THE OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1008, 1 July 1909, Page 16

THE OPERA HOUSE.

“ THE WOMAN PAYS.” Melodrama is still holding the boards at the Opera House under the direction of the Geach-Marlow Company “ The Woman Pays” being presented for the first time on Monday night to an audience that watched every move with bated breath, culmm--itinp- in rounds of applause or disapprobation as the situation demanded. For thrilling intrigues, bloodcurdling episodes, and sensational plots, with an occasional murder or would-be murder, interspersed at intervals, hanging on love and revenge, follow each other with amazing rapidity, and the whole gamut of crime is run to its very limit, to the intense enjoyment of the “ gods.” In the end, however, everything rights itself. Virtue is rewarded and villainy meets with its proper deserts. Squire Threadgold’s financial difficulties open the way for the plot, Langford Manor being in danger of passing from his hands unless a certain sum is met. This amount is forthcoming from the squire’s wealthy brother in California, but the squire’s steward (Robert Marchant), who is bent on marrying the former’s daughter Madge, waylays and murders the postman and intercepts the monetary communication for his own purposes. Madge has been secretly married to a young fisherman named Sid Armstrong, and Robert Marchant succeeds by vile machinations in separating husband and wife. Then come more lurid schemes for the destruction of Sid Armstrong, interwoven with the story of the woman Marchant had wronged, her confinement in a mad-house, her escape and subsequent tortures. After an absence of three years, during which •>e believes her husband dead, and he deems her faithless, Marchant prevails on her to go through the mar-

riage ceremony with him, as the only means of averting the financial misfortune which is imminent to her father, and of saving the old home from the hands of the moneylender. At the critical moment Armstrong, v ; th untold wealth, returns from the dead, the wronged woman denounces the villain, her father puts a knife through Marchant, husband and wife are restored, old fortunes are retrieved, and everything sorts itself out satisfactorily. Mr. Robert Inman as Sid Armstrong was natural and convincing, and was ably seconded by Miss Maud Appleton in her role of Madge. Mr. Kenneth Hunter as Robert Marchant compounded bloodthirsty villainy, and he had the wrathful indignation of the audience with him all through—sufficient testimony to the success of the character he portrayed. Mr. Thomas Curran as the squire made the most o' his part, Mr. Albert Lucas was forceful as Luke Moreland, while Miss Leal Douglas, Luke’s daughter, had the sympathies of all in her troubles. Miss Ethel Buckley (Polly Stokes) and Mr. J. P. O’Neill (Mickey Maloney) contributed the comic element, their sallies evoking much merriment, Miss Pattie Gourlay (Tabitha) adding not a little to the amusement by reason of her grotesque appearance. The scenery and spectacular effects are a feature of the production, being particularly fine and reflecting much credit on the management.