THE KATHERINE GREY SEASON.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12377, 10 February 1911, Page 7

THE KATHERINE GREY SEASON.

■: , ♦' — There was a large demand for seats when the plans were opened this morning for the initial production on Wednesday next of "The Lion and tho Mouse," for the first representation here of "The Third Degree," which' is to be staged on Thursday, and for the only performance to bo given on Friday next of Eugene Walters' famous drama, "Paid in 'Full':" Playgoers of Gisborne have never before had tho opportunity presented to them of being enabled *to. welcome such a world-famous actress, as both, Margaret An|jiiii and Sarah Bernhardt returned to F/urope without having paid a visit to New Zealand. It is therefore not surprising to learh that the debut of Miss Katherino Grey is creating much more than ordinary interest, and it is quite likely that she and Mr Williamson's new leading man, Mr William Desmond, will bo: accorded an enthusiastic reception. So much has been read and hoard of Charles Klein's famous drama, "The .Lion and the Mouse," that a brief outline of the plot. will probably be appreciated by playgoers : —Shirley Rossmore, on her return from. Europe, finds her father, a Supreme Court judge., ruined financially and about to lose his honor through impeachment proceedings. The latter arc the result of a conspiracy against him, engineered by Ready Money Ryder, tho richest man in the world, against whose interests Judge Rossmore has rendered an adverse, though honest, decision: Shirley- loves Ready Money Ryder's son, bat she puts him asido in order to devote all 'her thought to the saving of her father. She has written the book Of the hour, in which sho has frankly, pictured the elder Ryder in all his power and his wickedness as the destroyer of national integrity. Ryder has read this book, and is anxious to meet the girl. She enters his household as "Miss Green," tho author, and is en- • giiijfed to do literary work for him, accepting the position in tho libpe that, she may recover certain letters her father H:is written and help in other ways. The 'two principal acts of the play show Shirley, or "Miss Green," in a battle of wits with the elder Ryder: She first gains a hold over him by her frank and shrewd manner of showing him his true character no ono else has ever clared. The tnamatk' climax of the play comes at the end of tho third act, when, tunable to persuade him to save Rossmore, oil the grounds of pity and justice, she reveals to him her true name and purpose, denounces him before his own son, who, while ignorant of jier identity, has asked her to marry him, and is ordered _ from the house. ' :..' Positively only one "representation can bo -given of "T/he Lion and the Mouse," as on Thursday next Charles Klein's remarkably original and intensely interesting dramatic work, "The Third Degree," will be. staged, and on Friday the season will close with «* production for the first and only time hero of Eugene. Walters' famous dramatic, sensation, "Paid in Full," which is' at present being performed by four distinct companies in England.