ENTERTAINMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2537, 25 June 1909, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

ALLAN HAMILTON’S COMPANY.' The repertoire to be submitted during tho coming season in Gisborne, which starts on Wednesday evening next, is >a varied one. Throe of the plays will be presented hero for tho first time, while tho revival of “A Message from Mars” is sure to be received with approval. The fourth night oi tho season will be devoted to the production of Arthur Shirley’s drama, “A King of Grime.” This piece forms a strong contrast to the other dramas of the company’s repertoire. The clot is laid in France, ancl the ideals and sentiments are distinctly French, even to the glorification of the crimes of Gaston Lcmaire, leader of a secret organisation of criminals, and “A King of Crime.” There is something heroic, however, in the composition of Captain Hercules, the name of tho leader of the gang is popularly known by. He lives a double life, around which the dramatist lias woven a thrilling romance. “A King of Crime” in private life is a quiet, inoffensive villager, whose whole me is wrapped up in liis love for his wife. She is afflicted with blindness, and lias never suspected the true character of her husband or his association with his terrib’e deeds as Captan Hercules. His retreat in the qUiet village of Rongival is suddenly closed for ever to him owing to a murder committed by him whilst engaged in burglary- Ho escapes; but bis identity is betrayed by a member of his gang. Captain Hercules is Captured, and the traitor tells the cruel truth to the captain's wife, who dies from the shock. With nothing then left to live for but revenge, Captain Hercules breaks gaol, strangles his enemy, and then he himself meets a tragic death at the rifles of the gendarmes. The drama is well dressed and beautifully mounted. The box plan will Ik- open at Mr. Miller’s on Monday morning at 10 o’clock.