Theatre Royal.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3003, 29 January 1901, Page 3

Theatre Royal.

The attendance at the Theatre Royal last evening was rather poor, owing doubtless to the reluctance of the theatre-going public to turn out in a time of national mourning, which places a considerable restraint on all departments of amusement and sport. The conditions which the Harrison-Garnett Company had to contend against were thus very depressing, but we are sure that those who did attend were quite satisfied with the excellence of the staging and acting throughout the production of the short drama “At the Cross Roads,” and the comedy “A Pair of Spectacles.” The firstnamed is of the sensational type, its component parts being made up of the necessary items of love and murder. The “ hero ” is arrested for murder, but discharged by a jury. He returns to his settlement, and there confesses to the woman he loves that in a fit of anger he killed the man who slandered her good name. His mates in the meantime, dissatisfied with the verdict of the jury, form a lynching party, and proceed to the goal, but on finding the bird flown, search the settlement, discovering their man in tne neromes carnn. “Judge Lynch” at once proceeds whh ins preparations, but an impassioned appeal from the heroine, who states the case fully to save her lover, results in the murderer being set at liberty and allowed to leave the settlement unmolested. The principal parts fell on Miss Leila Caudwell and Mr Marshall Dundas, both playing with all the sincerity and naturalness that could be expected in a drama. Miss Caudwell made a very favourable impression indeed, her voice and actions being sympathetic and spontaneous to a very high degree. The comedy which followed was a rather curious conglomeration. An old gentleman (Mr Kaber Harrison) is affected with a. very large bump of benevolence evidently, and distributes his alms without making proper or necessary inquiry. As a result he is systematically robbed, a course which does not meet with the approval of his Yorkshire brother (Mr Marshall Dundas), who so thoroughly upsets him by his persistent suspicion that the old gentleman in time suspects his waiter, shoemaker, son, nephew and wife of dishonesty in all dealings towards him. Eventually everything is restored to the old happy style, the old man preferring to be foolish and happy in the knowledge of doing good rather than be wise and miserable. There are several amusing side characters, who all helped to keep the amusement bright and hearty. Miss Faith Garnett had the prin-

cipal lady’s part, and pleased everybody with the charming naivete and good humour which she displayed. The other parts were well filled, making the whole go most harmoniously. To-night the company appear again in a triple bill, which is outlined in another column.