THE LORGNETTE

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 42, 6 July 1907, Page 6

THE LORGNETTE

By Promoter,

COMING SHOWS. 9th July to 12th July— St. Patrick's Dramatic ■ ''■ ■ Society, "Maritana" 16th July to 20th July— Jessie Maclachlan Concert Company. 22nd July to iotn August— Musgrove's Grand ..' " Opera Company. 12th August to 24th August— Rickards's Vaudeville Company. 16th September to sth October— Allan Hamil- ~ ton's English Star Company. -7th October to 26th October — MacMahon Brothers' Dramatic Company. 4th November to 16th November— Willoughby-Ward-Geach Comedy Company.

" IJAFFLES," the second play in M\- the repertoire of the Julius

Knight Company, is a peculiar play. It is billed as a comedy drama, but a considerable part of it is melodrama pure and simple. A. J. Raffles, the finest slow bowler in England, has a talent for amateur burglary. This is inconvenient, no doubt, but, as A. J. himself explains to his friend Bunny, the love of burglary is in his blood. This same Bunny (otherwise Harry Manders) succeeds, during a visit to Milchester Abbey, in losing £150 to Lord Crowley at bridge. He confides his trouble to his old schoolfellow, A. J. Kaffles, and that ingenious gentleman calmly proceeds to plan a neat little piece of burglary, the proceeds of which are to relieve the needs of Harry Manders. He succeeds in appropriating the diamond necklace of Lady Melrose, and is about to try conclusions with the safe, under the very nose of a celebrated Yankee detective, Curtis Bedford, who is snoring in an arm chair. At this point, by a coincidence which is allowable to melodramatists, a professional burglar arrives and is promptly pounced upon by Kaffles, who hands, him over to the detective.

The whole plot centres round the vow of the detective, Curtis Bedford, to recover Lady Melrose's necklace before the following midnight had struck. There is a fine scene in which the detective, unaware of whom he is speaking to, takes Raffles into bis confidence an,d persuades him to assist in cornering the amateur cracksman. There is another exciting situation when Crawshay, the professional burglar, stung to madness, by Raffles' taunts, holds a revolver to the amateur's head. Murder is only avoided by Raffles slowly and deliberately giving a word painting to his assailant of the murderer's inevitable end. It is a gruesome enough effect, and Crawshay, under its influence, sinks down, overpowered at the thought of what he has narrowly escaped. And there is an exciting finale, when Raffles, having led the pursuing officers of the law to the idea that he has committed suicide, succeeds in eluding the grasp of his wouldbe captors.

Ib cannot be denied that at* times the action of the play is slow. More than once there are long gaps in the dialogue, during which the characters then 'on the stage wander round the room in an aimless fashion!! This may be realistic, but it also becomes monotonous. Further, there are ; several incidents in which the elements oi probability have been sacrificed for the Bake of exciting effects. This is, however, excusable, for the average .play-goer does not generally trouble his august head much about probabilities, so long as he s gets a good evening's entertainment, and lie undoubtedly §(Bts 4hat in " JRaffles.^ ; The'^eakesj; 7 dHSraot»r -in the play is jCifttifs Bedford,-, Wpposed to be the Sherlock Holme 9of ; Atterica^;;Th€ iohiatßceß ; pven ;^iißi.-I)x::th|»f. IbaniftTbißt; Jbojb fco^arrtto^;

Mr Julius Knight, in the name part, gave a, carefully-studied rendering of the rdle. -Right through the piece the sympathies of the audience are with the amateur cracksman, and the 'exclamation of,, the "Yankee detective, after Raffles' . escape : ." Well, by gosh, Una glad J He's bully J" finds a ready echo from the audience. Mr Hubert Willis' was at his best as the detective Curtis Bedford.' He maintained a consistently dry style' throughout, and never lapsed from the orthodox American accenti Mr Harry Plimmer did hot have many opportunities as Crawshay, the .professional burglar, but what he did have he made the most of. Mr H. J. Bentley took the part" of "Harry Manders. (Bunny) Raffles' friend; and, on the whole, was satisfactory, but a little modulation in voice would not be amiss. Mr Leslie Victor gave a clever character study as Lord Amersteth, and Mr Reynolds Denniston was all that could be desired as Lord Croweley.

Miss Marion Grey made her first -appearance in Auckland in the part of Gwendoline Condnon. She acted with sympathy and expression, and although the part is only a small one, the play would be sadly lacking without it. The moat important role on the feminine side is that of Mrs Vidal, a scheming lady who is aware of Raffles' burglarising proclivities, and who also is somewhat tigeriahly in love with the gentleman cracksman. It is a difficult and somewhat repulsive part, but Miss Elbert-Orton acquitted herself well on the whole, especially in the more intense scenes. Miss Dorothy Sidney was sufficiently vivacious as Lady Ethel ; Miss Mary Godfrey was a dignified Lady Melrose. Miss Elsie Wilson was all that could be desired as the French maid. The staging and general effects were up to the best standard of Williamson tradition. On -Saturday next, "Brigadier Gerard" will be Btaged.

John Fuller has a miniature domestic zoo at the Opera House this week. As a matter of fact, the said zoo belongs to Professor Klaer, who is the proud possessor of an assorted collection of monkeys, dogs and cats. And the greatest of these is the clown monkey. This young gentleman waits until elaborate preparations have been made for the performance of a trick, and then sidles qrietly along and makes havoc of the whole affair. Especially clever are the dogs, one of which escapes from its collar, gobbles up its mistress's dinner, and then sets a cat at the table to get spanked for thievery, subsequently once more replacing its own collar. This turn is really excellent all through. Another new arrival is Sheldon, a capable ventriloquist with a fine stock of patter. One or two of the jokes have a familiar appearance, but, taken all round, they are as fresh as can be expected. All the original jokes were used up by Noah a year or two ago.

Keldie and Davis are two damsels who sing and dance with plenty of vigour. These young ladies ought to become firm favourites at the Opera ' House. The Stagpooles have put on a new sketch, "Defence, not Defiance/ which is quite sufficient to excite the risibility of the proverbial feline quadruped. Keenan and Lewis also produce an amusing sketch. As usual, Ted Stagpoole's acrobatic eccentricities are a feature of the first part. By the way, the " circle" has been introduced again t Bob Lloyd sings two or three hundred comic songs every night, and the gods are out after more. Ivy Goodwill and Nellie Power are popular, singers of serios, and Val Newton's illustrated songs are in big request. The .pictures by the Warwick Bioscope are a never-failing source of entertainment.

The farewell tour- of Miss Jessie Maclachlan, the Scott-sh soprarp; which commences at, Auckland oil Monday, July 15th, at His Majesty's Theatre, will afford an opportunity of'once more, hearing- this "lady who has achieved such a high position a;s atyocalisiji- '' : .th'is>;:^(^»Qny:"ityvn^^: to the": inclusion : iii -the "company^ : of: ;Mr: ; ;Do^glas, ;celebrated|. jScottiish /tenc»r ; <jf \who£e yoi^vreport speaks higtt^: colo^ ;^ii .musiC;% in

the shape of yocali'iu'^ s wili f orm a^ : feature of the proOTH ;ii.\es; - ; \As \'eir singer of .w^Jfckno^ ( f Blue Boi£nets^orer the ■ Border,' ' ; << ScptsrWha-^Hae,^ rril :;' A MinSrei ; JPipers,''; it iisC; claiine(i" r that Mi% Maclachlari is- unrivajled. .

■ • >- ' " : :.'■'. ■"'■-■ .-./'■ •■■••' '."..■•■ 7 Preparations are well forward for the production of "Maritana" on Tuesday evening next by tbjß St. £atrick^s: Operatic Society. -The two principals," Miss Rosina Buckmann and, Mr James Crabtree, are now in Auckland. All .the other members of the cast have been rehearsing with praiseworthy energy, and there is every reason to suppose that this production of " Maritana " will be one of outstanding excellence. The piece will be staged for four nights and one matinee. .

Anything from the pen of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle rarely, if ever, fails to awaken interest. His new play, " Brigadier Gerard," which will be staged on Saturday evening for the first time in Auckland, was first performed at the Imperial Theatre, London, about eighteen months ago. It is a highly romantic play, and contains a fane of love, intrigue, and politics. The part of Captain Gerard' is tilled by Mr Julius Knight. Miss Marion Grey plays the part of Comtesse de Roquelaine, the lady with whom the Captain is in love, and they arc supported by a strong cast.