The Theatre.

Southland Times, Issue 19854, 23 June 1906, Page 2

The Theatre.

THE KELLY GANG. That the McMahon Company have won their way into, the fav.ciur pi the Invercargill public was amply evidenced last night, when another packed house Witnessed the first performance hero of the famous and thrilling Australian drama •' The Kelly Gang.” The career ol tteso great outlaws is well known to the majority of the public, ami this knowledge gives a somewhat personal interest to the representation pf their adventures on the stage. Act I. opens in the Kellys’ home at Greta. Ned Kelly’s passionate Jo'e for horses' had led him to steal one. The police, beaded by Constable Fitzpatrick, are on his track, and sur- ! round the house, but not before the : gang have taken to the bush, leaving 'their sisters Kate and June. Later, (Fitzpatrick, by a cunning piece ol atrat- ' egy, almost manages to shoot Ned, but in the nick of time Kate snatches his revolver from him, and the constable is in the power of the gang, but escapes. In Act 11. Aaron Sheritt, , a spy, having learned the plans (of the Kellys, informs the police for the sake of the blood money. However, the cutlaws arc wia.meel, and ambush Fitzpatrick, who is given a chance for his life iu a duel with Ned. He attempts treachery and is shot ’dead by his enemy. _Ned is determined ;to ride iu a race at the township, and 'the constables, getting wind pf the fact, 1 arrest the rider, who turns out to bo Ned’s betrothed, Mary Byrne, who, j scenting danger, took her lover’s place. [Thus the .constables are again nonplussed. In Act HI. the Kellys, disguised as j police, enter a bank and got pff with some £2OOO in gold. They are determined to do Sheritt to death and surround his cottage. The traitor meets a traitor’s death, dying at the hands of the head of the gang. Nod Kelly. In. the fourth Act tfce outlaws are surjrounded in Glcnrowam betel, and make their last stand. The police set lire to ! the building, and a rush is made by .the gauge Dan Kelly is seriously sounded as ho attempts to leave, like wise Steve Hart and Joe Byrne, the lost two shooting each other to prevent being ft.iken alive. A realistic scene is Ned Kelly’s death. Standing iu his armour ■ outside the burning, building, ho fights until, shot in the legs, he sinks and is killed. Mr Chas. Bloke as Ned Kelly, made the most of his part, nnd won the admiration and applause pf the (audience. Mr Wilton Power gave an exj cellent representation of the impulsive iSteve Hart. Mr Henderson as Joe Byrne i feud Mr Meir/man as Dan Kelly fully sustained their reputations. Mr Harry : Douglas made a first-class priest as .Father Moran, an honest friend of the ! outlaws. Mr Fred Cope as Aaron Shcr.itt acted remarkably well the part of a I despicable character. Mr Lambert as j Constable Fitzpatrick succeeded in mak. ing himself disliked. The manly Scrgt. Steele was ably impersonated by Mr Wttlshe. Miss Maic Nelson, as Mary Byrne. Ned’s betrothed, acquitted herself ■ well in a tusk that was at times rather j trying. Miss Mary Granville, 'as ihe bravo sister of the Kellys won the admiration nnd applause of tho audience, j The humour of tho police was provided by two very Irish police, whose main feature was stupidity, and Mrs Barry jLano ns Miss Melpomene Prim, a stout bid party who imagines she is young and has an overwhelming desire to marry, was most amusing. There are many bther lesser roles, such as the bank manager, Mrs Keily ( Jane Kelly, policemen, etc., and these "ere all well taken by Ur Valentine. Miss Murray, Miss Uenno. Mr Wilton, Mr Savieri and others. The scenery of the Australian bush was very pretty, and tho burning of the hotel was most effective, while the introduction ol horseflesh on to the stage gave added colour to the drama. The owner of the hull suys ho has never before seen such in crowd there. It was estimated that . the pit alone contained 700, and every other scat was occupied. | To-night ’• A Rogue’s Daughter ” will be staged for the first time here. According to the Lyttelton Times, this pretty drama was witnessed there by one of the largest Eudiences ever seen within the -walls of the Theatre Royal. The sale of tickets bad to be slopped before halfpast 7. Tho story is fascinating, and contains abundant sensation from the rise of the curtain to its full.