"JUDGE NOT,”—TO-NIGHT

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 821, 9 February 1903, Page 4

"JUDGE NOT,”—TO-NIGHT

An exchange, speaking of “ Judge Not,” says The plot is a most appealing one, and contains realty good emotional situations, and plenty of humor pervades at various intervals. An innocent woman is wrongfully convicted of stealing diamonds, is torn away from her husband and child, and spends days- of misery in gaol. The play gradually unwinds itself, and ends in.the capture of the real culprit and the embracing of husband, wife, and child. The scenery is most attractive, and, in fact, the production last evening was a great success. Thb Company is a strong and even one, and every individual member possesses talented ability. In 11 Judge Not ” there is plenty of scope for good acting, and that Miss Hilda Meade as Bella Dallis, the villain’s wife, was successful was proved by the spontaneous applause greeting her. Miss Meade has a most difficult role to fulfil, but she infused all the soul and tender feeling that the author—Frank Harvey—desired to impart. Miss Nellie Ogden, as the victimised woman, performed her part of Helen Clyde with judicious care, and her acting was fine. There are scenes amusing and emotional which cannot fail to enlist the earnest attention of an audience. And the audience last evening was attentive throughout; at times enthusiastic, especially where virtue scored ephemeral triumphs, and at others broken up with laughter by the amusing situations created by the comedy characters. Mr G. Majeroni, who wo have pleasant recollections of in the heroic role, acted the part of Philip Clyde, the suffering husband, with great power and skill, and deserved tho hearty applause which his every appearance evoked. Mr Mario Majeroni was a consummate stage villain, who invested the character of .Ralph Dallas with a cynical cruelty which earned for it the hearty detestation of thoso present. He was particularly good in the scenes with Bella, the woman he betrayed. A natural and therefore pleasing reading of the part of Dr Mallorie was given by Mr J. A. Fitzgerald, and equally goed in its way was that of Algy Carew, a dudish young gentleman, by W. G. Feruside. Mr C. Knight was a villainous looking Bob Douglas, and Messrs Grist, W. 8. Mercer, H. Williams, and P. A. Savieri capably represented detectives and characters mere or less bad. A good comedy part is that of Gustavus Garrick Jones, a tragedian j out of collar, who declaims whenever he gets the chauce, which is very often. The scenery was very effective, reflecting creditably on the enteprise of the management and the skill of the company’s scenic artists. Good instrumental music added to the charm of the evening’s entertainment. “ Jealousy ” will be produced to-morrow night, when the season will terminate.