ENTERTAINMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2545, 5 July 1909, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

ALLAN HAMILTON’S COMPANY—“A KING OF CRIME.” Owing to the inclement weather. His Majesty’s Theatre was only partly nuedon Saturday night, when Allan Hamilton’s Company presented the melodrama “A King of Crime.” The play bristles with sensations. It has a decided French flavor, and proved high y acceptable to the audience. The plot revolves round a girl orphan, Matilde Haudry, who has been defraud'.or a fortune by her guardian, a miser. The miser resolves that the girl shall marry liis son in order that the money that has been left to her without her knowledge shall remain in the family. The girl, however, secretly marries a naval lieutenant, who is aTterwards accused of the murder of the miser. The latter lias been killed by Gaston Lemaije, alias Captain Hercules, the chief of a secret band of robbers, who in robbing the miser’s house had been disturbed by him. After passing through many hands the will, entitling Matilde to her fortune, is produced at the critical moment and the lieutenant’s name is cleared by Gaston, who himself is shot down after completing his veugeanpe on Simon, the miser’s son, who Jmd turned traitor to Captain Hercuies band. - * As Captain Lcmairo Hercules, Mr. George Cyoss gave a flne pourtrayal of the faithful cn-tain or his band and the tender lover of his blind wife Henrithe death scene his acting was vbry realistic, and was deservedly applauded heartily. Aiiss Ada Guildford had a very difficult part to sustain as the blind wife of Gaston, but her rendering of the character was admirable. Matilde Haudry, the ward of the miser, was very well represented by Miss Rosemary Rees, who showed a keen perception of what was needed in the rendering of the character. Mr. M ilton Welch, as Toto Chaupin, a member of Captain Hercules’ band, invested the piece with' a wholesome, acceptable humor, and his excellent acting caused him to meet with the approvalNof the audience. Mr. J. L. Lawrence, as Simon, the villain, acted the part in a most capable manner. Mr. Wilton Power, as the naval lieutenant, the husband of Matilde, and Mr. Ellison, as a- humorous Irish professor of mesmerism, both did exceedingly well, and Miss Maud Chetwynd. as Clarisse, the innkeeper’s daughter, put a considerable amount of brightness into the part, and her smart little song and dance were very acceptable. Iho season has been extended for two nights. To-night will lie devoted to a revival of the “Queen of the Night," with Mr. George Cross as Ralph Feathorstone, and to-morrow night “A Message from Mars” will be staged by special request of numbers who could not obtain seats on Friday. POLLARD’S JUVENILE OPERA COMPANY. The box plans for the four nights’ season of this ever-wclcomc combination will be opened at. Mr. Miller’s this morning at 10 o’clock, when there is ceitain to be a rush for scats. < l a yS°or.s know what to expect when Hie Popular Pollards” come along, sp it would not come as a surprise if the ookings to-day will lie so extensive as to mane an epoch in the history of local The pieces chosen are total v different in style and are produccd purposely to show the remarkable versatility of Mr. Pollard’s clever ??n PUI A y " TT Tlle attraction. 1 he uay Hussar,” is modern musical coined\ dressed and mounted on a soi o of magnificence and completeness, so;doin' attempted by any touring oom-\v-‘v,■ !, ho . «w°nd piece “Rip Van '' inkle. is legitimate comic opera, containing some of .the most tuuid® music ever composed for this class * U .°VY . r lhe P ICC <° chosen for Friday:’) night is Lccoq’s melodious comic opera ; fanola. I hose who remember the same composer’s delightful works. “Maand “The Little Duke.” will.expect something out of the ordi- £'* 111 charming waltz numbers, solos. A s the plot of - anola i s laid in Portugal in the seventeenth century, it gives Mr. Pol°f f?°9 e for the wealth of spectacle ior wlucli he is famed. j f