OPERA HOUSE.

NZ Truth, Issue 75, 24 November 1906, Page 6

OPERA HOUSE.

"The Price of Sin."

The . MacMahon Company produced their second promised dramatic novelty, "The Price of Sin," at the Opera House last night when a large and enthusiastic aUdience endorsed m an emphatic manner, by ' continuous demonstrative applause all throughout its stirring action, the approbation it has won iii other lands. Mr E. Hill Mitchelson's latest work, while typical , m some respects of the most acceptable form of' melodramatic stage story, departs m manj instances, m a pleasing manner from the conventional and furnishes, at many points, a series of most effective surprises. The interest of the story never flags, and the artists taking < part m the well drawn cast of characters impart a force and realism to their impersonations that is pleasant to experience. The plot centres round the schemes of Frank Foster, alias Sir Fox Yorke, and his accomplice, the supposed wife of Major Crawford. After trying m various ways to upset the happiness of Nancy Crawford, the Major's daughter, and her lover, Lieutenant Cecil Ray, they concoct a plot for bettering their finances and at the same time ruining their unsuspecting: victims. The lieutenant, who is m monetary difficulties, is induced to obtain some jewellry, which he is led to believe is the property -of the Major's wife. In reality it belongs to Nancy Crawford, and they also omit to tell him that it is to her room that he must go to get the jewel case. When detected by the girl, he sees the mistake whereby he has compromised the object of his affections, as well as rendering himself liable to imprisonment. The former danger is ingeniously averted, and helped by the lies of the schemers, he goes to 'gaol. To escape the persecutions of. Foster, Nancy leaves her home and is secretly married to Ray, who has broken gaol m order tq see her.. He returns ■to prison and villainy triumphs temporarily, but assisted by a former husband of Rate Crelyn, the Major's supposed wife, the Rev. James Small, Jim Trotter, and sundry other persons, the plots of the evil-doers are ,laid bare, and retribution speedily follows, virtue receiving its usual reward, while Foster is shot by his accomplice who also finds herself m the hands of the law just as they were about to make a start for' Paris with all available money and jewellery m the Major's hands. As Nancy Crawford, the heroine, Miss Oriel Hotson was a distinct success, never extravagant m her emotional scenes, she was simple, earnest and yet fireful, without a trace of stiffness or over-acting. Miss Helen. Fergus made an accomplished companion for the arch-villain, Frank Foster (Mr A. Boothman) m their efforts to ruin the happiness of others. Associated with Miss May Renno m some excellent comedy work were Jim Trotter (Mr E. Nable) and the Rev. James Small (Mr Maurice Lynch), The latter, as a mild curate of the burlesque stage type, was particularly good. The hero's part was very capably filled by Mr Chas. Blake, while as Major Crawford Mr S. A. Fitzgerald was fairly successful. A word of praise is also due to Mr E. B. Russell, who made the most of his role of "Jack the Welsher" and legal husband of Kate Crelyn, as well as to Mr Harry Norman, who as an old army pensioner and the father of a reprobate son, acted with artistic skill and a fine .appreciation of the characterisation, especially m the final soene where the battle-scar-red old veteran expires after denouncing his unworthy offspring as the thief of the treasured medals. The staging and splendid attention to detail were m keeping with the hifrh reputation this management holds m this respect. "The Price of Sin" will be repeated to-ni^ht and on Monday and Tuesday next./ On Wertnps- ' day will be produced the manaee-

ment's famous original dramatization of Marcus Clarke's immortal story, "For the term of his Natural Life." It is announced that henceforth during the season popular prices will prevail, viz., dress circle and reserved stalls 3s, stalls 2s, and family circle Is. -