"THE GIRL WHO TOOK THE WRONG TURNING."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1814, 29 July 1913, Page 6

"THE GIRL WHO TOOK THE WRONG TURNING."

A melodrama in four acts, by Walter Melville. Cast of characters Willie Mason Mr. liobert Inman Richard Fenton Mr. P. V. Scully James Ilarcourt Mr. Vivian Edwards John Matthews iMr. C. Carter Maggie : Miss Alico Bonton P.O. Sharp Mr. Gilbert Emery Hoppit Mr. Robert Pollock Bill Slater Mr. Tlios, E. Tilton Jack Fenton Mr. Goo. Dawe Johnny Walker Mr. D'Arcy ICelway Joe I'lctcher Mr. John Wilson Peter Mr. G. Brackley Sandy ... ....Mr. Jack Clarke Davis Mr. Myles Hastings Mr. Dough Mr. George Wright Mr. Graball Mr. Thomas Edwards Mrs. Suds MiES Mona Duval Lucy Coventry MiEe Adele Holmes' Sophie Coventry Miss Elwyn Harvey Vesta Ijc C'ere Miss Oriel Hotson Poppy Slater Miss Pearl Helmrich A largo proportion of tho audience which witnessed "The Girl Who Took the Wrong Turning" at the Opera House last evening seemed thoroughly to enjoy the play. The heartiest applause—and laughter—caino from tho gallery, which was the most crowded part of tho house. Tho demand for melodrama certainly exists— which is, of course, the only reason for its existence. The play produced last night is a very fair specimen of its kind. Thero is absolutely nothing about it to distinguish it froni hundreds like it which have already been played- in Wellington. The villain is thwarted in the samo old way by the .samo old comic men, and virtue and devotedness triumph, as they have done over since the first melodrama wa£ .staged. The story of the play is woven round a j-oung country woman, Sophio Coventry, who is tempted by a "woman of the world" to leave her home for tho gay life of London. Misled by tho glowing talcs of her temptress, the girl forsakes her sister and 'her devoted sailor sweetheart. In London she mixes in decidedly questionable society, and is utilised as a money-making puppet by James Harcourt, tho rascally cousin of her brother-in-law. J.ick Fenton. She tirei of the life after'an eye-opening period, and returns to her home and her forgiving tar, and presumably they lived happily ever afterwards. Tho same old will i$ an important feature of the case, and when the murder—thero aro several sudden deaths —is committed, the samo old drunken reprobate is standing behind the same old screen, and sees it all. The piay is piese'nted in a manner "worthy of a better object," and the acting is quite good—in parts. Mr. D'Arcy IMvrav, as Johnnie Walker, plays really well, his particular brand of humour having something original about it. Mr. Geo. Dawe, as the much-wronged son, who scornshis father's wealth unless ho can share it with his plebeian wife (in thi: samo old way), plays creditably, and Mr. Vivian .Edwards called down on his head a proper amount of scorn from the "gods" for his scandalous conduct in the part of James Harcourt. Mr. T. E. Tilton (Bill Slater, the "man with a past") and Mr. liobert Inman (the devoted bluejacket) were both in the first flight. Miss Oriel Hotson. as the woman who pointed out the wrong road, played with! spirit. Miss EHwyn Harvey was the heroine (Sophie Coventry), and mado a sufficient show of innocence to sain the sympathy of most of the audience. Miss Adele Holmes (Lucy Coventry, who, it is pleasing to note, "turned to the right") and Miss "Pearl Helmrich (Poppy Slater, tho comedienne of the piece) were also noticeable. "Tlie Girl Who Tcok the Wrong Turning" will he presented again this evening.