ENTERTAINMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2380, 22 December 1908, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HiS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST

“The Girl of the Golden West” is essentially an American play, with American characters, American codes of Jaws and morals, American freedom and' true American rough-and-ready life. The play is of the melodramatic type, but the plot is clear and well told, not only in. words but in powerful incidents that appeal strongly to the sympathies of the audience. His Majesty’s Theatre was crowded towelcome the return of Mr. J. C. Williamson's company, who presented the play to a Gisborne audience. The scene is laid in a mining camp at Cloudy Mountain ,in the heart of the Sierras, those wonders of scenic beauty, California. The time is that of the gold fever in 1849-50, and here “The Girl” is keeping the Polka saloon, where the miners drink their whisky neat and play poker. The men in camp are rough, noisy and boisterous, but they are men, they honor the girl, they are all in love with her, and should any insult be offered to her the shooting irons are at once in action. “The Girl” acts as banker to the camp, and the money is stored in the saloon. Jack Banco, the sheriff—and as a means of “honest” livelihood also an expert gambler —proposes to the girl, but his answer is “No!” The sheriff is in the camp hunting a road agent, an outlaw. The same night there arrives at the Polka saloon a stranger. Suspicious eyes are cast upon him, but the girl remembers a previous passing acquaintance with the visitor, and it is'a case of love at first sight. After the saloon has been closed the girl invites the man to supper at her cabin, and the sheriff, becoming suspicious, tracks the visitor to the place. Hearing the men approaching the girl hides her lover, and on the sheriff entering he tells her that the stranger in the camp, who has passed himself off as “Dick Johnson” is none other than Ramerez, the road agent, and that his business at iiie saloon was intended robbery. The girl listens to the story, and does not betray her visitor, but when the party has left Johnson comes forth, and is denounced by the girl. He admits the truth of the accusation, and is sent out from the cabin into a blinding snowstorm. The girl laughs at her* folly at being taken in, but within a few minutes Johnson returns to the cabin wounded. At once the girl’s love is manifested, sbe throws her arms around the man. staunches his wound, and again hides him. The sheriff returns to the cabin alone; he has fired the shot, and seeks his prey. The girl again denies the presence of her lover, the sheriff again declares his love, and throws his arms around her. When he looks at his hands he sees blood, and at once guesses the truth. The outlaw comes from his hiding place, and the sheriff gloats over his victim. The girl draws her “gun,” but recognuising the impossibilities of the situation resorts to craftiness; she offers to play the sheriff poker best two out of three for the prize. At looker play the sheriff is outwitted by a little cheating done by the girl,- and being a man of honor he takes himself off. behind the prisoner free. Some days elapse, and the outlaw is recaptured, and brought to the dance hall of the Polka saloon, where the girl is conducting a school for the men in camp. He is condemned to the halter, but is granted a last interview with the girl, the men meanwhile keeping uuseen watch and listening. The partiug is full of pathos, and touches the sympathies of the miners, wiio, to the disgust of the sheriff, declare the prisoner not guilty. The last scene, or, as it is more correctly called, the last picture, shows the girl and the man on the wide expause of prairie. The girl has left- the golden west, the sun is rising, and as it> does the peaks of the Sierras, with their wonderful footuills. are seen in the distance tinted with the rays. The girl looks backward; behind in the West are the honest miners, her old home and the mountains of California. before her in the East are the rising sun and the mail she loves. The one theme in the play is love, and as “The Girl” Miss Tittell Brune has a part that suits her maguifiicently. Her freedom and naturalness are at once convincing aud real, and her wonderful voice control tells of joy, love, anger, and sympathy in quick rotation. In the second act, when she denouces her lover as an outlaw and a deceiver, her sceue with Air. Kingston is full of dramatic power and the audience loudly applauded her work. Her parting scene w-itli her lover is the third act was well done, aud she showed the wonderful ease with which she was able to pass from mood to mood and carry her audience with her. The part of the Girl was a eom_ plex one, and Miss Brune presented a graphic picture of the character, charmingly acted. Air. Thomas Kingston presented a finished characterisation of the gentleman' outlaw, ‘'Dick Johnson.” The part called for careful work, and could easily have been eceentuated to become merely that of a

melodramatic hero: but Mr. Kingston is too well schooled to make any such mistake, and his part was played with a realism and impressiveness that was manly and convincing, and lie, with Miss Brune, were recalled after each act. No more perfect- character study of the out-West sheriff could be desired than that presented by Mr. George Bryant- in the part of Jack Ranee. His cool, deliberate manner of speech, his subtle cunning, his lordliness and self-importance, were all admirably represented. The other characters were numerous, and while .all are essential to the story none stand out in special relief. Mr. Loring Fernie had a good part as Sonora Jim. and Mr. Leonard Willey made a good Nick, bartender at the Polka, saloon. Mr. F. Cambourne caused great laughter in his comedy part of the Dublin Duck, while Mr. Harry Sweeney as Billy Jackrabbit, and Miss Kelly as Wowkle, two Indians, give tlie stage pictures a broad touch of realism. The scenery and the mounting of the play wore both good, tlie costumes were'true to the period, and the incidental music did much to add to the charm of the performance.

To-night the season will be brought to a close, when Cicely Hamilton’s romantic comedy “Diana of Dobson’s” will be staged. The play contains a delightful story, and Miss Brune is said to excel herself in the part of Diana, while in the cast are Mrs. Robert Brough, Miss Emma Temple, Messrs Thomas Kingston,Gregan Mao Mahon, T. W, Lloyd, and Frau’k Han. -court. .