ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 715, 14 January 1910, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

' "THE SILVER KING." ■WILLIAMSON DRAJUTIC COMPANY. "The Silver King," a melodrama in five acts, -.by.Henry Arthur Jones and Henry Herrmau. Oast: — Wilfred Denver ..w.. Mr. G. S. Titlicradgo Captain Skinner ........."Mr. Harry Plimmer Henry Corkott Mr. Eedce Carey Elijah Coombe, . Mr. Fred. Oamboume Cripps Mr. Boyd Irwin Daniel Jaikes Mr. EardJey Turner Samuel Baiter Mr. A. E. Grcenaway ; Geoffrey- Ware : Mr. Oyril Mackay El' Pa „ r , k . yn • Jlr - GrcKan JTMahon Olive Skinner Miss Nellie Calvin Tabitha Durden Miss Emma Temple Susy Miss Elwyn Harvey Mrs.: Garamago Miss Ethol Gordon S ,s fy - •••• Miss Lily Aldridge £r e m. faster Jervis NclJlie Denver ............ Miss Ethel Warwick "The Silver King"' is on© .'of the great progenitors of modern melodrama. It is . a drama so rich in incident; so -fertile in resource, and yet so.liuroan find beautiful in its simple; genial philosophic domesticity that every thought and .every situation have been used dozens of times in other melodramas .which have less claim to fame than the meritorious original;' Something more than ordinary importance attaches to the present revival of "The Silver King"—now* twentyeight years old—the last of many, ixLas- ! much as - original exponent of the leading role in: Australasia is reappearing as Wilfred Denver,'a part, which lias I been associated with many fina actors, including Mr. Wilson Barrett, Mr. Edward. Sass, Mr. Scot Inglis, Mr; Walter Bentley,, Mr. Appleby, Mr. Julius Knight, Mr. George Rignold, • and Mr. Harry Plimmer. (the "Spider" of the present cast). Mr., Titheradgo never essayed the role in Wellington before, but it may be conceded that the judgment of Melbourne and Sydney critics in placing that. actor-in 1 the forefront of them all was-not very wide, of the mark. is used advisedly, for perfect as.'were the many touches here and there—flashes of the' old; brilliant'. ;past—the iron hand- of time, takes ;its revenge, .and;;- it-, is -.not/- given for every actor, ; however skilled,; to . represent the buoyancy, the .'action,' and verve of one who is'presumed to be in the hey-day of his younger manhood. -It was in the later passages in the play, therefore, that one best appreciated ,the performance last evening of : Mr. Titheradge, admirable as' it was throughout. The scene which witnesses his return to his old home, his interview with the faithful old; Jaikes, and the.recital of his dream were'instinct with the truest dramatic, spirit. Therewasl no straining; a point, no attempt to. over-pose, or to force even a word. • It was; in short, the Wilfred Denver ,that one • would/expect;.from tho Mr. ..Titheradge, who was at; his prime from ten to twenty years.ago.. The Captain, Skinner; who is more familiarly knovni as "The Spider,", the prince, of melodramatic villains,, was in'the' capable hands of. Mr. Harry Plimmer,. who: has played the .•'Spider" to more; "Silver Kings" .than any otheractor in.this part of .'the world, "needless to say, tho character; was given all the force and; finish; it/is capable of. inspiring, and when with the handcuffs on and smiling, with - soft cynicism, lie bows .his adieux to Denver and ,his' wife I at the termination of the play, one feels ! \that •a ; most satisfying performance has. j been given. . Miss.Ethel.Warwick, who,j grows .in : favourvi with .., Wellington , audiences, made . . . very fine | Nellie Denver, and in' the final 1 scenes .. gave evidence ,of. emotional traits hitherto unsuspected. Miss War-, wick must 'take rank: among'the "best players who have been seen in' the part in '••Wellington.* -Another admirable performance was'that-Of Mr. Eardley Turner as Jaikes;: > Th<?re. is ' such-' a . deep, noto of sympathy, benevolence, and selfsacrifice sounding through his natural geniality, that could: only he correctly suggested; by a clever actor, such as Mr. Turner undoubtedly is., Every , part is, a, good, one in "The 'Silver King": 'Mr. Henry Corkett ("the Dook of 'Ncw York') is, for instance,; a ; part that has , made.; young- actors. famous. . It Was . assumed by -Mr. Hedge Carey last evening' with.! 'fjxir' success. vEHjaii Coomlio was capi-" tally played by Mr. Fred. Cambourne,. and Mr.: Boyd ' Irw,in ' gave proper emphasis to the. grossness of Cripps, the burglar' locksmith. - Mr/A. E.- Greenaway was Samuel Baxter,' the "detective,- andMr.' CyTii"Mackay' died splendidly' in' the, first act. • The garrulous Tabitha was: given new life by Miss .Erama Temple, Miss Nellie ; Calvin;,'who is always satisfactory, invested • the part of. Olive Skinner - with' much' womanly charm. "Tho Silver King,": which/ attracted a largo audience last evening,- will, "be played this evening and to-morrow'night, when the ; season ends. . ; ; .' ;' - THEATRE ROYAL. , ' I Fuller's Vaudeville Company, is strong ! in star artists vthis week,, and tho manI agement is to he congratulated in arrange | ing so excellent', a programme. As x jugglers; and. balancers the Levartos have |.little to ; learn from any artists, in that line who ever . visited: Wellington, and their act is received with enthusiasm every 5 evening.. Others well. worth seeing are , the . Duckworths//Lerona,- Tom ' Armstrong, and Miss Mf.i'yl Laurepce,' a halr lad' singer of excep.ionalability.^ k HIS MAJESOT'S THfiATREi , v This week's splendid programme at His Majesty's Theatrf/includes an up-to-date picture' sho>nng,,-the welcome accorded. to Lord Kitchener' in Sydney, which should .be of interest'^to the many who 'are anticipating;.; the advent in the Dominion. Other; good- pictures are: "The Watchcs of the night, "How a : Sailor is Made," and "The Patriot's Daughter." V STAR PICTURES. The Star Pictures,.- which. are -being exhibited in St. Thomases Hall,'are very diverse and entertaining in ; character. This week's .programme embodiessome now ideas' in kinematograph subjects. '•