LEON GORDON OPENS TO-NIGHT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18550, 25 August 1928, Page 10

LEON GORDON OPENS TO-NIGHT.

Leon Gordon and his great company of international artists arrive by special train from Dunedin this morning and to-night in the Theatre Royal, under J C. Williamson direction, will present what is described as the most remarkable attraction yet offered to Christchurch theatregoers. Leon Gordon is famed for his impersonation of Witzell in “ White Cargo.” Speaking of “ The Trial of Mary Dugan,” a Sydney critic says:—“Novelty seems to have been strained after by Bayard Veiller, the author of 4 The Trial of Mary Dugan,’ seeing that he sets about creating his atmosphere the moment the doors of the theatre are opened. The curtain is up, and a busy charwoman is seen scrubbing the floor of the court room, and for an hour, between rests, the tidy old soul goes on dusting and brushing and making things look ship-shape. In the vernacular, it may be described as

4 real melodrama—with the lid off.’ We have a woman charged with the muider of a rich man, who has so befriended her—for the inevitable consideration —that she is able to educate her brother at the best schools, and make a lawyer of him; a prosecuting attorney, who searches the witnesses with a torrent of questions designed to entrap the wife of the murdered man, who also has a secret love affair; an attorney for the defence, who is the actual murderer, and a number of witnesses—Follies girls—who titter their way through their testimony, and inform the judge that they have cars, because 4 you can’t expect a girl to drive to hell in a wheelbarrow.’ Leon Gordon played the part of the district attorney convincingly His address at the opening of the case was cleverly given. Frank Bradley did excellently as the attorney opposed to him, and particularly in the final scene, when he caught in his left hand the murderer’s knife thrown to him by the lawyer for the defence. Leyland Hodgson (Jimmy) a new juvenile lead, was a success. John Fernside’s study of James Maddison, a lift-driver, was a fine piece of characterisation. May Collins suited the part of Mary Dugan to the letter. While she was being interrogated on the witness stand she showed an intelligent grip of a delicate part. Miss Collins played in this scene with admirable restraint.”

“ The Trial of Mary Dugan ” will be staged for five nights only, followed by a two nights’ season of 44 Scandal.” Attention is drawn to the box plan arrangements.