AMUSEMENTS,

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1919, Page 1

AMUSEMENTS,

ALLAN WILKIE SEASON. “THE MIDNIGHT WEDDING." The Allan Wilkie Company continued their very successful season at the Princess Theatre on Saturday evening, when there was another large audience who were charmed with the excellent presentatittii of the comedy dralna “The Midnight Wedding." This play was not of so serious a turn as that of the previous evening. It was very brightly produced and the various performers put much life into their work, the whole being again very enjoyable. The orchestra opened with a very tuneful overture, and throughout their success- ; ful efforts were very much appreciated, ■ the music provided being one of the features of the evening. The role of Paul Valmar, sword master of the Green Hussars, was taken by Mr Allan Wilkie, and his presentation was a strong and even one. There were many capital scenes with Princess Astrea (Miss Hunter Watts) and Captain : Scarsbruek (Mr Guy Hastings). As the Princess, Miss Hunter-Watts gave a most pleasing and dainty rendering . of her part, the audience marking their approval freely, while Mr 'Guy Hastings made the most of his trying and difficult role. The humor of the play was capably' supplied by the three comrade hussars, Sergt Max; Corp Otto, and Private Bobo, with Katbie (Miss St John) of the'Golden Dragori. Mhch merriment was caused on’ every appear- < ance of this quartette, the frolics being very hearty and natural. The clothes changing of Bobo and Katbie was another clever interlude' that cairs|od much amusement. The varied A scenes were prettily laid and the lighting effect excellent, and with the whole Company doing excellent work the whole production passed off very successfully, very general approval and approbation being expressed a’s the audience wended their way homeward.

TO-NIGHT! TO-NIGHT! “CAMILLE.” The Company conclude their successful'sea son to-night; when'they' will stage “Camille,” the best known dramatic work of Alexandre Dumas, the younger. Though this popular old play makes no attempt to hold the spectator’s attention by unexpected turns of plot, it keeps its grip through the emotional quality which scarcely ever leaves the dialogue, and the amplitude with which the characters give vent to feelings of love and hate, joy, and despair. Of a recent performance in Auckland the “Star” said -—“The central figure, the demi-mondaine Camille was very capably played by Miss Hunter-Watts, who held the audience unfailingly

hough all five acts. In the denoue-

meat, when Camille’s past rises up to wreck all her hopes of quiet happiness with her lover, Miss' Hunter-Watts rose to real heights of dramatic intensity. The last act; culminating in her

death at the fall of the curtain, was a fine piece of acting. The young lover. Armand Duval, was played by Mr Allan Wilkie, who showed much sincerity and force, though hardly the indecision and headlong impulsiveness of the young man in love for the first time His handling of the climax at the close of- the fourth act, when Armand discovers Camille’s affair'with the Comte de Varville, and in horrified disillusion flings her to the floor,- was direct and forcible in the extreme.”