announced that only sis performances can be given here. The first attraotion was " The Price of Sin," c play which has earned warm praise from patrons of the theatre elsewhere. Dunedin's verdict, judging by the applause bestowed upon it by a very large house, is a complete endorsement of the favourable opinions that have already been expressed regarding it. Coming fiom the pen of a recognised dramatist, Mx E. Hi!l-Mitchelson, it was only to be expected perhaps that the periormance would be attended with success. There is any amount of incident and sensation in the plot, which i 3 written in an interesting and wellconnected manner, and captivates an audience ri^ht up to the close. Briefly, the story is this: Frank Foster, alias Sir Fox Yorke, ar.d. his accomplice, the supposed wife of Major Crawford, attempt in various ways to destroy the happiness of Nancy Crawford, the Major's daughter, and her lover, Lieutenant Cecil Ray. In order to gain their nefarious ends they concoct a plan to better their finances and at the same time to ruin their unsuspecting friends. The Lieutenant, in monetary straits, is induced to obtain some jewellery, which he is led to believe is the property of the Major's wife. As a matter of fact it is the property of Nancy. The evil-doers purposely refrain from informing the young man that it is to her room that he miist go in order to get the jewel case, and it is only when ho is detected by the girl that he realises how he has compromised his financee, in addition to v/hich he has rendered himself liable to imprisonment. All danger, however, to tho young woman is cleverely averted, though the Lieutenant, owing to the falsehoods of the schemers, finds himself an inmate of a prison. Foster is then free to pay attentions to Nancy, and, with the view of escaping from him, thegirl' leaves her home, and is secretly married to Foster, who has broken gaol in order to meet her. He returns to prison, but subsequently the villainy of the schemers is unmasked, retribution follows, and virtue receives its reward, while Foster is shot by his accomplice, who also finds herself in the hende of the law just as she was about to start for Paris with all her available money and jewellery. In addition to the grim story there is in the play a comic element, which evokes screams of laughter. The part of th© heroine, Nancy Crawford, is admirably filled by Miss May Granville. who threw the necessary emotion into her impersonation without weakening it or over-acting the part in any way. Miss Helen Fergus appears as the adventuress, and the character could not have been in more capable hands. The hero's part was powerfully pourtrayed by 3Xr Charles Blake, who deceives special mention for his representation of an extremely difficult roe. The arch-villain's part received a splendid exposition at the ha:id3 of Mr A Boothman, who was careful not to overstep the mark. He succeeded in thoroughly arousing the antipathy of the audience. The comedy parts were entrusted to Miss May Renno, Mr Ed Nable, and Mr Maurice Lynch. The fun for which the trio were responsible was genuinely appreciated, their repartee and humour causing great merriment whenever they occupied the boards. Mr Lynch, a-s a mild curate o£ the burlesque stage type. wa.s parhcu'arly good. A word of praise is also due to Mr E. B. Russell, who made the most of the role of " Jack the Welsher," and to Mr Harry Norman, an old army pensioner and the father of a reprobate .son. the latter playing with a. capital perception of tH« artistic merits of his part. Several minor characters were capably filled, thus contributing to the smooth performance of the drama.. The staging is commensurate with the merits of the play. Every scene is depicted with thoughtful attention to detail, and the stage staff are to be complimented on the results of their labours. A capital sylvan set introduces the play, and there are a number of nicelyarranged, picturesque tableaux, the acme of the stage-manager's art being reached in tbe final scene, which is one blaze of liglit. It is a long time since Dunedin has seen anything so elaborate in the way of spectacular adjuncts as we find in " The Price of Sm " The music is all that could be defcired.