HIS MAJESTY’S.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1055, 26 May 1910, Page 16

HIS MAJESTY’S.

“IN LONDON TOWN.” “In London Town” replaced “Woman and Wine” at His Majesty’s on Thursday, its allurements, as presented by the Allan Hamilton-Max Maxwell Dramatic Company, providing enjoyment for crowded audiences on the three nights it was produced. The story hinges round the financial worries of Frank Dalton (Mr. Godfrey Cass), whose importunities cause the heroine, Alice Dalton (Miss Beatrice Holloway), his father’s ward, to leave her adopted home and flee to London. Shortly after the girl’s father, John Hargreaves (Mr. Max Maxwell) appears on the scene, having made his fortune on the Australian goldfields. Frank Dalton, unable to find the millionaire’s daughter and anxious to retrieve his fallen fortunes by marriage with an heiress, substitutes an adventuress Rosa Morrison (Miss Vera Remee), and she, nothing loth, assumes the role of the long lost daughter. Meanwhile the real heiress, who has been traced to her lodgings in London, is led to believe that she is the daughter of a blind beggar, and out of loyalty to her supposed father, she throws in her lot with his and sings in the streets for charity, her only gleam in life being the kindliness of a colter girl Liddy Bliss (Miss Muriel Dale) and her sailor sweetheart. After more or less startling vicissitudes, humorous interludes and a coster ballet, things sort themselves out, the villain is unmasked, father and daughter are happily reunited after an exciting rescue, the fictitious heiress meets with her deserts and right reigns triumphant. Mr. Max Maxwell, as John Hargreaves, portrayed the character of the devoted father in natural and convincing fashion and carried the sympathies of the audience all through. Miss Beatrice Holloway made a charming heroine and acted her part with a simplicity that found a ready appeal to all hearts. Mr. Godfrey Cass was an admirable villain and schemed and plotted with an abandon that provoked wholesale condemnation from the heroine’s sympathisers. Mr. Richard Bellairs, as the blind thief, left nothing to be desired in his interpretation, while Mr. Sydney de Vine, as Eli Finch, made good his part of a double dyed hypocrite. Miss Muriel Dale and Mr. C. Brown shared the comedy honours and provided plenty of diversion with their entertaining by-play. Miss Mabel Russell was excellent as Matt, the cripple, and the other parts were equally well sustained, the cast being a most even one.

On Tuesday and Wednesday Henry Pettitt’s sensational drama “Woman’s Hate” held the boards before large audiences and to-night and two following nights, the military drama “Re-

venge” will be presented, a piece which is said to abound in thrills, sensations and striking spectacular effects. “WOMAN’S HATE.” Henry Pettit’s Adelphi drama, “ Woman’s Hate,” was presented on Tuesday, the company giving a very fine interpretation of'that very interesting and pathetic play, with its all-absorb-ing, interesting and striking developments. Admirably staged, as were all its predecessors, it ranks as the best of the dramas yet presented by the Hamilton-Maxwell combination, which is saying a good deal. The chief interest centred around the fortunes of the hero and heroine, Frank Drummond, a young barrister (Mr. Max Maxwell) and his wife, Mary Drummond or Lonsdale (Miss Beatrice Holloway), and the unmerited

misfortunes of both. Mr. Maxwell showed what a very fine actor he really is in the portrayal of his part, and was ably supported by Miss Holloway, whose powers were seen to be of a very high order. Nothing could have been more effective and touching, more instinct with dramatic art and vivid appreciation of the playwright’s character than Miss Holloway’s finished portrayal of the part Little Miss Queenie Williams, who plays the part of Mary Drummond (Drummond’s child) was also wonderfully good and convincing, playing with a natural ease and sympathy that won its way with all hearts. Miss Muriel Dale played well as Lottie Bramley, and Mr. Charles Brown as Dick Chilton, those two being responsible for the interpretation of the very fine vein of comedy running through the play, and relieving the tenser

situations. Other characters well sustained were those portrayed by Godfrey Cass (Jepthe Grimwade), Richard Bellairs (Robert Overstone), Mr. S. A- Fitzgerald (John Overstone), and Miss Vera Remee, the latter having a very trying part as Mabel Wentworth, the adventuress. “THE NIGHT OF THE PARTY.” Mr. George Willoughby’s excellent new English Farcical Comedy Company will commence a short season at His Majesty’s Theatre, Auckland, on Monday next, May 30th, in Weedon Grossmith’s famous comedy “The Night of the Party,” under the direction of Rupert Clarke and Clyde Meynell. A certain amount of romantic interest attaches to David James, the leading comedian of the George Willoughby Company, who will make !his appearance here on that occasion.

His father was David James, the famous comedian, who made “Our Boys” known thoroughout the world. His private name was David James Belasco. The principal comedian of the Willoughby Company is a cousin of David Belasco, the author of “The Darling of the Gods,” etc, who has had more successes on the American stage than any other writer of plays. David James, senior, at his death, left an enormous fortune, including a bequest of about £40,000 to charities. Watching the rehearsal of “The Night of the Party” one could not fail to detect the work of Weedon Grossmith — in every action almost of the characters —in fact in every line of the play. The celebrated comedian, who wrote the play, has crammed it with farcical situations and clever, snappy dialogue. Everything goes like clockwork and before one of the characters

has “thrown off” something smart, another one has butted in with another slab of wit. Grossmith is a comedian of the quick and bustling variety, and ?.e has set his stamp cn “The Night of the Party” in no uncertain way. The farcical comedy goes with a rush from beginning to end, and the audience will have to laugh quickly at each point in order to keep pace with it. The box plan for the season is now open at Wildman and Arey’s, day sales at Martelli’s.