THEATRE ROYAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4761, 29 September 1893, Page 1

THEATRE ROYAL.

•■ THE TRUMPET OALL. Last evening witnessed Mr Bland Holt's firet change of programme of the present seaaon at tbe Theatre Royal, when Q. R. Sims and Robert Buchanan's drama, The Trumpet Call, waa produced to a most appreciative and enthusiastic audience. The drama, though savouring somewhat of the military style, ia not entirely given over to that element, and though the plot is not a Btrong one, ib affords opportunity for some telling situations and a good deal of powerful acting. But it- chief charm is decidedly the scenery and effects, in ! which Mr Winning, who ia well-known as ! a clever mechanist, fairly excels himself. The audience is treated to some of the finest changes from interior to exterior that have ever been seen on a Christchurch stage. Decidedly the best ia that in which in the Bpace of a few sesonds, and without the intervention of the curtain, the stage is transformed from the interior of a well-appointed room to an outdoor exterior representing a lovely moonlit water scene, with a bridge in the middle distance and a fine old church in the background. The concluding scene, representing the interior of the Chapel Royal, Savoy, with a full choral wedding in progress, is a triumph in scenic effort which the audience was little prepared for, and loudly as they had shown their appreciation of the other effects, thia created a perfect furore. The strongest character in the play, and the one whose actions are the motive power of the etoiy, is Bertha, a wild, unprincipled woman, who brings ruin upon all with whom she is thrown in contact, and who gradually sinks in the social scale, until, the wreck of her former self, and a victim to delirium tremens, she receives her death wound in a low "dosshouse," at the hands of a man whose life she had blighted. Cuthbert Cuthbertson has married Constance, the daughter of a baronet, believing thnt his firat wife, Bertba, is dead. The lady, however, presents herself at an inconvenient moment in the person of a clairvoyant woman connected with a travelling show. CuLhbartson, to save the lady to whom he is united and their child from ignominy, becomes a soldier under an assumed name. During his absence from England, Constance is pressed by a former lover, Richard Featherstone, to marry him, and at length reluctantly consents. She is present at the public decoration of Cuthbertson (then known aa Gunner Lanyon) and has some conversation with him, but he deni s tbat he is CuthbertsoD, and she supposes that she is mistaken in the belief that he is the man she loves. In the last act the wedding party is assembled in the church, and Constance is about to become the wife of Featherstone; Cuthbertson, irresistibly attracted, though determined not to declare himself, is a witness of the c.romony. Before the fateful words have been Bpoken, however, Bertha staggers into the building and declares that Cuthbertson was never her husband, aB she was married to a soldier named James Redruth at the time they met. Redruth has nursed the passion of revenge during his absence from his wife, and it was he who inflicted the deadly wound upon Bertha, on meeting her in the do3E-house, and from the effects of . which she dies, after having made the confession which reunites Cuthbert and Bertha. The principal honours of a fine production undoubtedly fall to Miss Edith Bland e, whose impersonation of the wild and reckless woman Bertha was a most powerful piece of acting. In the scene on the steps of the caravan, where she succeeds in parting Cuthbert frem hia bride, sbe showed considerable dramatic power j but later, as the fiendish vagrant, emaciated by want and suffering from the effects of drink, she held the audience spell-bound, and was enthusiastically cheered at its conclusion. Though there was every opportunity for over-acting, Miss Blande never once overstepped the line of demarcation, and her impersonation muat be looked upon as that of a finished actress. Miss Harrie Ireland made- an effective Constance, her soft voice and gentle manner suiting the part admirably, and her efforts were much appreciated. Misß Annie Taylor | made a good deal of the character of the buxom landlady, whose glib tongue and -illiterate talk caused much amusement. Mra Bland Holt was a bright and piquant Lavinia Ginnifer— a young lady engaged at music halls, and with a decided penchant for the military. Mr Walter Howe's representation of the hero Cuthbert was a sterling piece of acting. His emotional scenes were decidedly powerful, though none of them were overdone. His Bcene in the parado gronnd, where he denied his identity to h_3 wife, in order that he might not interfere with her happiness, is one of the moßt powerful piecea of acting in the whole drama, and waa ably depicted. Mr R. Inman, as the cool aud scheming Featherstone, was very good, his acting being perfectly natural. Mr Baker made a jovial Irish sergeant, but at times was a little astray in his accent. Mr B. England was a sufficiently "starchy" Colonel Engleheart ; and Mr Corlesse successfully doubled the two opposite parts of Sir William Barton and the keeper of the " doss-house." Mr C. Brown was sufficiently bitter and relentless as James Redruth, and acted the part with skill ; and Mr Harry Norman made a good country lout, and when afterwards transformed into a soldier was equally successful. As usual, Mr Bland Holt supplies the principal fun of the piece. His representation of Professor Ginnifer, a gentleman in the show business, drew forth shouts of laughter, and his scenes with Mrs Wicklow, were iireßißtibly funny. The part of the child wa3 intelligently rendered by little Ethel, who spoke her lines nicely, The other characters were all in able hands. Mention must be made of the orch e.tra's performance, under the baton of Mr Percy K-hoe. Several novelties were introduced into the music, the noise made in dancing a sand jig and a clog dance being cleverly imitated. The Trumpet Oall will be repeated to-night and to-morrow evening the last representation will be given, as on Monday Mr Bland Holt intends Btaging A Million of Money. Deafhebs JPebh .nently (Jused.— A gentleman who cured himself of deafness and noises in the head, of many years' standing, hy a uaw mecbod, will ha pleased to send full particulars, with oopies of testimorials, &0., for two stamps. The most successful treatment ever introduced. Address, Herbert Clifton, 51, Upper Kenuinf. ton one, London, S.l_. Clarke and Co.'s 18-carat gold wedding keeper or engagement rings, at £1 Is, are the heaviest and best finished. Diamond, ruby, pearl and sapphire at £2, .-83 and upward*, are the newest and best e*9i shown. XSO Curb Boating Club.— A meeting of the Committee of the Cure Boating Club was held on Wednesday evening under the presidency of Mi'S. Johnstone, to consider what form the celebration of the openiDg of tho season should take. After discusek>D, it waa decided to open the season on Saturday week with a procession of decorated boats, after which Bwimming and other races will be held ; arrangements to te made for the presence of a band. It wa_ resolved that the procession should start at 2.30, and all necessary arrangements were entrusted to a Committee. To OvEK-orfj. Weakness.— Popper's Quinine, ond .(rou ; onie gives Kevt Life, Appatit- Health, Strong*!,, ..adS-nergyj (fovea Indigestion, Narvoue Dabilitv, wi Neuralgia, Half-crown bottles everywhorg, \ Insist ra Mviug FsrpSß fl.*" , Advt.] |