"A ROYAL DIVORCE.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1655, 23 January 1906, Page 3

"A ROYAL DIVORCE.”

The farewell production of the great spectacular drama, “ A Eoyal Divorce,’’ dealing with the rise and fall of Napoleon, by Mr Williamson’s Company at His Majesty’s Theatre on Friday evening, promises to be exceptionally attractive. It is one of the biggest successes iu the repertoire of Mr Williamson’s company, headed by Mr Julius Knight, some five years ago, when only Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin were visited. The author of “ A Eoyal Divorce ” (Mr W. G. Mills) has never given out that the play should be regarded as altogether historically accurate, and therefore it is partly necessary to dis~ connect historical facts from their dealing with famous names. But whilst this is so it is an exceedingly picturesque play, and lends itself to a succession of remarkably effective tableaux. Theatregoers who may have seen the play will remember the story of Napoleon, the man of destiny, who" divorces his star of hope, Josephine, in order that he might make an alliance with Marie Louise,

the haughty Austrian, and found a dynasty, how in the end the God of battles deserts him, and he is overthrown by the allies and banished to Elba, and how the faithful and devoted Josephine never loses her love for her Napoleon. The tableaux shown at the end of each act represent : “ The Estreat from Moscow,” “The Charge and Eout at Waterloo,” and “ The Kock, with Napoleon at St. Helena,” a final picture, strikingly impressive. Mr Julius Knight is said to give a performance of great power, looking in every respect the ideal of the “little corporal” who rose from the ranks to the Emperor of the French—the stern, implacable, ambitious, masterful, all-powerful man of destiny. Miss Maud Jeffries is also said to be responsible for a sweet, tender, devoted, beautiful Josephine, her acting being instinct with sympathy, grace and refinement. There should be record houses to witness the farewell performance of this fine Company, and patrons would act wisely by securing their seats at once at Mr Miller’s, where early door stalls and pit tickets may also be obtained.