Henry Dramatic Season.

Manawatu Herald, 20 April 1899, Page 2

Henry Dramatic Season.

i "FROM SCOTLAND YARD." J Last night at the Public Hall an appreciative audience greeted the ! members of this talented company, when they staged " From Scotland Yard," a very striking and most sensational melo-drama. As the title suggests, the detectives of Scotland Yird played a most important part in the drama, the plot opening on the goldfields of South Africa, where the vil- J lain of the piece has been traced, and who has taken an assumed name. The part of the villain was ably represented by Mr J. R. Goodall, and Mr ' Henry, as Victor Hazelton the young detective, gave a faithful pourtrayal of the character, and the manoeuvres carried out by him to run his man to earth were very realistic. Mr E. H umphries was also successful in his corned}' part of " Jonathan Ford," an old-fashioned detective who had nearly always " got his hands on them," but was always just a little too late. Mr Charles Souths " Tom, " a Cockney street-arab, was also excellently acted, i and created roars of laughter, his antic; and witty patter being much enjoyed. Mr J. R. Goodall as the villain " Charles Came" represented the part perfectly, and Mr W. J. Coulter creditably filled the part of " Sam Hoyt," an old prize-fighter, " the pride of the ring," and associate with a gang of coiners, whom the detectives are endeavouring to run to earth. While " Harry Clifton," (Mr H. N. Douglas), as the husband of the woman who has been wronged by the villain, also acted excellently, the other male characters being also faithfully carried out. Of the ladies Miss Billie Howarde as " Susie Sanford," had a difficult part to sustain, but showed great skill, and svas vociferously encored for both of her songs " Just a Little," and " I Want My Money Back." Miss Raleigh as " Madge Walton," and Miss Lillie Mowbray as " Mrs Rickey," simply excelled themselves, the latter taking the part of an Irish landlady ot peculiar temper. Throughout the drama abounded in stirring situations, and everything went smoothly without a hitch of any kind. The scenery was also most appropriate. Before the last act, of which there were four Mr Humphries thanked the audience for attending on behalf of Mr Heury, and announced that the company would appear to-night in the drama " Shamus O'Brien," apiece that had been well received in every town they had been. We trust the company will be rewarded with a bumpsr house, as it is not often that we are visited by a company of such marked and exceptional ability.